Page 33 of Mountain Man in my Stockings
"Stay," she whispered. "Tonight. Tomorrow. Don't go."
"Wasn't planning on it." I kissed her forehead. "I'm exactly where I want to be."
She tilted her head up to look at me. "What time is it?"
I checked my phone on the nightstand. "12:17. Merry Christmas, baby."
"Merry Christmas." She snuggled closer. "Best Christmas present ever."
"Agreed."
We dozed off wrapped around each other, and when I woke to pale dawn light, she was still there. Still mine.
CHRISTMAS MORNING ARRIVEDquiet and soft. Snow had fallen overnight, covering everything in fresh powder. Through the window, I could see it blanketing the pines, making everything look new.
Eve stirred beside me, those green eyes opening slowly. "Morning."
"Morning." I kissed her, slow and lazy. "How'd you sleep?"
"Best I've slept in months." She stretched, the sheet slipping down, and I got distracted by bare skin. "What time is it?"
"Early. Maybe seven?"
"We should stay in bed all day."
"Tempting." I ran my hand down her side, making her shiver. "But I was thinking we could make breakfast. Drink coffee. Enjoy our first Christmas morning together."
She smiled, lighting up her whole face. "Our first."
"Hopefully of many."
"Hopefully."
We got up eventually, pulling on comfortable clothes—me in sweats, her in soft leggings and one of my flannels she'd claimed. In the kitchen, I found ingredients for French toast while she started coffee, and we moved around each other with surprising ease.
"I don't have any presents," she said, leaning against the counter watching me cook. "I wasn't planning on celebrating."
"Don't need presents." I plated the golden-brown slices of toast, while Eve grabbed a jar of syrup and se the table. "Already got what I wanted."
"Me too." She sat across from me, and we ate in comfortable silence, the tree lights twinkling in the corner.
After breakfast, we moved to the couch. She curled into my side, and I wrapped my arms around her, both of us staring at the tree we'd decorated together.
"So what now?" she asked. "I'm supposed to head back to Boulder in a couple days. Back to my life."
My heart kicked. "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know yet." She tilted her head to look at me. "My lease is up in February. My job is remote. I could work from anywhere, really."
"Anywhere?"
"Anywhere." She bit her lip. "Even a tiny mountain town in the middle of nowhere."
My pulse raced. "You'd consider staying?"
"I'd consider it." She smiled. "I'm not making any promises yet. Let's just see how the next few days go. But yeah, I could see myself here. With you. If you want that."
"I want that." I kissed her temple. "Take all the time you need. No pressure."
