Page 101 of Boss Level

I’d never seen her wear a pair of Converse in her life. “No.” The boxes were the size they were to keep the two of them from guessing what was inside. Their actual gifts were too distinctly shaped to wrap directly.

She managed to take off the entire piece of wrapping paper without a single tear, though I had no idea how or why. When she had the box uncovered, she raised an eyebrow. “I don’t wear a size 13 men’s shoe.”

“Just open it.” I rolled my eyes but I was amused.

She took just as much care pulling out the crumpled paper stuffed inside, and the way Xander fidgeted, it was clear he wanted to make the process go faster. Then she was finally at the small velvet box nestled on the bottom of it all. She worked her jaw and her eyes were wide as she lifted it out, and there was a moment of hesitation before she opened the lid.

“Oh. Dominic.” Her voice was breathy when she exposed the ring inside. It was my grandmother’s ring.

“This isn’t a proposal or an engagement ring,” I said as I slipped the jeweled band from its box. “But it’s always been meant for the woman I love, and that’s you. It belongs with you.”

Holding out her hand, a smile flitted on to her face. “I love it. It’s stunning. Thank you.” She let me slip the ring on her finger, then she leaned in and pressed her lips to my cheek. “I love you too.”

I would never get tired of hearing that.

When we turned to Xander, a whisper of a scowl vanished from his face. He wasn’t as delicate tearing off the paper, and within seconds he was surrounded by shredded, colorful wrapping and crumpled kraft paper.

He stared at the smaller box in his hand with a furrowed brow. “I’m not going to look good in a delicate jeweled ring.” Though there was a catch in his voice.

“Open it,” I prompted. It was possible I was more excited about this than they were, but I knew what was inside.

When Xander lifted the lid, he grunted and his jaw dropped. “Is this…?”

“Yeah, it is.” My father’s wedding band. Simple gold inlaid with polished oak. There was no family tradition associated with this ring, but traditions had to start somewhere and it belonged on the man I loved.

Watching him slip it on, seeing that promise on his ring finger, clenched around my heart in the best possible way. And his kiss after, the kisses all three of us shared, were incredible. Full of promise and future.

Xander’s gifts were next. A short, diamond cut gold chain for Judith with a delicate lock hanging from it, that coincidentally—or not—matched the ring.

“A lock? As in, you own me?” She didn’t sound upset.

He hooked the necklace on her. “Yes.”

Thumbing the chain up, and holding out her left hand, she let the light catch both pieces. “You know you’re both already my favorite accessories,” she teased.

When I unwrapped Xander’s present, my heart leaped into my throat. It was an engraved sign, the kind that hung next to a door, like a business. Pewter on wood. It saidDominic Mancini, Esq.

“For the new firm, once you find the right place,” he said.

It was perfect.

“Best for last.” This wasn’t the cool, collected Judith that the world saw. This was the carefree woman only we really got to know.

She grabbed two identical boxes from under the tree and started to hand us each one. She paused, seemed to weigh them in her hands, then swapped who she was giving them to.

Weird. The box was neatly wrapped so that it could be opened without tearing in paper. I slipped off the top, and stared in confusion at what I saw inside. “Is this—”

“—my phone?” Xander pulled his out, the confusion on his face matching mine.

“Yup.” Judith looked pleased.

I didn’t get it. “Um… thanks?”

“I knew you took it,” Xander said.

“I had to make sure neither of you checked your emails before it was time.” She settled onto the couch, playful smile on her face.

Why would we? “It’s Christmas. Who checks their phone first thing Christmas morning?” But I already knew the answer.

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