Page 28 of His Christmas Gift

“When did you have time to get those?” Jasper asked her quietly, nodding towards the large stuffed animals. “You’ve been going non-stop the last few days since everyone arrived.”

“I’m a master at shopping,” she teased, grinning further when his eyes slid over her pjs and robe. He was wearing matching bottoms to hers, but her shirt was pink while his was red. Their robes matched as well, were ones she’d picked up for everyone to enjoy. She’d kept Jasper’s old robe, wore it while waiting for him to get home the few nights he’d worked late, or had dinner meetings with someone he didn’t want to bombard her with questions. Usually when she wore that one, it was the only thing she wore, bringing him straight to her when he finally got home.

“You definitely know what you’re doing,” he agreed, giving her a wink as they heard footsteps heading their way. “Morning Mom,” he added when Evelyn and Fred stopped in the doorway.

“Looks like Santa stopped by a second time,” Evelyn said, shooting them a questioning look.

“Well, I think he has a special spot for Missy so it’s not surprising,” Jasper replied.

“And did he leave her something shiny under the tree?” his mom asked, her eyes sliding down to where her hand rested against his chest under the throw.

“When I propose, you’ll all know,” Jasper stated, making her heart race happily. She’d love to go home with a ring on her finger, but she didn’t want him proposing without knowing the whole truth. With him knowing who she really was and that he still loved her the same way.

“We’d better get dressed before Alex wakes up wanting presents,” Fred said rubbing Evelyn’s shoulder at her little huff towards Jasper’s response.

“Ashley mentioned you all did presents first, then breakfast before getting dressed to go do whatever else was planned that day,” Melissa said pulling a nod from him. “We thought it’d be a good tradition to continue, especially with it being the first one that Chloe will be participating in.”

“Then I’ll get coffee going,” Evelyn stated, giving them a brighter smile before slipping from the room with Fred.

“And what else do we have planned today?” Jasper asked pulling her face back up to his.

Her eyes twinkled brightly at him, but she didn’t say a word. It was a surprise, but one she anticipated that he’d enjoy.

More footsteps headed their way as she smelled fresh coffee, and Melissa grinned when Alex raced towards the tree spotting the dragon. He started jumping up and down when he noticed his name on the large tag and the soft press of Jasper’s lips to her temple made it all that much better.

After that, there was no slowing them down in digging into the presents. She loved every one that she got, especially the one from Chloe and Alex. The holiday scarf with the snowmen and reindeer was perfect to go with her outfit for the afternoon. Jasper’s gift made her gasp in shock though, the beauty of the necklace was mesmerizing, especially the purplish diamond surrounded by flawless white ones.

“Jasper, this is way too much,” she argued.

“Not for you, princess,” he replied, settling the larger package onto her lap. “I hope you’ll like this one as well. I got a little help from Addison for it.”

Melissa’s hands shook a bit as she opened the package, her eyes widening taking in the top of an exquisite, icy blue dress. She lifted it from the box, turning back to Jasper in shock seeing the top of the dress entirely now. There was a sheer panel down the front center, flower appliques dusted the top, making it pop with life, and from the way the appliques trailed down, she suspected they dotted the bottom of the gown as well.

“If you hate it, just say so, but I thought it might do well for the investor’s dinner next month.”

“It’s gorgeous but I told you nothing expensive,” she argued smiling as he gave her a slow, soft kiss in reply.

“I like spoiling you, you’ll just have to learn to live with it,” Jasper whispered into her ear.

“This one’s for you Jasper,” Evelyn said handing over her package to him.

Melissa held back a grin when Jasper opened it, taking out the latest model of the Hannover all in one tablet. It was the fastest there was, simple design but with processing capabilities beyond anything Jasper and the company was currently using.

“Now who was just complaining about the expense of a dress?” Jasper questioned turning his attention to her in surprise. “This is far too much, Missy.”

“Not when I know you’ll use it every day, unlike a dress like that,” she countered, laughing when he kissed her neck holding her tighter.

The room was a mess of paper when they finished opening presents, but Mrs. Nelson shooed them towards the breakfast table, insisting on cleaning it up in return for the present she’d gotten her. Her daughter was living in England with her husband, who was military, and they hadn’t seen each other for two years now. The plane ticket and rental house near the base cost her little in comparison to the other presents Melissa had given. It was the six weeks’ paid vacation that had her in tears thanking her and Jasper.

It would coincide with the end of her internship, and the time Jasper already had scheduled off to take her home. If everything went well, it would mean an empty house for her and Jasper to enjoy the start of their new life together, and if not, at least she’d have been able to do something special for the woman who’d been nothing but kind to her.

After breakfast, she ushered everyone upstairs to get dressed, confirming the cars and everything else was ready to go. She wouldn’t tell any of them what was up next and when they pulled up to the old ice rink in a neighborhood that wasn’t anything like Jasper’s his brow lifted in silent question.

“You’ll love it, I promise,” she told him with a little kiss.

The rest of the group didn’t look much more certain of the place, and she held in a grin when they moved inside the rink, seeing the inside was far more festive than the outside. Far more updated than it as well. Mostly though it was the noise and number of kids there that had them stopping short.

“What did you do, princess?” Jasper asked her quietly as a woman headed their way.

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