Page 85 of A Cheesecake Christmas

“Yes, you can.” Theo’s across the way, leaning on the railing, a sloppy grin on his face. The way he’s looking at me? Well, let’s just say I feel like I could fly right over to him, like a partridge or a turtle dove.

And the second thing that catches my eye? A thick, silky, fuzzy baby-blue blanket. “Did you get this from the festival? It’s the one I wanted.” I lift it from the basket and wrap it around myself, rubbing my cheek against the soothing softness.

We stare at each other, roughly six feet apart in our matching balconies. I can’t believe it’s Christmas Eve and I get to be with the man I love, the man who’s done so much for me, and for my heart.

I give him one last look before stepping back into the apartment, clanging down the steps, and out Shorty’s front door, the blanket still wrapped tightly around me. The firm’s door isn’t locked, so I race inside and up the steps to Theo’s office. I’m on the balcony and in his arms, nearly knocking him off balance. That would not have been a good thing considering we’re two stories up.

“Thank you.” I breathe in his masculine, minty scent, losing myself as I cling to him.

Please. I don’t want to let go of him ever again.

“Merry Christmas, Aria,” he whispers against my hair.

I wrap the blanket around him so it’s covering both of us. “The blanket’s huge.”

“I bought the biggest one they had so we could share it sometimes.” He kisses me on the cheek near my nose, then brushes a thumb where his lips were. “The most appealing sprinkle of cinnamon freckles I’ve ever seen,” he breathes as if in awe.

I dip my head and then return his gaze. “I’m partial to the gold and mahogany flecks in those blue eyes of yours, myself.” My fingertips drift from his waist to his lithe back and I can’t help but explore the muscles, taking in the lean, sculpted lines. I could touch them the rest of the day and into next week.

“Mahogany? I’ve never heard that about my eyes before.”

“Oh, I’ve dreamt up entire worlds where those eyes of yours are concerned, Theo.”

He chuckles and tightens his grasp. After a moment of relishing in the warmth of him, he whispers in my ear. “Do you want to go doorbell ditching with me when it gets dark?”

“Uh. Not what I was expecting you’d say. But . . . sure?”

He pauses, then whispers. “I got a bunch of things for the Flemings, but I want to keep it anonymous.”

“Theo! That’s amazing—”

“It wasn’t all me.” He rubs my arms under the blanket. “An organization of attorneys throughout the state donated. They stepped up at the last minute. I only had to go into Denver to pick up the funds and then get the items.”

“Which is why you had to leave the festival early?”

“That and the dumbwaiter, which I’m excited to keep using. I’m going to spoil you with that thing, Aria.”

“Me, too. I want to spoil you. And you’re helping the Flemings even more than you already have. Thank you, Theo.”

“I want to do all I can.”

I pull him tighter. “You are a dream come true.”

He kisses me, first on my cheeks, then chin, then lips. When we’re breathless, I let go. I have to look in his eyes again.

His gaze has met my own, and those blue pools ask me things I could never answer with words.

“Theo.” It’s one word, but maybe, with any luck, he’ll understand what saying his name does to me.

“I love you, Aria.” His gaze feasts on every inch of my face, drinking me in.

I crush him in a kiss, more forcefully than I’d planned. His lips—and everything about him and everything he is—send me soaring. I pull back only to see his face, to touch his cheeks and jaw. “I love you, Theo.”

I kiss him again and again, until he whispers against my lips. “Let’s play Toenails.”

I laugh. I know what he means. If we don’t stop now, I’ll be tempted to cancel Christmas and kiss him for days to come.

“The tiebreaker? You are so on.”

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