With a nod, I pour our glasses and we make our way back to the tree.
Ben holds up his glass and clinks it against mine. “Happy Holidays, Kara.”
My heart flutters. Being with him is such a gift. “Merry Christmas, Ben.”
Chapter Nine
BEN
“I’m so hungry, and I can’t believe how good those cookies smell right now!”
Kara and I are a bit tipsy. Her cheeks are rosy and she’s absolutely adorable as she keeps peeking inside the oven while waiting for the cookies to finish. We’ve had a great day.
As we trimmed the tree, she told me stories about all the ornaments and kept them going as she decorated the house. It didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would either. Kara has it all down to a science.
She teared up a few times when she shared her family traditions with me. I wish I’d been able to spend just one holiday with them, but even in college we had to go our separate ways during the Christmas break. Holidays were hard for my mom during and after the divorce.
The crock pot timer goes off and Kara squeals. “They’re done!”
Laughing, I shake my head. “That was the crock pot.”
“Psht, I’m not going off a timer for the cookies. I measure doneness by sight and these babies are done.”
She pulls out the peanut butter cookies and puts in the sugar cookie trays. After moving them to a baking rack, she starts mixing up another batch of something.
“More cookies?”
“Not tonight, but probably tomorrow. It’s always nice to make a fresh batch on Christmas Eve.”
Our first Christmas Eve together. It’s still hard to believe. “What are you making now?”
“Biscuits to go with the stew.”
Buttermilk, flour, butter, and more go into the bowl with the other ingredients. There is no recipe book in sight—she’s doing it from memory.
“Can I do something to help?”
“Nah, just sit there and admire me … I mean, my skills. For the love of all that’s holy, just sit back and relax.”
“I’m happy to sit here and admire you. Thanks for the invitation.”
“You suck,” she says as she drops biscuits onto a pan.
“There are many parts of you I’d like to suck.”
She laughs. “You’re so bad.”
I walk up behind her and push her hair to the side before lowering my lips to her neck and pulling her skin between my teeth.
Kara hisses. “Oh God.”
I slip my hand beneath her sweater and cup her breast. Kara drops the spoon and goes limp in my arms.
“Ben … please.”
Adding my other arm under her sweater, I cage her against the counter. “Please what? Please more? Please touch me?” I move my lips against the shell of her ear. “How about please fuck me, Ben?”
I push against her ass so she feels how turned on I am.
“All of that,” she whispers. “Just not yet, but soon.”
Kara whimpers as I slide my hands out of her sweater and back up.
“I’d almost forgotten how good you feel against my body.”
“Me too,” she grumbles as she picks up the spoon and finishes the biscuits.
It’s nearly midnight by the time we’ve finished gorging ourselves on dinner and dessert and clean up.
We’re cuddling by the fire and enjoying the holiday ambience when we start trading yawns.
“I should go home.”
“You can stay.” She tucks herself tighter to my side.
“Kara, you can’t stop yawning and neither can I. It’s been a long day and I’ve loved every moment of it. I should let you rest. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
She tilts her head up and shakes her head. “I don’t want you to go. Stay with me. Sleep in my bed and cuddle me. Keep me warm. Just cuddles though, okay? That is, if you want to …”
“Of course, I want to, if you’re sure.”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
Chapter Ten
KARA
Waking up in Ben’s arms this morning was the most joy I’ve had this year. I laid in bed for hours and basked in complete bliss. When he finally woke up, he acted a little strange and went home to shower and catch up on some work. He did give me a long, lingering kiss goodbye, so maybe he was fine.
After taking a shower, I started a fire and had coffee and a hot buttered biscuit with some of Mary’s homemade pumpkin butter. I ran down to the store to pick up a few more things for Christmas dinner since Ben will be joining me.
Our family tradition has always been to have dinner on Christmas Eve and a low-key Christmas day to enjoy all the leftovers. Ben thinks it’s an odd tradition, but I’ll win him over to the dark side.
There’s not much in the way of presents at the town store, but I managed to pick up some of the local snacks that we loved as kids and a gift bag. It’s just a small token of my appreciation to Ben for keeping me company this week. It’s also a reminder to myself that we have more good times than bad behind us.
Now the turkey is roasting and there’s a small ham warming in the slow cooker. All the sides are prepped and just need to be cooked or heated up.
The banging on the front door yanks my attention from my mental checklist. When I open the door, a gust of wind sprays a dusting of snow inside along with a snow-covered Ben. He’s carrying a duffle bag and a backpack and tries his best to shake off before stepping inside.
“Wow, it’s really coming down out there. I hadn’t even noticed.”
He kisses me quickly with nearly frozen lips and moves to the fireplace to warm up.
“Moving in?” I tease.
“More like anticipating being snowed in and hoping for another invite to stay over.”
“Consider the invitation extended. Did you manage to get some work done?”
He nods. “I did, and I talked to my mom. She sends her love and condolences.”
“She’s so sweet. Please tell her thank you for me.”
Ben holds his hands out to the heat of the fire. “I was hoping you could tell her yourself. Maybe we can go visit her after the new year? I know she’d love to see you again.”
It’s so fast to jump into that again, but that’s my common sense talking. The reality is, my heart never gave up on the two of us and I don’t think it ever will.
“Does she think it’s odd? The two of us doing … whatever this is we’re doing?”
Ben pulls me into his arms and hugs me. “Not in the slightest. I think she adores you almost as much as I do.”
“What did you tell her about us?”
He brushes my hair away from my face. “That we’re shacking up and making her first grandchild.”
I shove his shoulder. “Shut up, you did not. Seriously, Ben, what did you say?”
“That we’re dating again.”
“You didn’t!”
He nods. “That’s what I want, and if I’m wrong, I’ll break it to her later.”
“But we still have so much to figure out and discuss. We live two completely separate lives now. How do I know I’ll fit into yours?”