“Oh, did you poke a hole in the box and put your dick in it?”
“Would I do that?” he asked.
“Of course you would, pervert.”
“Well, I didn’t. And I’m no more perverted than you.”
That was true. “I don’t trust you.”
“Well, you’re getting my dick tonight whether it’s in the box or not.”
“Stop screwing around and open it so you can feel guilty if your dick is the only gift you got me.”
He lifted the lid and stared down into it. She held her breath until he lifted his ice blue eyes, which were anything but cold at the moment.
He pulled the photos out one by one and whistled softly. “Jesus, baby, you really know how to give a man a hard-on.”
“Not any man, just you.”
“Well, of course. No other man better be seeing these.”
“Just the photographer.”
He stared at one of the more risqué pictures, then narrowed his eyes on her. “What?”
“The photographer, of course.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw. “The photographer was a man?”
His jealousy was so cute. “Yes.”
Max’s eyebrows shot up his head.
“A gay man.”
Those dark eyebrows dropped back to their normal height. “He’d better be.”
Amanda laughed. “Do you like them?”
“Fuck yes,” he whispered, pulling the rest from the box and taking his time to peruse each one.
She’d done a sexy boudoir shoot, not knowing what else to get the man who wasn’t much into material things.
“You’ll have to hide them from the kids, of course,” she added.
“I’m framing these and putting them all over my office at the station.”
“What?”
“Just kidding. Didn’t you just hear me say no other man is seeing you like that?”
“That’s not everything, check under the tissue paper.”
He glanced at her. “A new sex toy?” he asked hopefully.
Now she regretted not ordering the sex toy she’d been eyeing up. “Just look.”
He laid the photos on the bed next to his hip and she could see he was having a tough time pulling his focus from them back to the box. He pulled back the tissue paper and pulled out a small black velvet box. He glanced at her again. “What’s this?”
“Just open it!” Her heart was pounding, hoping he loved it.
He cracked the lid open and hesitated for a second before pulling out the wedding band.
He wore a plain gold band now and she wanted to give him something nicer. Something with meaning.
The ring was made of tungsten and the blue brush-finished center that encircled the ring was fitting for someone so dedicated to his career in law enforcement. The ring had caught her eye and she knew it would be perfect for her husband. While he was not into jewelry, she knew he’d appreciate this piece.
“Look inside the band,” she urged.
His nostrils flared a little as he tilted the ring and read what she had the jeweler engrave on the inside. One side had the first names and birthdates of their children. The words were tiny but he’d made them fit.
He looked at her again. “Where’s your name?”
“Turn it.” On the other side of the band, she had the jeweler engrave: You’re stuck with us ~ A. Thankfully, her husband had big hands and needed a wide band.
“That I am,” he said, his voice rough. He worked the plain gold band off his ring finger and replaced it with the new one. After staring at it for a few seconds, he carefully collected the photos and put them on the nightstand along with the box.
Her husband sat there quietly, staring at those items, his fingers curled against his naked thighs. He was not normally an emotional man, but Amanda could see he was struggling.
She reached out and grabbed his hand, interlaced their fingers and decided to help him by changing the subject. “Where’s Chaos?” She was proud of herself when she managed not to sound choked up.
She could see the relief in his eyes when he finally looked at her, and loved that her gift affected him so much. He was so hard to shop for.
“Lying by the fire, warming up his old bones,” he answered finally.
“Did you make all the arrangements?”
“I always do everything my wife asks me to do.”
Amanda snorted softly. “So, that means you didn’t.”
“No, I did.”
“Then, where is she?”
“We’re picking her up from the foster home tomorrow morning on the way.”
She squeezed his hand. “He’s going to freak.”
Max’s eyebrows rose and he grinned. “You think?”
“I can’t wait to see his face. And you know that will ease the loss of Chaos when that time comes.”
His grin dropped. “I’m not sure it will. He’s been in Greg’s life for almost thirteen years.”
“I know. But I hope it helps. Hell, I hope it helps me.” Damn dog lived up to his name, but she had fallen in love with the crazy Border Collie. She couldn’t imagine life without him. Unfortunately, that time was coming, so they were trying to prevent a massive family meltdown by easing that pain somewhat.
Max cleared his throat. He would have a tough time, too. “Chaos has been around for Hannah and Oliver’s whole life.”
“Ugh. We’re all going to be a mess,” she admitted.
“He’s got time. He’s slowed down a lot, but let’s not rush it.”
“I’m not. Believe me.” She sighed. “Chaos is the face of Boneyard Bakery. He inspired me to start my business.”
“He’ll be remembered forever if you keep his face on the packaging.”
“Why are we talking about this?”
“Because you asked about Greg’s gift.”
Her lips flattened out. “I’ve given you yours and we’ve talked about his, so let’s talk about mine next.”
“Oh, you think I got you something?”
“Oh yeah, because I left Santa a list.”
“The list only had one thing on it.”
“Did you notice it wasn’t your dick?” she asked.
He laughed. “I did notice you omitted that priceless gem. But, seriously, woman... a new Infiniti SUV?”
“Well, yeah. Haven’t you seen those commercials? All loyal, loving husbands buy their sexy, super intelligent wives a new vehicle, park it in the driveway and put a big-ass red bow on the top.”
“Sexy and super intelligent? Think about that when you walk out of the house tomorrow morning and see nothing but your old Subaru parked in the driveway. My new wife—the one I’m trading you in for—will be sexy and super intelligent. She’ll get the new Infiniti.”
She shoved his shoulder. “Hey, those pictures I gave you were sexy.”
“Yes, and I bet they took a lot of work,” he teased.
That was true. That photo shoot took hours. And that was after Teddy spent forever working on her hair and makeup. Looking naturally sexy was hard work. “I bet you’d buy me one if I got a vagina rejuvenation.”
Max snorted. “I like your vagina the way it is.”