His Pregnant Christmas Bride(54)
As she wondered what they would be, and when he’d present them, he stood up and invited everyone to dress warmly and follow him into the garden overlooking the ocean.
As everyone rushed after him, it only took stepping outside for everyone to freeze to the spot and gape at the sight before them.
The garden, now covered in snow, had been turned into a Christmas wonderland.
Ivan rushed down the stairs with her dazed beside him, encouraging everyone to follow suit. As soon as everyone descended into the garden, two musical bands, each made of two-dozen musicians and as many singers started playing Christmas carols and songs. The whole place had been turned into an amusement park complete with carousels and rides for both children and adults. And interspersing everything, dozens of gigantic Christmas trees towered, magically decorated and lit. Beneath each tree, there were huge heaps of gift boxes in the most exquisite wrappings she’d ever seen.
She had no idea when he’d had all his done. Just last night none of that was there. Hell, it wasn’t there two hours ago when she’d last caught a glimpse of the garden.
Everyone, even his brothers, seemed to be transported into the fairytale ambiance Ivan had so meticulously created. Shrieks of delight echoed from the children, and laughter from the adults.
Dazed at yet another staggering display of his resources and thoughtfulness, she looked up at him as everyone rushed here and there to sample his wonderland’s enchantments.
“Tell me most of these boxes are part of the decorations.”
He bent and covered her now-cold lips in his warm ones, singeing her blood and making her forget a world outside him existed as always.
Letting her lips go with one last clinging kiss, he withdrew, teased, “You know I’ll do anything you want. You want me to lie, I will.”
She shook her head, looking around at the trees. “Even if you got every single person multiple Christmas presents, it still wouldn’t explain those...mountains!”
He swept her off her feet again and headed for one of the carousels where all his brothers were taking their children for a ride.
“I did get everyone more than one present. Including everyone who works here and their families, all the event-planning people preparing our wedding tomorrow, the catering team and the music bands and anyone who had a hand in all this.”
She jumped up in his arms and drowned him in kisses and love and thanks, on behalf of everyone he’d thought of.
Laughing, he stepped on the revolving carousel’s platform and raised her on top of one of the undulating horses. Effortlessly jumping up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her, his hands caressing her were the evidence of their love was growing into a new life.
Putting his lips to her ears so she’d hear him over the lively holiday music and singing and the myriad sounds of joy, he said, “How about you make the rounds telling everyone you’ve already thanked me on their behalf? Now that I think about it, the number of projected thank yous is making me reconsider giving anyone anything.”
She threw her head back on his shoulder, looked up at him, saw the edge of real aversion and anxiety in his lightheartedness and grinned. “No can do.”
His body tensed around her as he scowled. “If you won’t save me, I’ll just courier everyone their stuff.”
She burrowed back deeper into his body, savoring his heat and hardness even through their thermal clothing. “No, you won’t. I’ll make the rounds with you as you give everyone their presents, and you’ll take the gratitude you deserve like a champ.” Before he could protest, she invoked that carte blanche he kept renewing every single day. “I so want to meet everyone who run this impeccable place, who made all the fabulousness of today come to life, who’ll make the undisputable perfection of tomorrow. In short, all those amazing beings who actually live up to your expectations and demands.”
His eyes took that intensely adoring cast she’d gotten addicted to and couldn’t live without. “Anything that pleases you.” Then he mock-shuddered. “Now I must take my anti-thanks medication in preparation.”
She hooted with laughter. “I’ll have a talk with Tonio and Liliana about developing you a vaccine.”
He joined her in laughter, before they both turned to shout and laugh with his brothers and their families. Afterward, they sampled each ride, talked and laughed and played and sang with all their guests, then proceeded to distribute his tons of presents.
And all through, Ivan kept her at his side as if she was as vital to him as his beating heart. As she knew she was. As he was to her. This indescribably incredible, magnanimous man who had unbelievably chosen her to love for the rest of his life.