The monstrosity tucked into the corner of his living room was god-awful, and he loved it because she did. Another thing she’d asked for was to start a tradition, and she’d asked what his family’s was. “Wait for my parents to get up on Christmas morning so they could watch me open presents,” he’d said.
She had scowled at that. “That’s it? Nothing special on Christmas Eve? No Christmas breakfast? Nothing else?”
“We would go out for a turkey dinner. Does that count?”
Turned out that it didn’t. Later that day, she’d handed him a piece of paper that he’d now memorized.
Cody and Riley’s Christmas Traditions
Put up a tree the week before Christmas.
Lots of presents for Riley under the tree. Cody gets lots, too. Presents for our dogs and cats.
Christmas Eve is just for the two of us, a romantic, candlelight dinner that we make together.
We get to open one present Christmas Eve.
Make love on a blanket next to the tree. All lights out except for tree lights.
He was particularly fond of number five.
Pancakes, strawberries, and mimosas for breakfast Christmas Day.
Open presents after breakfast. (Riley gets to open one first and last.)
Christmas night, drive around and look at lights.
Strangely touched by her list, he was determined to make their first Christmas together one she’d never forget. He wasn’t taking for granted that she’d be with him next year because he’d caught her looking at apartments for rent in the classifieds. If tonight went as planned, she wouldn’t be going anywhere.
“Time to open our Christmas Eve presents.” He took her empty cup and set it along with his on the coffee table. “Which one should I open?”
She clapped her hands, scrambled off the sofa, and hurried to the tree. As he watched her search through the pile of presents, it occurred to him that his life was near about perfect. His head was almost back to where it should be, although he continued to see Tom once a week, and would for a while. He’d also convinced Riley to see Tom even though she had claimed she was perfectly fine. Cody hadn’t agreed. She needed to come to terms with her childhood and Reed’s death.
Then there was Mrs. Decker. Fortunately, she had accepted a plea bargain at the urging of the attorney Riley had insisted on retaining. That was good because it meant one of Kincaid’s men wouldn’t be involved in a trial, which the boss was definitely happy about. Cody was positively relieved that he wouldn’t be testifying.
That Riley had sympathy for the woman had at first made him angry, but as his temper cooled and he could think rationally again, he understood why it was important to her to do that. Riley had heart, and he could only respect that.
“Found it!” She held up a beautifully wrapped box. She brought it with her, sitting back on the sofa with her legs curled under her and her eyes bright with excitement. “Where’s mine?”
“You want to go first?”
“Yes! Where is it?”
She was going to bounce right off the sofa in a minute. He stifled a grin. “Don’t move.” Before dinner, he’d closed their animals up in his bedroom, using the excuse that he didn’t want their noses in everything. That wasn’t the real reason, though, and he hoped Pelli would go straight to Riley the way he usually did. He slipped the ribbon with the diamond ring on it around the kitten’s neck.
“Go do your thing, Pelli.” He opened the bedroom door and a scramble of four-footed creatures made a mad dash down the hallway. Following them, he grinned at seeing Pelli climb onto the sofa.
“Hello, sweet boy,” Riley said, picking him up. “What’s this?” She lifted Pelli into the air, her gaze on the ring dangling from his neck.
Cody dropped to one knee. “Will you marry me, Riley Austin?” Tears welled in her eyes, and he put his hand on her knee. “You said when I asked the question right that you’d say yes. Did I get it right this time, darlin’?” His damn heart was going to need a hit from defibrillators.
She slipped the ribbon over Pelli’s head. “It’s beautiful, Cody. Yes! Yes, you got it right, and yes, I’ll marry you.”
In her excitement, she jumped on him, and they both landed on the floor with a gaggle of animals wanting to join in this new game. He tried to kiss her, but they ended up laughing at all the tongues licking their faces.
“I love you, Cody.”
He rolled them so that she was on top of him and pulled the band out of her ponytail, letting her hair fall down around them. “The first time I saw you, when you marched over to give me hell, I knew you were trouble, darlin’.” When she opened her mouth, likely to protest, he put a finger on her lips. “Trouble to me. I wasn’t looking to fall in love, thought it was the last thing I needed. I’ve never been so glad to be wrong. I love you with all that I am, and I pray that I’ll always deserve you. Now kiss me.”