The Billionaire's Christmas Baby(55)
“You’ve been sampling cookies,” he said between kisses. She pulled him closer, tugging at the back of his neck, and pretty soon Jackson was trying to decide whether or not she’d yell at him if he swept all her cookie dough off the counter and made love to her right then and there.
Jackson spotted her book bag by the kitchen table, reminding him that she still hadn’t unpacked. Whenever she was done studying for the night, she’d pack up her books and stuff them into that Christmas bag. Even though he’d offered to share his home office space with her, she insisted it was more convenient for her to just store everything in her bag. She hadn’t used her side of the closet for more than the wedding dress. She just kept a suitcase open on his luggage rack in the corner.
“Can I ask you something?”
“You’re actually asking my permission?” she said with a teasing smile.
“I try to be a gentleman,” he said making a subtle attempt at snatching a cookie. She swatted his hand away.
“Why haven’t you used any of the money I gave you?”
Her face went white then red.
“I haven’t needed it.” She shrugged, and then busied herself with plucking apart the gobs of dough he’d grouped together on the cookie pan.
“You haven’t needed it?” He tried to be patient. She shook her head, tossing her hair over her shoulders, and he had to stifle a ripple of desire as the scent of her shampoo wafted over. “How did you pay for your tuition?”
She averted her eyes. “I charged it to one of my cards.”
“It’s ridiculous for you to go into debt when I’ve got more than enough to pay for your tuition.”
She lifted her chin defiantly. “I’m not going into debt.”
“Really? Then why would you charge your tuition to your credit card?”
“To get Air Miles, Jackson.”
Air Miles. He took a deep breath. He needed to count to ten. “Planning on going somewhere?”
She shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. “But I would bring you along if I were planning a trip.”
“That’s good to know,” he said, moving a step closer to her. It was hard to stay mad at her. “But remember the deal we made. I’m paying your tuition.”
“The deal I was forced into?”
“As I recall, Hannah, you were the one pounding down my door during a blizzard—”
“Only to have you slam it in my face.”
The phone rang. It took them both a moment to register what the interruption was. Jackson leaned down to give her one more kiss, loving how disheveled she looked.
“Who is that?” Hannah asked, trying to straighten out her clothes as he glanced at the caller ID.
He put the phone back in his pocket. “Just work.” He hated lying to her, but he’d have to call Nick back later. Guilt shot through him as Hannah stood there smiling and trusting.
“Want to go Christmas shopping?”
Hannah’s eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry, I could have sworn that you just asked me to go Christmas shopping.”
He snatched a cookie. “That’s right. You, me, Em.” He looked down at the cookie. “These are good. I don’t think Ethan needs six of them. Two is more than enough. Give him the alien cookie I made.”
“No, even Charlie wouldn’t eat those,” she said. Charlie lifted his scruffy head at the sound of his name, looked at the alien cookie, and shut his eyes again.
…
Jackson took a sip of the spicy, smooth Starbucks Holiday brew that Hannah had been relentlessly gushing about the last two weeks, while guiding Emily’s stroller along the sidewalk.
“That’s your new favorite coffee, isn’t it? Admit it,” Hannah said. He laughed, walking alongside her as they made their way home. “You’re very pushy.”
“Don’t you love the Christmas design on the cup?”
Jackson held up his cup. Huh. Reindeer. “I never noticed before.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “It’s the first thing I look for in November,” she said, taking a swig.
“Please tell me you’re joking.” He smiled down at her, tempted to pull her in for a kiss, despite the crowds around them. But Hannah kept on going.
“And you secretly like Christmas shopping, don’t you?”
This was probably one of the best days of his life. He looked from the gorgeous woman at his side, decked out in a red coat and jeans, holding her giant cup of coffee, to his niece contentedly sitting in the stroller. Fat, heavy snowflakes tumbled down as they walked along downtown Toronto. He gave Hannah a smile. “Fine, I like Christmas shopping. With you and Em,” he said, slowing as they approached a streetlight.