14

GAGE STRODE THROUGH his father’s house, anger propelling his every step.

Damn Hailey for not jumping at his deal.

Damn Rudolph for making it so easy to steal the account away from her.

And damn his father for boxing him in, forcing him into this position. All because the old man had some twisted idea of heritage. A man who, Gage realized with a growl, hadn’t ever once decorated a damned Christmas tree with his sons.

He stomped into the lounge, glaring at this year’s tree in the corner, then sharing that look with his brother, who was cozied up with his newspaper and a glass of brandy.

“Where’s the old man?” he asked, preferring to get it all over at once.

Devon’s shrug made it clear Gage’s preference wasn’t going to matter. “No clue. I think he might have a date.”

Both brothers slanted a look at the tree. Decorated in its customary red-and-green balls, it looked like it always did when it was just the three men. Gage was sure their thoughts were in sync. If the old man was on a date, what was the tree going to look like next year?

“Did we ever decorate the tree ourselves?” he heard himself ask. At Devon’s puzzled expression, he elaborated, “I don’t remember decorating. I know we always had a tree. But did we have any kind of, you know, tradition or part in it? Or was it always like the wives, simply showing up one day as a big surprise, causing an uproar for its limited time here, then the old man tossing it away when it started to droop.”

Devon’s smirk faded into a squint as he thought about the question.

“I don’t remember decorating. That’s a girlie thing, though, so it can go right there with wearing makeup and going to dance class on the list of things we’re glad we missed out on.”

Girlie. Right. Along with traditions, emotions and anything that couldn’t be tracked on a ledger sheet.

“Today was the meeting, right?” Devon asked, as if he were reading Gage’s mind. “You nailed down the deets on the Rudolph deal?”

Still staring at the tree, Gage shrugged.

“I’ve got a new venture I just bought into. Another club, but more S and M focused, less pussycat fluff,” Devon said after a minute or so. The silence was obviously bugging him. “You want in? You can take a look at the prospectus, write up a marketing plan, make us both rich.”

When Gage’s laugh came a second too late, Devon scowled.

“What’s the problem?”

“Do you ever get tired of chasing new ventures? Of hopscotching from project to project?”

“I’m at Milano long-term, so everything else is about short-term. That’s how you should be looking at your little marketing start-up, too. Get it going, have fun with it, then once it’s solid, sell it off.” Devon grinned. “Should make for a fun year. And who knows, maybe you’ll finally beat my side earnings. Probably not, but you can try.”

Rather than incur another scowl, Gage offered up the expected smile. But he just wasn’t into it anymore. The competition, the constant searching for something new, the next big thing. He wanted to settle in, manage his business and see how far he could take it. He wanted to build some traditions, and yes, maybe even learn from a few failures.

He thought of Hailey, of her determination and drive to do everything she could to succeed. He wanted that.

Hell, he wanted her.

“What’s your problem tonight?” Devon snapped, clearly not happy with the mood Gage had brought into the room. “Did you get the account or didn’t you?”

Gage opened his mouth to snap that of course he had. Then he frowned and shrugged instead.

“I want out.”

“That’s the deal. You get the account, you get out for a year.” Devon folded his paper in neat, tidy creases and slapped it against his knee. “The terms were clear.”

“I don’t care about the terms, or that offer,” Gage said, realization dawning. He shoved his hands into his pockets and stared at the tree. Unable to stop himself, even though he knew he was probably cutting his own throat, he repeated, “I want out.”

His brother laughed and gave him a derisive look.

“You’d give it all up? Your future? The future of any rug rats you happen to have? Don’t you think your kids would someday be a little pissed to find out you threw away their heritage?”

“I’m so freaking sick of hearing about the Milano legacy. We’ve heard it all our lives and what’s it got us? We don’t have a heritage. We don’t have family memories. We have a despot at the head of the dinner table and the board table, calling the shots on the business and on our lives.”

Gage glanced around. “Is this heritage? We’ve never decorated a tree together. We’ve never had fun family memories. We’re stockholders, assets, prime Milano resources.” Gage gestured to the tree, as if it epitomized his every point. “I’d like to think that if I someday have rug rats, as you put it, they’ll want more than shares in the company. They’ll want holidays and traditions and cookies for Santa. They’ll want more than a cold, choking tie with a million conditions on it.”

“Money, success, a family name,” Devon countered. “Those all buy a hell of a lot of memories and make the holidays a lot more enjoyable. All thanks to those ties you’re bitching about.”

“Shouldn’t ties be deeper than that?” Gage growled, throwing his arms in the air in frustration. “Shouldn’t they be more than a fragile thread, easily snapped because I refuse to continue giving up my own goals, my own dreams, to toe the line?”

Shouldn’t they be important enough to care that he didn’t want to screw over a woman who meant a lot to him, just to snag the company yet another feather for its overstuffed freaking hat?

“Well, that’s an interesting take on the traditions I’ve handed down to you.”

Shit. Gage cringed. Even Devon winced as they both shifted their gazes to the doorway.

“Dad. I didn’t know you were there.”

“Obviously.” Marcus crossed the room to pause in front of the tree, inspecting it much as his sons had earlier, then turning to take his favorite seat by the fire. “So you want to break tradition, do you?”

Devon’s look was pitying, as though he felt as if he should leave the room so Gage could be shredded in private, but couldn’t resist the show. Or, if Gage were in a generous mood, maybe his brother was sticking it out for moral support. The reality was probably propped somewhere in between.

Gage met his father’s stare with an unwavering one of his own. Well, one way or another, Hailey was right. It was time to step up and stand up.

THERE. HAILEY CLAPPED her hands together to indicate a job well done and stepped back from the tree to admire her handiwork. Beads and balls and dainty lace roses, a garland of ribbon and a few scatters of crystals here and there for accent.

The perfect, beautiful tree.

She sighed, letting her smile drop.

She’d rather have the paper snowflake, popcorn and condom-covered one. Of course, she’d rather have it because it came with a very sexy, usually naked man underneath.

And with a promise.

She dropped to the couch, the tree a blur.

“The tree is lovely.”

“Thanks.” She offered a warm smile to Cherry, who was curled up in the corner chair. The other woman still looked fragile. As if a loud noise would shatter her. But she had an air of peace about her now, too.

Hailey figured that probably had more to do with the ice-cream sundae and Christmas-cookie binge than anything Hailey had done. But if a few hours of listening, another few of hugs and tears and a couple of vats of hot fudge had helped, she was thrilled.

“You’re upset about Gage?” Cherry observed after a few minutes of silence.

They’d talked about her cancer, about the holidays, about their favorite junk food and the hottest actors. They’d covered lingerie, a mutual shoe obsession. And now, apparently, they were on guys.

Lovely. But as they’d silently established at the beginning of this bonding session, nothing was off-limits. Hailey knew it wouldn’t be fair to sidestep just because she didn’t want to talk about Gage yet.

But upset was an understatement.

Heartbroken, devastated, miserable. Those came closer.

“Disappointed,” Hailey finally said. “But Gage, the lingerie deal, they’re minor. Especially compared to what you’re facing.”

“What I’m going through doesn’t mean your pain is any less, you know,” Cherry chided, pushing her hand through that luxurious mane of red hair as if appreciating every strand.

“Maybe not, but it definitely puts my heartbreak and business woes into perspective.”

Cherry’s phone buzzed, the tenth or so time that evening. She looked at it and sighed.

“I’ve got to go. I have a show at eleven and my car is on its way.” Cherry gave her a warm smile, then offered, “This was wonderful, though. And now we have it down pat for our next visit. First I whine, then you whine? We just keep taking turns.”

Hailey laughed. Then, remembering the reason she’d brought Cherry back to her place instead of going to the other woman’s—besides the ample supply of cookies here—she jumped up and, with a murmured excuse, hurried into the other room. She was back in a quick minute with a gift-wrapped box.

“I intended to give this to you after we’d signed the deal, but, well, that’s out the window,” she said with a shrug as she handed Cherry the beribboned gift. “It’s just a little something I thought would suit you. Go ahead, open it now.”

Excitement, and the special joy that came from giving a gift that meant a lot, filled Hailey as Cherry tugged at ribbon, pulled at paper. When the woman opened the box and pulled out the hand-beaded, royal-blue forties-esque nightgown Hailey had designed just for her, it felt fabulous. Even better was the wide-eyed look of amazed appreciation on the redhead’s face.

“Oh, this is gorgeous,” she breathed. She pulled it close, holding it against her chest as if to assess the fit. Then, with a sniffle, she lifted tear-filled eyes to Hailey’s.

“It’s cut to drape from the shoulders,” Hailey pointed out, having to push the words past the lump in her throat. “It’ll flow to the hips, then swirl to the floor. No matter what your size, it’ll look amazing.”

“It’s as if you knew...”

“No,” Hailey quickly denied. “It’s simply the design. Too often, women are objectified. We’re made to feel beautiful only if we fit a specific mold, if we wear a specific size. But beauty, sexuality, that comes from within. Not from what fills our bra.”

Hailey sniffed, wishing she had the right words to let Cherry know that she’d always be gorgeous, always be sexually appealing.

So, instead, she shrugged and offered a smile. “It’ll be beautiful on you. Always.”

“I wish there was something I could do,” Cherry murmured, her fingers sliding over the heavy satin, then trailing along the delicate lace. “You’re so sweet, and I feel like I just destroyed your world.”

“No,” Hailey objected quietly. “My designs suit you, suit a woman who wants to feel beautiful, feel feminine. That’s not the direction Rudy is going. Even if I’d got the deal, the message would get lost in all the sloppy sex stuff he was going to throw in there. Leather panties, dinosaur shoes. The man has seriously horrible taste.”

They shared a grimace.

“You’re right. Your designs make women feel great. Sexy and strong.” Cherry’s words trailed off and she gave Hailey a considering look.

“What?”

“Well, I know you needed the contract. And I have no idea what position your company is in now that you didn’t get it. But, and I’m not saying I’m sure of this, but I was just thinking that it might be interesting if we...” Her words trailed off, her gaze intent on the nightie in her hands. After a few seconds and a deep breath, she lifted her eyes to Hailey’s. “What if we did a line together? You design. I model. Through all of these pitches, I’ve loved your message, your passion for how romance and emotion are sexier than lust.”

“Launching a line together would mean you’re putting yourself, your struggle and your body, on display,” Hailey pointed out quietly. She knew Cherry knew that, but it was one of those things that needed to be said out loud. A few times.

“I know. I think this might be what I need, though.” The redhead arched an elegant brow at Hailey. “And maybe it can be what you need.”

Could it be? Hailey’s mind spun in a million directions at once, all of them excited, none of them sure.

“Together?”

“Tentatively,” Cherry said, swallowing hard. “I’ll be damned if this disease is going to beat me, destroy my confidence or my career. I was going to agree to the Rudolph deal because I wanted exposure.”

“Our launching a line together, based on your story, might mean a lot more exposure than you bargained for,” Hailey said carefully.

She didn’t want to get too hopeful. She definitely didn’t want to profit from the other woman’s struggles. But oh, the possibilities. The idea of sharing her vision, the concept of expanding people’s views of femininity and sexual appeal, it made her want to cry with joy.

Somewhere between a grimace and relief, Cherry checked her buzzing phone.

“My ride is here. I’ve got to go. Let’s both think about this. A couple of days, maybe through next weekend. I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep. And you need to be sure this is enough to save your company.” The redhead rose, her nightie draped over one arm and both hands outstretched to take Hailey’s.

“I think this could be incredible,” she murmured.

Hailey’s mind was spinning. It would be amazing.

But she’d have to step up herself. She’d have to find a way to keep her business, without the Rudolph account.

But if Cherry could face this and find a way, so could she.

“I think it could be, too,” Hailey finally said.

With that and one last hug, Cherry smiled and floated out of the room. Hailey grinned. The woman was pure glam, even at her lowest.

As the echo of the shutting door faded, so did Hailey’s smile.

She did miss Gage.

His smile and his tight ass. His laugh and his sexy shoulders. His belief in her, his acceptance of her and his outrage on her behalf. Right up until he’d done the exact thing he was so outraged over.

She sniffed.

Still, something good had come of it all.

Optimism paid off.

Sure, things weren’t turning out the way she’d expected and held out for. But they were turning out. She should be happy. She should be excited.

She’d stood up for herself.

She’d made a new friend in Cherry.

She’d found a way to save her business, and to empower someone else in the process.

But all she could think of were Gage’s words. How he’d forced her to see how much damage she’d caused herself, her life and her business. All because she was always too worried about upsetting someone else instead of standing up for herself.

He was right.

And telling him off when she’d stood up for herself had felt good. Losing him hadn’t. But for the first time in her life, she understood that old saying.

If you love something, set it free. If it comes back it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it never was.

If she was always too afraid to stand up, to take a chance that someone might leave, then did it matter if she had them in her life?

It wasn’t until she felt the chill on her chin that she realized she was crying. Hailey blinked fast, wiping her face. Then, knowing she owed it to herself to make the most of the lesson—because she’d be damned if she’d lose the most important guy in her life for nothing—she picked up the phone.

“Mom? Hi. We need to talk.”

HAILEY STARED AT the thick expanse of wood, alternating between wanting to turn tail and run, and puzzling over the view.

Was that a wreath hanging there?

It was round.

It was green.

It had a red bow and—she leaned forward and sniffed—it smelled like pine.

Seriously?

Gage had a wreath hanging on his front door?

It was so out of character for a man who until last weekend had never even decorated a Christmas tree, she wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Maybe it’d be better if she left, thought about it for a while, then when she figured out what it meant, came back and tried to talk to him then.

Her fingers tightened on the ornately wrapped box in her hands, and, since her heart was racing fast enough to run off by itself, she gave a nod.

Yep, come back later.

She turned to leave.

Her way was blocked by a large male body.

Hailey screamed. The package flew a half foot and her feet almost slipped out from under her. Thankfully this was one of those rare occasions that she was wearing flats instead of heels. Just in case she had to run.

“What the hell are you doing?” she asked, her words a gasp.

“Coming home?” Gage said, his eyes dancing and his grin huge. “What the hell are you doing?”

Hailey debated.

Running now, given that it would require doing a dash around him, was a little silly. Still, silly had a lot of appeal compared to putting her heart on the line.

Her eyes eating him up as if it’d been months instead of a few days since they’d seen each other, Hailey almost sighed.

Damn, he was gorgeous.

“I brought you this,” she said, holding up the gift. “So here. Merry Christmas.”

She shoved it in his hands and, figuring she’d sidestepped silly, started to leave. She’d tell him all the heart-baring stuff later. When he thanked her for the gift, maybe.

“C’mon in.”

Hailey winced. But her feet froze and her body, always ready to do his bidding, turned to follow. Oh, man, this was harder than standing up to him had been.

“I didn’t have time to wrap yours,” he said after helping her off with her coat. The feel of his fingers, lightly brushing her shoulders, burned right through her sweater.

“You got me a present?”

Hailey gave up trying to look calm and casual, dropping to the couch and staring at him in shock.

“You really got me something? But I yelled at you.”

Her mother still wasn’t talking to her after hearing Hailey’s feelings about being dumped at Christmas. Again. And her father? He’d apologized all over the place, then blamed it all on her mother. She still hadn’t untwisted that.

But Gage acted as if he wasn’t mad. More, he acted as though he’d known he’d see her again, and that they’d be in a gift-exchanging kind of place.

It was as though nothing had happened.

Hailey wanted to grab that, to simply let it all slide. Just pretend everything was peachy, that he hadn’t hurt her or screwed her over in the Rudolph deal. Act as if she hadn’t said mean things and yelled accusations at him.

It’d be so much easier.

All her life, she’d gone the easy emotional route. Smiles were better than frowns, happy times preferable to angry.

But...she wanted more.

She wanted a future with Gage. To give them a chance and see where things went.

And she couldn’t do that the same old, easy way.

Then he asked, “Why wouldn’t I get you a gift?”

“Because we had an ugly fight.”

“So? People fight. Then they make up, right? At least, that’s how I’ve always heard relationships went.”

Relationships. They were in a relationship.

Joy, giddy and sweet, rushed through her. She wanted to stop talking now. To skip right over all this soul-searching chitchat and get down to the naked makeup fun.

But they deserved more than that.

Dammit.

Taking a deep breath, Hailey looked at her hands, then met his baffled gaze.

“I don’t know. I’ve only had one ugly fight, and it resulted in a big family rift. After that, I was afraid to fight. I was too worried that I’d lose whatever crumbs I had if I stood up for wanting more. Or that the person would walk away.”

His nod was slow and considering, and the look in his eyes intense. As if he were seeing all the way into those little cubbies and closets in her brain, the ones where she hid all her secrets.

“So where does that put us? That you didn’t mind losing what we had? Or that you were sure I’d stick around?”

She peered closely at his face, wishing she could see a hint of which he’d prefer she say. Then, since they’d already established that she was all about telling him like it was, she gave a little lift of her hands.

“Because you let me be me. You seemed to appreciate my strengths, my opinions. Me. I never felt like I wasn’t important with you. Or that there were conditions on our being together.” She swallowed, hard, then took a deep breath. Big admission time. “I wouldn’t say I blew up at you for no reason. I really was angry. And hurt. But maybe, sort of, I was pushing because a part of me wondered how fast you’d walk away once I got in your face.”

He arched both brows and gave her an assessing look.

“A test?”

Hailey opened her mouth to deny it, then had to close it. Why deny it.

“Maybe. Sorta.” She looked at her hands again, wishing she had something to do with all this nervous energy. Like run her fingers over his body, or touch his hair. But both of those actions would probably change the subject. And as much as she wanted to, she’d rather get this out of the way before they got on the subject of being naked.

“You really did offer me a better deal than I was getting from Rudolph. I could have easily taken a ledger of sales like that to the bank and negotiated a loan. Add to it your marketing package, something with such great long-term possibilities? Turning away from it was the worst business decision I could make. I accused you of putting business, your own ambitions, over what we were making together. But I was the one doing that.”

Hailey winced when Gage’s face creased into a ferocious frown and he looked for a second as if he wanted to hit something. What? He couldn’t take an apology?

“You’re killing me,” he finally said, pushing off the couch to pace the room. “I had these big plans. I spent the last few days putting everything into place, fine-tuning and perfecting things. And you sweep in here with your pretty smile and fancy gift and blow it all.”

She shook her head, wondering if all that humility had ruined her hearing.

“What are you talking about?”

“I quit Milano. Not a break, not a sabbatical, not a sanctioned-but-still-contracted reprieve. I quit.” He threw his hands in the air, as if tossing aside his heritage, his family and his commitments. But he didn’t look upset. Instead, he seemed relieved. Or maybe that was just what she was hoping to see?

“Is that a good thing?” she asked hesitantly.

“It doesn’t matter now. I’ve busted my ass building a pitch, crafting the perfect way to show you how much you mean and how important you are, and you sweep in here and outdo me. Again. Every damned time I think I’ve got the upper hand, you outmaneuver, outflank and outplay me.”

Hailey had to pull her chin off her chest and force her mouth closed. He was ranting, but he didn’t seem upset at all. Instead, he sounded proud. As if he was thrilled with her. As if he admired her. As if he really cared.

“Oh” was all she could say.

Then, as much as she didn’t want to, Hailey burst into tears.

“HELL.” GAGE CRINGED.

Not tears.

Anything but tears.

“Look, that isn’t a bad thing. I’m not upset about being outflanked and outmaneuvered. It’s like you being on top. I like that, too.”

Well, that got a smile, but didn’t stop the tears.

Dammit.

Gage pulled in a deep breath. He wanted to kiss the wet tracks off her face. He wanted to distract her with a naughty promise. But he was a man who knew the importance of timing. He had to do this now. Even though it was probably going to get him more tears, he manned up and took both her hands.

“That’s one of the things I admire about you,” he said, keeping his words low and quiet so she had to quit sobbing to hear him. “You’re incredible at what you do. You’re passionate about what you believe in. And you’re smart. Smart enough to call me on being a jackass. Smart enough to see my fears and push me to get over myself and go for the dream.”

She sniffed, her eyes wide and wet but, thank God, not pooled up any longer.

“You think I did all of that? You actually like that I called you on being a jackass?”

“Well, I’m not saying I want it to be my new nickname or anything. But I appreciate that you see me, that you understand me. And that you believe in me.”

She smiled. It was a little shaky at the edges, but filled with so much sweetness that Gage had to smile back. Figuring he deserved a reward for not running like a sissy boy at the first sign of tears, Gage lifted her hands to his lips, brushing a kiss over the knuckles of one, then the other. She was so sweet. So delicious. Then, his eyes locked on hers, he leaned in and brushed her mouth next.

So soft.

So incredible.

Her sigh was a gentle wash of emotion. Delight and relief, excitement and joy.

All good.

But he wanted her passion.

And he knew how to get it.

Gage shifted his lips, just a bit, and changed the angle. With a barely there moan, she opened to him, meeting passion with passion. Desire with desire. And, yes, baby, tongue with tongue.

He wanted to stay here. It felt good here. Safe. No emotional risk. A part of him figured he’d already risked plenty this week. His career. His standing with his family. His heritage.

There was nothing wrong with waiting a little while before putting everything else on the line.

Then Hailey gave a tiny moan. Her fingers, warm and gentle, grazed his cheek. Slowly, as if hearing his thoughts and giving him a chance to decide, she pulled back.

Her lashes fluttered, and then she gazed up at him. Those huge green eyes were filled with so many emotions. The lust made his already-steel-hard dick happy, and the delighted joy gave his heart a little buzz. But it was the trust there, the total faith in him, that made Gage want to groan.

With happiness. And in frustration.

Because there was no way he could back down when she was looking at him like that.

“So,” he started, pretty sure this was the first time in his life he’d struggled with the right words to sell his point. “I talked to Rudy this morning.”

The excitement shifted in her gaze, a frown leaving a tiny crease between her brows.

Nice job, Gage thought. Maybe next he could tell her Santa was fake and that Christmas cookies made women fat. She’d probably look just as happy.

“I wanted to tell him I was off the Milano account. I couldn’t throw Milano under the bus, but did suggest he take a hard look at what sexy really was to women, and to men who didn’t use Playboy to measure their relationships.”

Her lips twitched, but the frown didn’t fade.

“He’s sick of the whole thing. Said he’d rather the models strut down the runway nude than have to worry any more about lingerie.” Gage’s lips twisted in a rueful smile. “But he said he was going to think about it. That he’d probably be giving you a call.”

Gage waited, ready for her to, oh, maybe throw her arms around him. Squeal with excitement. Offer up her undying gratitude and maybe a little love.

Instead, she pulled away and bit her lip before giving him a grimacy sort of look.

“You’re so sweet to do that. I really, really appreciate it.” So much so that she looked as if she wanted to throw up, he noted. “But I don’t think Rudy is going to want to work with me.”

Gage knew for sure the guy didn’t want to work with either one of them. But that was beside the point.

“Why not?”

“Because I stole his star,” she said, watching her fingers twist together for a second before she met his eyes with a gleeful look. “For a lot of reasons, she didn’t want to work with Rudy. So Cherry and I are launching a line together.”

Gage burst into laughter. Poor Rudy. Looked as though his models were going to have to strut down the runway naked after all.

“What are you going to do about the payoff?” he asked. He’d already talked to his banker, arranged for a loan if she wanted it. He’d figured on wrapping up the payoff in a bright red box, but knew she wouldn’t accept it, so the loan was his backup. Just in case she wanted help.

“Well, after chewing into you, I called my mother and told her off for just about everything,” Hailey said, sounding proud. “Then, figuring I was on a roll, I called my father and did the same. And then, since I had nothing else to lose, I called Dawn Phillips and told her that revised contract or not, her father and I had an agreement and I’d met it faithfully for three years. That she’d either renegotiate the terms or my attorney would be in contact and we’d settle it in court.”

Gage was pretty sure his grin was wide enough to pop his ears off.

“’Atta girl. You kicked ass. I take it everyone stepped up and took responsibility?” About damned time, too.

Hailey shook her head.

“Nope. My mother cried and blamed me for ruining her holiday. My father said he’d take my complaints under consideration and discuss them with my stepmother.”

Damn them. Gage was afraid to ask, but figured he’d started this so he didn’t have a choice.

“And the Phillips woman?”

“Dawn?” Hailey pursed her lips before giving him a smile that lit the room brighter than the tree they’d decorated. “She agreed to the terms Eric and I had set. After I’d told her how fabulous the business was doing, and how much more money she stood to make if she let the terms play out for another two years, and then I pay fair-market value on the balance due, she saw the wisdom in waiting.”

And here he’d thought he’d have to rescue her.

Gage grinned.

Once again, she’d outdone him.

He loved that about her.

“You’re amazing,” he said with a wondrous smile.

“I couldn’t have done it without you. Without you pushing me, showing me that there’s more to a relationship than convenience.” She swallowed hard enough for him to hear the click, then took a deep breath and met his gaze. Her own eyes were huge. “I think I’m in love with you.”

He’d never heard those words.

Ever.

Gage’s heart melted. And then, like the Grinch he’d dressed up as once, it seemed to grow huge. So huge he wasn’t sure what to do with it.

All he could do was pull her close.

Before his lips met hers, he whispered, “I think I’m in love with you, too.”

As they fell into the kiss, the lights of the condom-covered Christmas tree twinkled.

And Gage had to admit, the holidays pretty much rocked.