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but he had the sort of voice that when he spoke, people tended to listen. Deep. Gravelly. Working-class Philly with a little hint of Jersey.
Sometimes hoping hurt and rolling with the punches was the only way to avoid hitting the floor.
His enthusiasm was maybe the best thing about him, and I hoped he never changed one bossy trait. The world needed more Gideon. And maybe I did too.
“You’re cute if you think I can’t be bossy and bottom at the same time.”
He deserved someone watching out for him, someone to leave a light on, and if he’d let it be me, well, I liked that. It also terrified me. But not enough to dampen how much I wanted to be someone for him.
It’s all I ever wanted for him. Him to reach for the stars, maybe catch one.”
I was beginning not to know what to make of Paul’s praise. I wasn’t that extraordinary, simply an organized person with a side of too much free time for shopping. But when he looked at me with his eyes shining and lips parted, I felt truly special. And when he kissed me, soft and sweet, I almost believed it. This particular kiss was all the sweeter for its unhurried vibe. No mad dash to the bed, simply Paul saying, “thank you” and melting all my circuits in the process.
I want you for next Christmas. The help is a bonus.”
“I really did want to save your Christmas.” My mouth twisted as I tried to find the right words. Paul wasn’t the only one who had a hard time speaking up. “But I also kinda wanted in your pants. I think I might have tricked you into keeping me around.” Paul blinked, then blinked again. “Well. Can you keep on tricking me?” “Pardon?” “First, I’m not sure you noticed, but outside of letting you boss me around, I’m a tough guy.” He offered another crooked smile. “Not a pushover. No one’s weaseling their way into my life if I don’t want it. If you trapped me, I wanted to be caught.”
“Gideon,” Paul groaned. “Stop looking like you’re trying to decide between hauling me back to bed upstairs with you and the shopping trip.”
“I’ve already picked a movie out for later while we decorate the trees.” “There better be explosions. Wait. You said trees. Plural.” I gave him a hard stare. “Well, yes.” He at least had the grace to look sheepish. “Yours from last year for the front room. My tabletop one for the foyer and—” “Why, oh, why am I not surprised there’s an and involved?” “This red foil one for our room fell into my cart. It matches our hunter-green walls. I couldn’t help it.”
I still liked the sound of our room too much not to grin. My whole life, I’d never shared a room with another person, never knew how much I wanted to or how complete my life would feel waking up next to him with Jim in her dog bed across the room and the cat hanging out on the window seat.
As the first snowflakes of the season fluttered down around us, I wanted everyone to see. I wanted Gideon to see most of all how much he mattered to me. I wasn’t ever going to stop giving thanks for my favorite Holiday.
