Chapter 6

6

LELAND

I could tell that Olivia had forgiven me by the time I'd given her two chocolate doves and a French cookbook—since she loved to cook. But I wasn't going to stop there because I wanted her to know that I would love and cherish her no matter what. Not just when I'd fucked up.

Before handing over her next package, I had her sit on the couch in her parents' living room, facing the fireplace. On the mantel was her mother's Christmas village. Multiple small buildings and houses, each with a light inside, and a scattering of people, trees, and other fitting items. Over the last two holiday seasons, Olivia had mentioned her mother's village whenever we passed similar sets in a store or window. There was always a wistful quality in her voice when she talked about them because she knew there was nowhere to display or store them in her room at the sorority house.

"It didn't make sense to give you a gift like this before now," I explained. "But we'll be graduating in a few months and moving in together"—I gave her a hard look so she knew that part wasn't negotiable—"into an apartment where you can show off your collection each holiday."

Olivia tilted her head to the side and gave me a curious glance, though at my statement about moving in together, the corners of her lips had lifted. She took the package from my hands and ripped open the paper, gasping when she saw the box with a picture of a porcelain house that had been meticulously painted with lots of detail. Four calling birds were perched on the roof, mouths open as if about to sing.

"This is from the Dickens Village!" she exclaimed as she opened the box and withdrew the carefully wrapped house.

"I wanted to be the first one to contribute to your village. I know you'll get your mom's someday, but I was thinking that these—this village could be ours."

Olivia practically melted into me, and I bent my head to press my lips to hers. The clearing of a throat ended our embrace, and I mentally rolled my eyes while Olivia glared at her dad. He started whistling and walked off as if he'd wandered into the room by mistake when I damn well knew he'd interrupted us on purpose.

"I love it," she whispered when he was gone. "Thank you."

"I love you, too, baby. Always."

The next day, I slipped five golden bangles on her wrist. There was another one that went with it, but I was saving it for last.

Her next gift was a not-so-subtle reminder that we'd be living in the same place after graduation. When she opened the egg cooker—with six spots—she toppled over with laughter.

Just for the fun of it, she woke up to a massive blow-up swan beside her bed the following morning. However, that wasn't really the gift, and after she stopped giggling, she noticed the envelope taped to its beak. Inside were two tickets to the ballet, a performance of Swan Lake we'd be attending the day after Christmas. Olivia loved the ballet but had never asked me to take her. Probably because she assumed I would rather do anything else. But that couldn't be further from the truth. I would be happy anywhere as long as she was with me.

Eight boxes of Milk Duds showed up by her breakfast plate the next day, but the real surprise took her off guard and once again had her in stitches. I took her to a local dairy where they allowed visitors to milk the cows. It had been more strenuous than either of us expected, and we left with a healthy respect for those milking maids.

My girl was a bookworm, and it turned out there were nine Christmas romance novellas titled Nine Ladies Dancing . After watching her light up when she opened them, I took her dancing.

Ten lords a-leaping had been a little more difficult. I didn't want to give Olivia anything cliché and wanted her to know I'd thought about each and every gift. I ended up ordering ten leaping lord sugar cookies from her favorite bakery, but I wouldn't let her eat them until after we went to a local trampoline park. For making her wait, she only gave me one cookie and devoured the rest. However, I didn't give a fuck when I was mesmerized by the way she ate them with little hums of pleasure and a blissful expression.

Her parents were both off work for a couple of weeks, and Olivia and I were cursed with horrible timing. Either we were out together, her parents roped one of us into doing something, or visitors came by with treats and gifts. Alone time was impossible. I was very, very close to snatching Olivia and taking her to the nearest hotel.

It gave me a little bit of perverse pleasure when the fife and drum band I hired woke them up after their holiday party with the neighbors that had gone late into the night. Misery loves company and all that.

Olivia loved the sound of bagpipes and thought the performance was wonderful. Her neighbors weren't too pleased, but they were too hungover to do anything about it.

After the pipers were gone, I gave her another package. Inside was an apron with "Master Piper" written on it above an icing thing piping a cupcake. There was also a set of eleven piping tips and the other tools she would need to decorate. I wasn't expecting anything in return for my gifts, but I wasn't about to turn down the cupcakes she made later that day. As she cleaned everything up in the sink, I paused as I walked past her and whispered, "You'll have to teach me how to use those because soon, I intend to decorate you with icing and lick it off. I bet your wet pussy will taste beyond amazing, filled with frosting and your cream." Olivia shivered, and I pinched her ass before continuing to help tidy up the table.

On the final day of my extravaganza, a drum line showed up at her house, accompanied by a few brass musicians who played "Little Drummer Boy." By this point, her neighbors were well aware of my antics, and they just poked their heads outside or wandered into their yards to listen. When they finished, we all clapped, and I gave them a generous tip before sending them on their way.

Olivia shook her head as we walked back inside. "Wow, Leland. I don't even know what to say. This was amazing."

"It's not over yet," I told her with a sly smile. There was one more trick up my sleeve. It was also my way of testing the waters.

It would have to wait until later, though. We finished breakfast with her parents, and to my complete and utter joy, they announced that they had last-minute Christmas shopping to do and would be gone all day since they were going to the outlet mall an hour and a half away.

We said our goodbyes, and when their car pulled away, I took Olivia by the hand and guided her into the living room. There was a small box under the tree, and I knelt to retrieve it. It was the perfect size for a ring, and when I held it out, her green eyes widened, and she pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. At the excitement dancing on her face, I felt awash with relief. Although, I did feel a little guilty when she opened the box to find something besides an engagement ring. Her crestfallen expression only lasted a moment, but I didn't miss her disappointment. It was replaced by a soft smile as she traced the gold bracelet nestled inside.

"I want this to be a reminder of how much I love you," I said as I sat down beside her and took out the jewelry. "Whenever I fuck up—and we both know I will—look at this and remember that I'm really fucking good at groveling."

Olivia giggled as I clasped the chain around her wrist. Twelve charms dangled from it, each depicting one day of Christmas from the song. "You really are," she agreed before kissing me on the cheek.

Her scent invaded my lungs, and the air crackled with electricity. Olivia leaned back, and we stared at each other, almost as if we were waiting for the other shoe to drop. To be interrupted yet again. Except this time, there was no one but us.