Chapter 33

ChapterThirty-Three

Sadie

After the catastrophe of our date night, I woke the next morning in Nick’s arms, his front pressed to my back, his arm wrapped around my waist, and Claus snuggled up in a little ball against my feet. I could feel his rumbling purr begin as soon as I moved and it didn’t take him long to stand, stretch, and strut up the bed for pets.

We’d fallen asleep in our clothes. After I cried hard, and Nick kissed me, to which I returned his kiss just as hard, pouring myself into that kiss—all of myself into it—I’d been exhausted.

Since then, we hadn’t talked at all about that night. We went along with our lives as if we never went on that date in the first place. Nick went back to stealing hot kisses, never taking it farther, and I went back to wishing he would.

My heart bleeds for this man. He’s a good man. I’ve been watching him, really watching him, and I don’t think there’s a better man. At least not for me. I also think Dad would have loved him.

It’s Christmas Eve now, and I have a gift I want Nick to unwrap early.

We had an appies for dinner with wine. Low Christmas music plays over the built in surround sound as we talk, and I fall even deeper for him. We’re talking about nothing at all. Just life, memories of my childhood. Mom and Dad. How I’ve always wanted to go sky diving and how he wants to go on a safari. How maybe we might do these things together.

We’re coming awfully close to the conversation about what happens after Christmas—when I’m supposed to go back to Arizona—but we fall into silence, neither of us ready for that.

Again, I think of the gift I want him to unwrap, and I stand, a little abruptly. His brows dip in confusion, but I mumble, “I’m going to take a bath before bed—in your room,” I stutter. “You have jets.”

He eyes me curiously, but nods, letting me go.

Upstairs in his bathroom, I draw a bath, pour lavender and vanilla bath salts into the water, twist my hair into a knot on top of my head, and sink into the water.

I need this moment of relaxation before I do what I’m about to do. I need this moment to build my courage.

When my moment is up, I shave all the bits that need shaving until I’m silky smooth and then I get out. I don’t pull the plug, because I don’t want him to hear the bath water drain and come to find me before I’m ready to be found.

I need time, I think, as I pull the sexy as sin outfit from the bag and start to put it on. Now, looking in the mirror, I have to admit that I look drop dead gorgeous—and I swear, if Nick doesn’t fall to his knees—or ravish me—I’m going to die a very slow, very humiliating death.

Allie was right when she said that this outfit was the outfit. It’s Christmas red and sheer. Under the sinfully sexy baby-doll nighty, I wear a pair of matching red underwear, again in sheer lace. Over the little outfit is the gift wrap. The tiny, sexy red robe with the thick black ribbon I’ve tied in a bow around my waist. Red lace peeks out from the hem, a tease for the man I hope will see me soon.

My hair is down, and my waves are soft. I haven’t bothered with any makeup, but I feel beautiful.

I tiptoe into his bedroom and light the candles I bought for this night, and when his room is glowing romantically, I go back to the bath and pull the plug.

I know he can hear the water drain, and I know it’s only a matter of time before he comes to find me. So, anxiously, I wait.