Chapter Six

Christmas Day, Levi woke up early as usual and looked at Kinley as she slept.

He was so in love with her, but he still hadn’t told her about his past. They needed to talk.

He slowly slid out of the bed, dressed, and headed downstairs. Her cat was at the bottom of the bed, but jumped down and followed him.

As he walked down the stairs, his cellphone buzzed. Picking it up, he grinned when he read the text from Tara.

Merry Christmas!

You too. He sent back.

I hope Santa brought you everything you wished for. He grinned at the Santa emoji.

He skipped my house.

Are you doing alright?

I’m fine. You?

Not really, but I’ll tell you later. Have a wonderful day, Levi. Miss you.

He was taken aback by her texting that she wasn’t fine, and she missed him.

Have a good day yourself. Take care.

He waited a few seconds but there was no response. Maybe she just meant she missed talking to him, and he hoped she was alright. Shrugging, he put his phone in his pocket, then headed for the kitchen to get a cup of coffee.

He folded his arms, leaned a hip against the counter as his coffee poured into the cup. He stared down at the cat .

“Don’t look at me, I’m not feeding you,” he said, and chuckled when the cat sat and licked her paw as if dismissing him. He was removing his cup when Kinley entered the kitchen, walked toward him, kissed his lips, then pushed him out of the way with her hip.

“Damn, am I in your way?” he joked.

“Nothing comes between me and my coffee in the mornings. Not even you, cowboy.”

Levi chuckled as he kissed her temple, then lifted his cup to his lips and sipped the hot brew.

Once she got her coffee, she took a sip and sighed. “I need to feed Tootsie, then we can open presents.”

“Alright. I’ll meet you in the living room.” He left the kitchen, walked to the living room, and sat down on the sofa.

“Let’s open presents,” she said as she walked into the living room.

“Okay.” He nodded for her to get hers.

She picked up a few boxes and handed them to him. “Merry Christmas,” she said, then kissed his lips and sat beside him.

“This is too much,” he said.

“It’s not. Don’t argue with me, you’ll lose.”

“No shit,” he muttered, and set the boxes on the coffee table. He put his mug down, stood, walked to the tree and lifted the box, then set it on the floor in front of her. “Open it.”

“You first.” She smiled.

Levi sighed. “Damn, you’re difficult.”

Kinley laughed. “Just do it.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He opened each box of shirts and thanked her. “I did need some new shirts.”

“Open the last one. ”

Levi sighed as he ripped the paper off and saw Beckett Boots on the box. He raised his eyebrows.

“You didn’t.”

She shrugged. “You’ll have to look.”

He lifted the lid and stared at the new boots, then looked at her.

“These are too expensive.”

“You needed new ones and don’t say you didn’t. Have you seen your boots?”

“Yes, but—”

“Nope. I wanted to get them for you.”

He leaned over and kissed her. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiled.

“What’s the other present there?” He pointed to a gift still under the tree.

“Oh, that’s for Celine. We exchange gifts the day after Christmas.”

“She a nice person. Okay, open yours.”

She jumped up from the sofa. “Okay.”

He chuckled as she ripped the paper off, then opened the box. She stared at the dollhouse, then looked at him with tears in her eyes.

“Aww, hell, darlin’, don’t cry.”

She got up, sat beside him, hugged him, and sobbed.

“I’m not crying,” she said, making him laugh.

“Okay. Addison said you’d cry, but I didn’t believe her.”

Kinley looked at him. “Addison knew?”

“Who do you think wrapped it? I sure as hell didn’t.”

“Help me get it out of the box, please.”

“There’s another gift in there.”

“Oh.” She got up, looked into the box, then pulled out the smaller gift. She sat back down beside him, opened it, and stared at the furniture. Then she looked at him and more tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Damn,” he said, shaking his head.

Kinley threw her arms around his neck. “If I didn’t love you before, I sure as hell do now.”

“The day we were in the store and you asked Vanna if she had lay-away, I shook my head so she’d tell you no. I knew then that was what I’d get you for Christmas.”

“I love you,” she said, and kissed his lips.

“I love you too.”

She stared into his eyes and a sly smile lifted her lips.

“I thought you gave me a good present last night,” she said, then laughed when he shook his head.

“That was a good gift exchange last night,” he said, grinning, making her laugh again.

“How do I get this out of the box?” she asked as she sat on the floor by the box.

Levi stood, removed a pocketknife from his jeans, sat beside her, then carefully ran his knife down the seams of the corners, so that it fell apart.

“How’s that?” he asked, then looked at her when she didn’t answer, and saw her trying to hold back tears. “You really wanted that dollhouse, didn’t you?” he whispered.

“Yes. I fell in love with it a long time ago. I can’t remember not wanting it. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome, baby. Hey, how about I fix us some breakfast while you figure out where you want to put it. Then you can put the furniture in it.”

Kinley nodded. “Alright,” she said, still staring at the house.

“I can make scrambled eggs.”

She looked at him. “That’s fine,” she said, then looked back at the dollhouse.

Levi grinned, as he headed for the kitchen.

“I hope everyone who wanted a white Christmas is happy,” he muttered later, as he drove them to Cody and Addison’s house.

Kinley laughed. “I am, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said with a grin.

He pulled up close to the porch and looked at Kinley.

“Ready, sweetheart?”

“Yep.” She opened the door and stepped out. She opened the back door and removed the gifts she’d gotten them.

Levi got out and picked up the gifts he’d gotten for them too, then they walked up the steps.

Cody opened the door after Levi knocked and waved him inside. The smell of turkey made his stomach growl.

“Hey, Cody.” He handed him the gifts. “Merry Christmas.”

“You too, Levi. Merry Christmas, Kinley. Glad you both could make it. Let me take your coats. Would you like anything to drink? Beer?”

“Uh, no thanks, but I’ll take a cup of coffee.” Levi removed his hat, hung it up, then removed his coat and hung it up with his hat.

“Sure? I have plenty of beer. I’m about to have one. I know it’s only three, but it’s been a long day.” Cody grinned.

“No, thanks, Cody. I don’t drink. ”

“You don’t? Not at all?”

“No, sir.” Levi had a feeling Cody was remembering when they played pool at his and Addison’s engagement party when Levi told him he was getting a beer. He had told him that because he wasn’t ready to tell him about his past.

Cody stared at him for a few seconds, then nodded. “No problem. Let me get you a cup of coffee. Kinley, what would you like?”

“Coffee, please. Where’s Addison?”

“Right here. I’m so glad you both could make it. I think we’re in for a lot of snow. Oh, hey, Levi. Merry Christmas to you both,” Addison said with a smile as she hugged Kinley, then hugged him.

“What did Santa bring you, Kinley?” Addison asked with a raised eyebrow.

“You know exactly what he brought me, so don’t act so innocent,” Kinley said, making everyone laugh.

Addison looked at Levi. “Did she cry?”

Levi glanced at Kinley to see her shaking her head, then he grinned and looked at Addison.

“Like a baby,” he said, and laughed when Kinley slapped his arm. He pulled her close, kissed her lips, and asked. “Did I lie?”

“No, but you didn’t have to tell them.”

“Let’s all head to the living room,” Cody said, and they followed him.

Kinley watched with anticipation as she handed Addison the wrapped gift. A smile spread across Addison’s face as she opened it and pulled out a beautiful blue angora sweater.

“Oh Kinley, it’s absolutely stunning.”

“You’re welcome. There’s another one in there,” Kinley replied with a smile.

Addison opened the smaller gift and gasped when she saw the dollhouse bassinet.

“Oh, Kinley, I love it. It’s the only piece I didn’t have for my dollhouse,” she exclaimed, standing up to hug Kinley. “Thank you so much.”

“You’re so welcome. I was happy to find it.”

“That’s what you were doing in the antique shop,” Addison said.

“I’m just glad I was with her at the time.” Levi grinned.

“I am too,” Kinley said. “But not because of the bassinet. You gave me the best gift. The dollhouse.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he pulled her against him, kissed her forehead, then they sat down and continued with opening presents.

Cody chimed in with his own thank you as he unwrapped the pocketknife Kinley had gotten him. He grinned as he showed it off to everyone.

“I lost mine recently,” he said, “so this is perfect.”

“I know,” Kinley said, exchanging a knowing glance with Addison.

Next, they moved on to the gifts Levi had picked out for them. Kinley gasped when she saw the delicate handblown glass dish that he had chosen for Addison.

“Did you get that from A Touch of Glass?” she asked in awe.

Levi nodded with a smile. “I did. It took me forever to decide on something, that place has incredible pieces.”

“It’s going straight into my China cupboard,” Addison declared with a grateful smile .

For Cody, Levi had chosen a pair of sturdy leather gloves, and he wasted no time putting them on and thanking him.

“Hey, I needed these,” he said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, I noticed your old ones were pretty worn out,” Levi said with a grin.

“Open yours now,” Addison said excitedly to Kinley.

Kinley tore off the wrapping paper and lifted the lid of the box inside. Her eyes lit up when she saw the red blouse inside.

“I love it!” she exclaimed, holding it up for everyone to see.

“I noticed how much you admired it when we went to Paige’s,” Addison explained with a grin.

“Wait, you went to Paige’s and didn’t get me anything?” Cody interjected with mock outrage.

Kinley and Addison burst into laughter while Levi frowned slightly.

“Paige’s?”

Cody chuckled. “Yep.”

Levi looked at Kinley. “You went to Paige’s and didn’t get me anything?” he said, making them laugh.

Cody got up from his seat and walked over to the fireplace mantel, retrieving an envelope that he handed to Levi with a smile.

“Merry Christmas from Addison and me.”

Levi took it and frowned. “Thank you.”

“Open it,” Addison said.

“It’s not a pink slip firing me, is it?” Levi joked.

Cody grinned. “Didn’t I tell you there were no worries there? Open it.”

Levi nodded, opened the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper. He unfolded it, scan the paper, then he widened his eyes, and looked at Cody.

“You can’t do this.”

“Well, we did.”

“But—”

Addison stood. “There’s no but to it, Levi. You deserve it. We want you to always be here and this way, you are.”

“Okay, what is it? Y’all are killing me,” Kinley said.

Levi handed her the paper. She frowned but took it from him and read the document.

She looked at Cody and Addison. “You gave him the cabin along with ten acres? That was a very unselfish thing to do.”

But instead of sharing their excitement, Levi was struggling with it. He shook his head and quickly left the room, without another word.