I could hear him moving away from everyone. “Okay, I’m on the front porch. I only get one hint?”
“Yep!” I said, popping my p. “It’s lace.”
“Color?”
“That would be two hints,” I softly replied.
“I’m coming over tonight.”
Desire blazed through my body. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Shit, I’ve got to go. They’re about to open gifts. Next year we’ll be spending all of Christmas day together.”
I was on early kitchen duty this year and ended up staying last night at Ellie’s house along with Alex. That meant no waking up to Jase this morning, but Alex and I had our own little private slumber party last night, which had been fun.
The thought of waking up Christmas morning in Jase’s arms was a wonderful one. “I’ll text you when I’m leaving and heading home.”
“Sounds good. Taylor?”
My breath caught like it always did when I knew what was coming next. “Yes?”
“I love you.”
My eyes closed as the most amazing feeling wrapped my body like a blanket. “I love you too.”
Jase
“You’re off in another world,” Ava said as she hit me lightly on the stomach.
Drying off the last dish, I placed it in the cabinet and turned to Ava. “Wondering what Taylor is doing.”
A smile grew across her face. Nodding, she said, “Yeah, I can’t stop thinking about Ryder. I can’t wait to get back to Montana.”
Narrowing my eyes, I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms over my chest. “Are you really going to move to Montana?”
Her eyes lit up and her face beamed. “I love him, Jase. I can honestly say I’ve never felt this way before in my life. It’s like he brought a part of me I didn’t know existed to life. That’s the only way I can describe it.”
“You’re preaching to the choir.”
With a chuckle, she leaned her head back and took me in. “Taylor seems very sweet and . . . innocent.”
“She’s both.”
“Very beautiful too, I might add. The way she looks at you there is no doubt she is madly in love with you.”
With a grin, I looked out the window. “I wish I hadn’t been so stupid and wasted so much time.”
“Everything worked out like it should have and that’s all that matters.”
I brought my attention back to Ava. “Yeah. So how are Reed and Courtney taking your decision to marry Ryder and set up roots up north?”
She frowned and let out a low moan. “My father must have lectured me for I swear three hours about jumping into something so quickly with Ryder.”
“It is kind of fast, Ava.”
She glared at me. “Not you too, Jase. Of all people I thought you would understand. Look at you and Taylor.”
My hands came up in defense. “Whoa. Hold on a second. I do understand and I get it. I’m just saying it would be different if he was in Austin and all of this was happening. Your parents are trying to deal with not only the fact that you’re going to be getting married, but you’re moving to Montana also. That’s huge.”