A Christmas to Love You (5 page)

When Chloe shuts the door I startle her, I guess she didn’t notice me behind her. I place a hand on her hip. “Go upstairs and take a bath.”

Her eyebrows pinch together.

“I’m going to make you dinner. You’re always cooking.”

Her eyes light up. “Really?”

I chuckle. “Really. Now get your fine ass upstairs take a bath and relax. I’ll call you when dinner is done.”

I have to smack her on the ass to get her to move. I remove my shirt and throw it in the laundry room, then wash my hands. I open the cabinet trying to figure out what I can make on the fly that’s easy enough.

I spot a jar of spaghetti sauce and ziti noodles. I set them on the counter and look in the fridge to see if we have mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese. I move the milk out of the way, look to the second shelf, nothing. I pull the lunch meat drawer open and there is the mozzarella. Glancing in the door I spot the ricotta.
Perfect.

I start dinner and then put it in the oven and let the cheese melt. While that’s baking I grab a blanket from the closet and lay it out in front of the fireplace. I light up the gas fireplace and set it on low so we don’t sweat our asses off eating. I set up two plates with forks and napkins on the blanket. I pull out a bottle of wine that was chilling and pour two glasses.

“Shit,” I mumble to myself. Opening the freezer I grab the Texas Toast quickly read the directions and throw it in the oven. Luckily it’ll be done just about the same time as the ziti.

I hear Chloe walking around upstairs so she’ll be down in a few minutes. Looking into the living room I make sure everything is set up and nothing is missing. I check the toast and it’s just about done. I pull the ziti out and place it on the floor next to the fireplace so it keeps warm. I toss the toast on a plate and take that out into the living room too. I sit on the floor and lean back bracing myself on one elbow as I hear Chloe coming down the steps.

Her dark hair is up in a messy but sexy bun on the top of her head. Her cheeks are pink from her bath, her face is clean of make-up, and she takes my breath away. Her body has changed over the last few months since she started working out. We set up a home gym since it’s so hard for us to find the time to get to the gym. Her once curvy figure is slimming down, her hips are something of the past, her legs that used to touch and drive her crazy no longer do that, her arms are lean and slightly muscular. She’s working hard on her body and it’s showing but I guess I’ve been so caught up in life I hadn’t noticed.

Her eyes roam to the blanket and her hand comes up to cover her mouth. I smile and hold my hand out to her. “Come here.”

She takes slow steady steps and then takes my hand. Sitting up I wrap my arms around her and kiss her cheek.

“I can’t believe you did all this.” She whispers.

“This is nothing---” She cuts me off.

“Maybe to you it is but not me. I don’t need the fancy dinners and flowers but this,” she points to our dinner, “means a hell of a lot more than all that.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t done it sooner.” I feel like a horrible husband.

“But you did it now, Jackson.” She turns, her eyes glassy. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I squeeze her hand then slide from behind her and dish our dinner out. Surprisingly it didn’t turn out too bad. We talk about my job, Alex, and the places she has interviewed. It’s nice to be able to talk without Ryder yelling about this, that and the other thing. I forgot how much Chloe can make me laugh, it was one of the things that made me fall for her. Everyone thinks she’s a snob and always thinks she’s better than everyone else but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. She’s down to Earth and super smart. Actually makes me feel pretty dumb sometimes.

When we’re both done eating dinner I help Chloe take the dishes to the kitchen. She washes the dishes and I dry.

After we’re done, Chloe dries her hands on the dish towel and grins at me. “Thank you, Jackson. This is a perfect night and just what we needed.”

I press my body into hers and cup her face with both my hands. “It’s not over yet and that fireplace looks really warm out there.”

Her eyes twinkle. “Is that so?”

“Yup.” I kiss her delicious lips and pull her back into the living room. I grab a pillow tossing it on the floor. We lay down beside each other, our legs tangle together.

“You’re beautiful.”

She blushes, every time I tell her that she blushes. You’d think she’d be used to it by now.

“You think so? Even after almost ten years of being together.”

Clearly I’m not being a good husband if she really doesn’t believe me when I tell her. “I think you’re more beautiful now than you were then.”

She laughs. “I’m older now. My body has changed since Alex.” She whispers like it’s just our little secret. “I found two grey hairs this morning.”

“Two? You better make an appointment to go get your hair dyed.” I tease.

She shoves my shoulder. “I already did.”

I frown. “I was kidding. You don’t need to dye your hair.”

“I know.” We’re quiet, content with being wrapped in each other’s arms by the fire. “I feel like things are at a stand still with us.” She sighs. “I don’t want you to get bored with me. Seems we fell into a pattern and I’m not happy with that.”

I lean forward causing Chloe to lie down on her back. “I’ll never get bored with you.” I rub my thumb lightly over her temple. “You’re my best friend, Chloe. You’ve given me a son, you take care of me, our home, everything really.”

The tears spring back into her eyes. “But I feel like it’s not enough sometimes.”

“Well, then let me show you that it is.”

I kiss every inch of her body, worshipping it, and then do it all over again before slowly making love her to her not once but twice. We’re reconnecting, something that we both needed more than I think we both realized. You don’t recognize that sometimes by just having sex, the intimacy that two people create can change the dynamics of your relationship for the better, help you get back to where you both were, make you remember why you are with this person.

When we’re both sated and half asleep still naked in front of the fireplace I smirk. “Okay, maybe I do owe my sister a nice Christmas gift.”

Chloe nods sleepily. “A really nice one.”

It’s Christmas Eve and Andrew and I have all the grandkids at our house. Caleb and Alexis are napping in the Pack ‘n Play in the front room snuggled into their blankets near the Christmas tree. Ryder and Alex are running around the house with Andrew playing hide-and-go-seek and little Miss Olivia and I are in the kitchen baking.

Sprinkling some flour on the granite countertop I start rolling out the cookie dough. I listen as Olivia babbles and laughs to herself as she squeezes the dough I gave her to play with between her little fingers. Our children have been so blessed throughout the years, each now finding their own significant others and making beautiful families. MacKenzie had a run for her money with Hunter but all that fighting and hard work to get where they are in life now has paid off with their stunning family. I couldn’t have picked a better son-in-law for my one and only daughter. I always knew those two would end up together long before they did, I just sat back and watched as the pieces fell into place. As soon as MacKenzie laid eyes on Hunter for the first time, a little something in me knew they would wind up together.

Olivia squeals and laughs louder as she rubs her fingers in her hair caking it with dough and the grease from it. That little girl is going to break some poor boys’ hearts. She looks just like Hunter but her personality is all MacKenzie’s. I’ve never seen eyes and little pink pouty lips like this little girl has. Every time I look at her I can’t help but smile. The boys will be lining up at the door soon enough and there will be a line of Cahill men waiting in the wings to beat them all off with a bat.

“Olivia, what are we going to do with you?” I laugh as she pokes a little pink painted finger into the dough.

Andrew comes running into the kitchen slowing down as he takes in how messy Olivia is. “Oh boy, I guess someone’s getting a bath.”

Seconds later I hear little feet padding down the hallway. “Grandpa,” Alex and Ryder yell at the same time. “Got you!”

Andrew mocks getting mad that he was found as he lifts Olivia from the highchair. “Olivia and I will count while you boys go and hide.” He tells them.

I smile and finish rolling out the dough and reach for the cookie cutters. Andrew sits down at the table and places Olivia on his lap. She bangs on the table with her messy hands leaving fingerprints on the polished table.

“At least wipe her hands, Andrew.” I laugh watching him bang on the table with Olivia.

Shaking my head I grab the clean towel next to the sink and toss it on the table beside them. I go back to my dough pressing a few cookie cutters into it. I peel away the left over dough and toss it back in the bowl and start lifting the cookies onto the cookie sheets.

“When is everyone coming back over?” Andrew asks placing Olivia down on the ground.

“They’ll be back for dinner. Mason and Hailey are home catching up on sleep, Hunter and MacKenzie are finishing up shopping for the kids. Jackson, Chloe, Cooper and Jaylinn took a trip out to the outlets for a few last minute things.”

Andrew comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist and snuggles his face into my neck. He kisses me and I lean into his embrace. “I miss this.”

I sigh. “Me too. I’m glad that we have grandkids now though.” After MacKenzie moved out with Hunter I was feeling a little depressed because my nest was now empty. All my babies have grown up into strong, caring, protective, and loving people.

“I’m glad we can send them home anytime they get cranky and won’t listen.” Andrew laughs.

I shake my head. “You’re terrible.”

“And we don’t have to worry about interruptions at night anymore when I want to make love to my wife.” He whispers into my ear.

I turn in his arms and wrap my arms around his neck careful not to get my messy hands on his shirt. “Hmm, that
is
nice.”

I feel a little tug on my pants as Olivia pulls herself up. “She’s always got to be the center of attention just like her mother.” Andrew says with a huge smile on his face.

He lets go of me and reaches down for her. “Looks like mother and daughter have you wrapped around their fingers.” I wink at him.

He laughs and shrugs. “It’s true, now Miss Olivia and I have two little boys to find.”

Andrew and Olivia walk down the hall to find the boys while I finish up the cookies.

Just as I get the last of the cookies into the container, the twins start crying. I quickly wipe down the counter and wash my hands then make their bottles.

Andrew pokes his head into the kitchen. “You get Alexis and I’ll grab Caleb?”

“Sure.” I start to walk out of the kitchen and then remember Olivia is a mess. “Where’s Olivia?” I need to at least wipe her hands and face down until I can get her into the bath.

“Right here.” Andrew says as I walk into the hallway. Olivia’s curly hair is wet and she has her pajamas on.

“You gave her a bath?” I ask in shock.

He smiles as he runs his hand through her hair messing it up. “Yeah.”

I smile at my husband, my heart so full of love for this man. “How did I get so lucky with you?”