Page 61 of The Keeper and I
“To you, maybe.”
With an irritable huff, she got out of bed and wrapped her dressing gown around her before stepping into her slippers. Jordan pulled on joggers and a hoodie. Hand in hand, they made their way to the dining room. Pam put out a spread of breakfast food as she did every Christmas with eggs, bacon, sausages, waffles, fruit, and more. Everyone helped themselves, and they sat together before opening gifts.
Jordan’s eyes widened at his stack of gifts. Laci’s parents and her brothers had shopped for him. Pam and Gene had even bought a little present for Ava, which Jordan, a bit hoarsely, promised to send along to her. Laci’s leg bounced with the anticipation of seeing him open her gift.
“Wow,” he said, pulling out the new keeper’s gloves she’d gotten for him.
She grinned. “Look at the wrists.”
He obeyed, turning them over to see where she had his initials embroidered on them with little Scottish flags on the elastic. His smile widened. “They’re perfect, Laci, thank you.”
He pulled her closer so he could peck her cheek. Then, he handed her her gift from him. She’d been eyeing it all weekend, unsure what the slim, rectangular box could be. She tried guessing but was wrong every time. She unceremoniously ripped the wrapping paper.
“Jewelry?” she asked, holding up the velvet box. It had a gold hinge on the back to open it.
Jordan shrugged. “Open it and find out.”
She pulled it slowly, revealing a stunning replica of the Heart of the Ocean necklace fromTitanic, a big blue stone with surrounding diamonds and all. Laci gasped and nearly dropped it. Mouth agape, she started at Jordan.
“How did you…what—are you serious?” she cried.
He only smiled at her. “D’you like it?”
“I love it!”
“What is it?” Pam demanded from the opposite couch. “Show us, Laci.”
With a trembling hand, Laci took it out and held it up. It sparkled in the glowing morning light. Pam clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my!”
“It’s gorgeous!” Laci couldn’t take her eyes off it. “And perfect! It looks just like the one from the movie!”
“Well done, Jordan,” Tate signed from his spot on the floor.
“Thank you,” Jordan returned. He offered his hand to Laci. “Want to put it on?”
She nodded eagerly. “Yes, please.”
It didn’t matter that she was still in her pajamas with her hair unbrushed. She handed over the necklace and moved her hair aside. Jordan’s touch on the back of her neck made her shiver despite the warmth of the nearby fire. When he finished with the clasp, he put her hair back himself.
She looked down at the jewel.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, touching it with a deft finger. She met his gaze. “Thank you so much. This is the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever received.”
He started to answer, but she claimed his lips in a kiss. She tried to put everything she was feeling into it—gratitude, joy, impressed. Most of all, deeply moved. Jordan surprised her at every turn.
“Merry Christmas,” he said quietly when they parted.
“Merry Christmas,” she returned with equal tenderness.
“Just don’t go throwing it into the ocean like the old lady,” Jax said, killing the mood. “That was fucked.”
“Don’t say fuck, Jax, it’s Christmas,” Pam said.
“Who cares?”
“Jesus cares!” his mother insisted.
Laci let her family’s playful bickering fade away as her eyes fixed on Jordan. Once again, the relationship felt less and less like a ruse.