Page 50 of Holley Jolly Biker

Little bites of Crawfish-Stuffed Mushrooms.

Taking in everything.

And when Soraya fell asleep atop Saint’s shoulders, I offered to take her.

He growled at me.

Which had me laughing.

Chapter 11

Ophelia

We were both stalled in what we were about to do when Soraya yelling from the living room, “Monnie? Daddy? Papa Noel came! Papa Noel came!” I moaned when I heard Soraya calling out from the living room.

Saint chuckled, then winked down at me, “We will continue this later.”

And with that, he pressed a kiss on the top of my nose, then he jack-knifed off the bed.

Lifting up so my head was cradled in my hand, I watched his back muscles work as he pulled on a pair of buffalo plaid pajama bottoms I had gotten for no reason at all.

And yes, I got myself a pair as well as Soraya.

That man, that man, didn’t hesitate to put them on with a smile on his face.

Still lying there as he moved to the bathroom, I thought about a few things.

How not once, not once has he ever gotten mad when Soraya needed me when we were in the middle of starting something. He didn’t take it out on her, and he didn’t take it out on me.

The saying, just wait until the honeymoon phase is over, and you will see their true colors, well... for the first time in my life, I think they got it wrong.

It should be, don’t hold your breath for the honeymoon phase to be over because, girl, you got lucky.

And with that, I smiled, and when I did, Saint came out of the bathroom, stopped, and stared at me.

When he didn’t move, I smiled and asked, “What?”

He started moving then, but towards the bed, placing a fist in it and lowering his big body until his face was inches from my own.

Then he said, “Dreamt of the moment when I would find my one and only. Dreamt about seein’ her hair all over my pillow, her soft body between my sheets. And seein’ that smile I know good and goddamned well I put on her face, fuckin’ priceless. And honey, that’s what you are to me. Goddamned priceless. You rolled into town, and never, fuckin’ never have I dreamt of anythin’ better than you.”

And with that, he winked, then straightened and headed out of the room.

Leaving me in a pile of ooey gooey-ness. Damn that man.

Would it be wrong to tell my daughter to go back to bed for at least two hours so I could show Saint my appreciation for his words?

Seeing as it was Christmas morning, I thought it might be.

There was nothing that was going to wipe the smile off my face today, freaking nothing.

Not even the mess I knew they were about to make when I heard, “Princess, the rule is that your mom and I must have coffee, and you must have hot cocoa with marshmallows. Then we must make homemade cinnamon rolls, fill our bellies, and then we get to open presents. Okay?”

Soraya nodded, “Okay, Daddy.”

I knew my man was smiling from ear to ear.

After I got my matching pajama bottoms on, used the bathroom, and stood at the end of the hallway looking into the kitchen, I knew I was right.