Page 98 of Cabin Fever Baby
“I mean, I’m the one coming to you without a job. I do have a healthy nest egg though.”
I laughed. “I don’t care about the money. I have a good bit of savings myself, enough that I think I want to start over too.”
She lifted her hand to my face, cupping my cheek. “What? You don’t want to go back to Chicago?”
“I really don’t. I’m a local guy, but this town…” I turned to press a kiss into her palm, then I grinned. “There’s something about Crescent Cove. I want to build a life here with you. I’ve missed being around my family. Even Finn is talking about moving here.”
“I feel it too. And I’d love that. We’ll figure it out together.”
“The best thing that ever happened to me was that snowstorm. Oh.” I leaned in and kissed her quickly, but the taste of her after a few days away had me lingering.
She lifted her hands to cup my face, kissing me back.
I groaned into her mouth. “Wait. I have something for you.”
“You sure do.” She let one hand drop to my lap to cup me through my jeans.
I caught her hand and kissed it. “I would really like to continue that, but you have a fleet of brothers upstairs that just startedmaybeliking me.”
“They’re coming around.” She grinned. “But you’re right.” Then her eyes sparkled. “What do you have for me?”
I inched to the edge of the cushion and set her next to me. “Be right back.”
She curled up into the corner of the couch and I could imagine that exact scene for the rest of my life. Complete with a massive Christmas tree backlighting her soft cloud of hair.
Would our kids have her hair?
Or my gnarly curls?
Maybe even blond curls. The possibilities were endless.
Quickly, I jogged over to where River had hung my coat. I took the box out of the pocket and brought it back to her.
She took the box with a little frown between her brows. “I didn’t get you anything.”
“You got me more than enough. A whole brand-new life, even if you come with some scary siblings.”
With a laugh, she slowly tugged apart the bow. “It’s almost too pretty to open.” She bit her lower lip. “Almost.” She set the top of the box on the arm of the couch and then she sucked in a breath. “Oh, Hudson.”
She pulled out the fragile chain with the aquamarine snowflake pendant and her eyes filled again.
“The snowstorm really did bring me everything. I saw that while helping my brother shop for Ellie today.” I cleared my throat. “She’s Cal’s wife.”
She laughed and a few of the tears brimmed and slid down her cheeks. “Ellie was how I found your parents’ house.” She held out the necklace. “Can you put it on me?”
After I took it from her, she twisted around and held up her hair.
I unhooked the clasp—it was intricate and actually locked so the necklace wouldn’t be lost. I put it on her, then I kissed the back of her neck. She sighed and bowed her head. I couldn’t help going in for another taste before I slid my fingers through her silky hair to help it settle back around her shoulders.
She looked down at the pendant then she turned in my arms, wrapping herself around me. “I don’t know how I got so lucky.”
“I’ll remind you of that when I’m freaking out about leaving my job.”
Her laughter was a balm I never knew I needed.
Everything was going to be all right now that I had her back in my arms.
“Merry Christmas, Ocean.”