Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 21057 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21057 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“Can you believe that my girl made them from scratch?” He gives me a proud smile. My cheeks heat up from hearing him refer to me as his girl in public for the first time. “She’s so talented.”
I don’t say anything. I can’t. He’s too much. My heart is aching as I watch him wave a family over. “Come check these out,” he says as he holds up a wreath I made. “Do you have a wreath for your door?”
“No,” the mother says as she inspects it. “We should have a wreath now that you mention it.”
“Can we get it, Mom?” the young girl asks. “Please?”
The father looks like he’d rather be at home watching football, but he doesn’t complain as he pulls out his wallet and hands over twenty bucks.
I thank them and they leave as the elderly lady buys ten ornaments, one for each of her grandchildren and two for their own tree.
More people come by and Marshall does his thing, selling all of my products like it’s the easiest thing in the world. Normally, I stand back and patiently wait for people to come but that rarely results in a sale. I need to bring this guy every weekend.
“Thank you,” I whisper between customers as I stuff the wad of cash into my dad’s old tackle box.
“This stuff is amazing,” he says as he picks up a painted ceramic stocking holder. “They’re selling themselves.”
I doubt that, but I don’t argue. I just smile and watch him as he does his thing.
By the end of the day, I hardly have any crafts left. What I do have is a tackle box full of cash and a hot guy that I’m even more in love with.
“That was fun,” he says as he folds up my table. “Are you going to be able to make more supplies by next weekend?”
“Depends how busy you keep me,” I answer with a grin.
He growls as he leans in and kisses me on the lips. “I think you’ll have an empty table.”
I nibble on my bottom lip as I give him a flirty look. “That’s fine with me.”
“Speaking of keeping you busy,” he says as he collects our things. “Do you want to spend the Holidays with me?”
“Really? The Holidays?”
He nods. “I’m heading to my parent’s cabin for Christmas and I’d like you to join me. I don’t want to start another year without you.”
“But… Your parents? Christmas? Isn’t that… too soon?”
“Not for me,” he says with a fierceness in his tone. When he sets his mind on something, it’s set. That’s one of the things I love about him—also his assertiveness, his drive, his determination. He’s able to make a decision quickly and stick to it. Meanwhile, it takes me all morning to decide what shoes to wear.
“Is it too soon for you?” he asks, his forehead creasing with unease.
“No,” I answer with a shake of my head.
I was ready for this a long time ago. I’ve known for months that he’s the man for me.
“I’d love to spend Christmas with you and your parents, Marshall. It would be a dream come true.”
He seals it with a kiss and just like that, Christmas got a whole lot better.
CHAPTER TEN
Colleen
* * *
Christmas with the Kings was amazing. Marshall made me feel like a princess the entire time, doting on my every need and showering me with extravagant presents.
His parents loved me and his mother Judy and I really hit it off. She’s a big crafter too and I taught her how to make my hot cocoa ornaments, which she loved.
She showed me pictures of Marshall when he was a boy and it made my heart hurt to see that cute kid with the messy hair and toothless smile. I couldn’t help thinking that maybe one day, we’ll have an adorable boy who looks just like that.
Judy also told me that she’s never seen Marshall so happy and she’s never seen him look at a girl the way he looks at me. I couldn’t help but blush with that one.
It’s been a magical week of board games, skiing, hiking in the snowy forest, and cozying up in front of the fire with my man and a glass of wine.
I thought that Christmas morning might be awkward, but it wasn’t at all. It was so fun! Judy got us all comfy Christmas pajamas to wear and we all opened presents around the tree. After, we cooked a huge breakfast together in their beautiful kitchen—Marshall and I cooked the waffles (and burnt half of them because we were a bit distracted with some light flirting). More family members trickled in and we ate at their giant table, laughing as everyone took turns telling me their favorite Christmas stories about Marshall. I died laughing when his cousin told me that Marshall spray painted the tree red one year and it made the place look like a hell-themed Christmas.