I like the idea of us together too, but should I say that? Or am I moving things too quickly?

“I’m never going to rush you, Amelia,” he says when I remain quiet. “I don’t want to push you into anything you’re not comfortable with, but I want you to know that I like you. A lot. More than I probably should, considering how long we’ve known each other. But I won’t press for more. We’ll go at whatever pace you prefer.”

He leans in and gives me such a scorching hot kiss I need a few seconds to find my voice after he pulls away.

“You kiss me like that and I want to go extra fast,” I admit, making him smile.

“Then let’s go fast until you want to slow it down,” he says, threading his fingers in my hair once again. “It’s almost the new year. The Christmas rush is over. We’ve got plenty of time. Let’s enjoy each other’s company the next few days. Hang out. What do you think?”

I think that sounds like the most perfect way to finish out this year and start the new one. How did I get so lucky?

I stare at him in wonder. “Are you for real?”

“Didn’t you just ask me that last night?” He kisses me again, stealing a few of my brain cells with his lips. “I’m as real as I can get. Let me be with you, Amelia. That’s all I want.”

“Okay,” I murmur, just before he kisses me. “I want to be with you, Isaac. So much. Even though I’m still a little scared.”

“Don’t be scared, baby. I’ve got you,” he says, his voice rich with promise.

I touch his cheek, stroking his face gently. “Will you be my Christmas present this year?”

“Only if you’ll be mine,” he returns.

“Deal,” I whisper.

We seal it with a kiss.

Epilogue

Isaac

One year later…

“Oh my God, is that thing going to fit through the door?” Amelia asks, sounding a little worried.

Okay, a lot worried.

“Trust me, babe.” Who would’ve thought the Amelia Lee would approve of me calling her babe? Well, guess what. She totally approves. Especially when we’re naked in bed and I’m deep inside her and this close to making her come.

Yeah. I took it there. Because she’s a gorgeous woman who makes me feel things I never thought I could before.

In other words, I’m totally in love with the woman.

I gather as many branches of the tree that I can and basically shove it through the front door. I lose a few branches in the process, but that’s okay. This thing is bushy. And there are pine needles everywhere, but we’re gonna give that fancy Dyson vacuum Amelia owns a workout because hot damn, I finally got the tree inside her apartment.

“There!” I haul the tree up so it’s standing tall in the entry. “What do you think?”

Amelia slowly shakes her head, worry clouding her features. “It’s massive.”