Faking It This Christmas, page 7
Stefano chatted animatedly with his brothers about football. I could have joined him, but I knew nothing about soccer. I grabbed my coat and escaped outside.
The cold metal squealed and protested as the swing moved back and forth. My feet created a groove in the snow underneath. It was cold outside. My breath formed a cloud of vapor around me. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice someone approach.
“Thought I saw you come out here,” Darren said, startling me.
The playground across from the apartment building had always been my safe space, but it wasn’t a great hiding spot.
“Did you have a good Christmas?” I asked him.
“I did. I can tell something is on your mind. We used to be friends.” He shuffled his boots. Darren stepped behind me and grabbed the chains on either side of my head. “Before everything else happened, we used to talk. In case you forgot, I’m a pretty good listener.”
I twisted my body and my eyes shot to his. “I remember,” I said, digging my foot in the snow and stopping the swing. “I don’t think you want to hear what I’m thinking.”
“Try me,” he said, shoving me forward in the swing.
I cast my gaze down to the snow. The tiny crystals drifted from the dark sky, adding a layer of sparkle to the ground. “I love him, but I’m scared. What if it all falls apart like what happened with us? Love wasn’t enough to keep us together. You stopped loving me and I—”
“I don’t remember it like that.” He came to stand in front of me and stopped the swing.
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you remember?”
“You broke my heart. I had the ring, I asked, and you said nothing. You shut down and shut me out. That wasn’t the response I expected.” He kicked the snow, sending a puff of white into the air.
My mouth opened to reply, but I closed it. I could see his point of view. My hesitation back then might have given him the impression I didn’t love him, even though I had.
“You never did anything I expected. We were young and opposites in many ways. I reacted badly and pushed you away. Maybe I was testing you. And what did you do? You fucking left.”
His language caught me off guard. “Are you still mad at me? As I recall, you wouldn’t talk to me after that night. I called you for a week straight. I left messages saying yes, but you kept rejecting me. Grams suggested I give both of us space and time to heal.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m not mad anymore, but at the time I hated you. It was your sister who calmed me down. When you didn’t come back, I moved on. I love Cassie and the life we’ve built. It’s just that when you returned, you weren’t the same. It was like we were strangers. For the first time in years, you’re acting like the old you. You’re not hiding and I’m glad.”
I knew exactly what he meant. My acting abilities weren’t very good. “Thanks for this talk. I think I twisted things around in my head. It’s made me act foolishly, but that’s over.”
“What are you two doing out there?” Cassie yelled from across the street. “Come back! I made hot cocoa.”
We laughed and headed home. She held the door open for us and I kissed her cheek. “You must both be icicles,” she said rubbing Darren’s arms.
“You can warm me up, babe,” he replied, pulling her against his chest. They kissed.
I giggled and removed my coat. My arms were freezing. “I need a warmer sweater. I’ll see you both later,” I said, walking towards my room.
Stefano followed me inside and closed the door. “What’s wrong? You left right after the food. Did you not like Mamma’s cooking? Whatever you do, don’t tell her that,” he joked.
I laughed and patted my belly. “I loved her cooking. It wasn’t dinner.” I rubbed the back of my neck and sat on the edge of the bed. The old mattress squealed.
He sat next to me and took my hand. “Tell me.”
This was my opportunity to tell him how I felt. Instead, I choked up and blinked away the moisture from my eyes. He squeezed my hands, encouraging me to unload the weight on my chest.
“I… am tired,” I breathed. “This has been one of the best days of my life.”
“Amore, you had me worried for a moment,” he said, pulling me against his chest. His heat spread through me. “The day is almost perfect. Almost.”
We sat for a long while, holding each other and basking in the silence. Or near silence, since the bed announced every shift we made. “Let’s go back out there before they think we’re having sex or something,” I joked.
“I’ll be right with you.” He stood and shoved his hands in the pocket of his jeans. “Noelle, are you happy?”
“I am,” I answered honestly. “Because of you. Thank you for coming on this trip and being the perfect boyfriend. You’ve made this a Christmas to remember.” I removed the word “fake” before boyfriend and hoped he noticed.
I stood and softly pressed my lips to his. “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
“Me too.” He kissed the top of my head and walked to his bag.
I left to rejoin the noisy bunch in the packed living room. I squeezed through the crowd to sit next to Grams. Smoothing the stray hairs away from her face, I smiled. Laughter echoed around us. I stared at Stefano as he entered the room.
Grams took my hand and kissed the back of it. “You’re glowing,” she whispered in my ear.
Stefano’s expression took my breath away, his brown eyes wide and filled with joy. He sparkled brighter than the lights on the tree. The silly Santa vest he wore only added to his charm. He weaved through the group and stopped in front of me. Gazing into my eyes, he smiled and took my other hand.
He cleared his throat, drawing the attention of everyone. His gaze traveled the room. “Tonight, we are among our family and those we love the most. Noelle and I were telling each other how happy we are to have found one another.”
His eyes locked with mine and my breath hitched.
“Noelle, I never expected to find love with a Canadian girl. But fate brought us together.”
Pressing my hand over his heart, he paused. The fast beat matched a herd of elephants. He was nervous. I searched his eyes for a reason. My heart was ready to burst from my chest. I had no idea where this speech was going, but I couldn’t wait for him to go on.
“I never expected to fall in love with you either,” I admitted.
He winked and dropped to one knee. “This may seem sudden, but not for me. I’ve been searching for you for a long time and here you are. I love you with all my heart. Will you make me the happiest man on earth and agree to be my wife?” Using his free hand, he removed a ring from his pocket.
“Yes,” I breathed. His proposal overwhelmed me, but there was no other answer to give. “Yes, I will marry you.”
He placed the ring on my finger and kissed me soundly. When he released me, I stared at the princess cut diamond. It was exactly what I would have picked out. I glanced at my sister who clung to Darren, and they were both smiling with tears in their eyes. My mother wiped her eyes. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Even Grams had watery eyes, and she never cried. In all the years I had known her, not once had I seen her shed a tear.
Overcome with happiness, I joined the group and cried. Big fat tears of joy slipped down my cheek. “Stefano, I love you.”
“You two take our hotel room tonight,” Francesca insisted, and tossed a key at us.
“That’s up to my bride,” Stefano deferred, shrugging his shoulders. His smile was larger than the nearby mountain range.
I picked up the key and shoved it in his pocket. “I think we should go now.”
Everyone burst out laughing. As we made our rounds and accepted the congratulations, it dawned on me that this might not be real. The ring had probably belonged to his ex. Was the engagement fake? It felt real to me.
I refused to let the doubt in my mind take away the happiness in my heart.
“Have fun. Merry Christmas, Noelle.” My mother hugged me. “We’ll see you in the morning or afternoon, or whenever.”
Stefano tossed me over his shoulder and carried me out of the apartment. No jackets or a change of clothes. Just us. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Once buckled in the SUV, he turned to me. “I love you.”
My eyes widened. There was no one else around. He didn’t have to say those words. “Say it again.”
He cupped my cheeks. “I love you.”
“For real?” I asked as my eyes misted yet again. I needed to hear those three little words that would change everything.
“This is real.”
EPILOGUE
One year later.
M y stomach twisted as I adjusted a crystal ornament on the tree. It had been a present from Grams when I was five. The miniature, sparkly baby rattle made me smile. The fake branches on the tree had seen better days, but everything was perfect. I rubbed my belly and blamed too many cookies for the pain.
Stefano wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed the top of my head. “Amore, you should sit. You’re doing too much.”
“The timer went off on the last batch of cookies,” I said, snuggling into his embrace. “Cassie and Darren left with baby Mila while you were at the store. Grams went home and Mom’s still at work. I got up to take the cookies out and got distracted. I’ll sit, after shutting off the oven.”
His hands moved under my shirt and caressed my belly. “Done. So, that means we’re alone.”
He swept the hair away from my neck and kissed below my ear. The sensual press of his lips made my body shiver. It had been hours since we’d made love and if he continued, we’d be going at it again any second. I pressed my ass against his hardening cock. Pain or no pain, I couldn’t get enough of my husband.
Our wedding had been every bit as perfect as our first Christmas. We’d flown to Rome and honeymooned throughout Europe. Most days, I was so happy I could barely stand it.
“I love you,” I moaned as his teeth grazed my ear.
Warmth flooded my system and drenched my panties. After a year together, we were still insatiable. The lust, the love and the happiness had intensified. I was a lucky woman.
“I love you more,” he replied as his fingers moved down my rounded belly and slipped into my underwear.
My skirt granted him easy access to my intimate area. He moaned. Those primal sounds drove me crazy with desire. I felt my arousal dripping down my leg. He cupped my sex. I moaned in anticipation, but he stilled.
“Don’t stop,” I begged, grinding my backside against his erection.
“You’re wet.” He sounded surprised and pulled his hand away.
I laughed and turned to face him. “You’ve been making me that way since the day we met.”
“Not that kind of wet,” he said and gifted me with this sexy half-smile. “You’re leaking. I believe your water broke. How do you feel?”
My eyes widened, and my hands gripped my stomach below my belly button. His hands covered the top. I’d been having Braxton Hicks contractions for days. The twisting in my stomach happened again, only more intense. I inhaled and winced as the pressure increased. For more than a week now, it seemed like the baby was ready to fall out.
“It might be time. Oh man.” I stroked the underside of my belly and chuckled. “You weren’t due for another week and a half,” I said to our baby.
“She’s the best present you could give me,” he said, lowering to his knees. Stefano lifted my shirt and kissed my pregnant belly. “A baby on Christmas. How perfect. I can’t wait to meet you, Millicent Ricci.”
We planned to name her after Grams. She was the reason we came together. I smiled. “She could be a he. Don’t be upset when you deliver our son.”
“It’s a girl.” He kissed me again. “If I’m wrong, I’ll owe Barker a favor.” We both shuddered and laughed.
“That worked out well for us in the past,” I reminded him before gasping.
The pain hit hard; way more than anything I had before. I breathed through it as Stefano helped me to the couch. My mother’s living room never changed. Beige walls and the carpet to match. At least the holiday decorations added some vibrancy.
“As part of the birthing plan, you wanted the family here. I’ll call Fiona and my mom. They can call the others. Unless you’ve changed your mind or don’t think this is the real deal?”
His big brown eyes were calm and confident. Exactly what I needed to see. He was an amazing partner, lover and husband. He would be an awesome father and I couldn’t wait to see him holding our child. Tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Oh, this is it. There will be no faking it this Christmas,” I replied.
He made the calls. One by one, everyone I loved came to share the joy with us. Our family piled into my mother’s apartment. The night rolled into Christmas morning. After ten hours of grueling labor Stefano delivered our daughter, changing our lives forever.
Overcome with happiness, I cried along with my husband and our baby. Our Millie was healthy and the best gift on earth.
Can’t get enough of holiday romances. Check out Player Substitution which is available for free if you head over to my website and subscribe to my mailing list. Grab Player Substitution.
AUTHOR NOTE
Thank you for reading Faking It This Christmas. I had a blast writing this steamy holiday book, and I hope you had fun reading it.
I would be honored and grateful if you chose to leave an honest review. I read all my reviews and enjoy getting feedback about my writing. If you want more steamy holiday stories, then please leave a review and let me know you love the book and can’t wait for more.
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SNEAK PEEK
PLAYER SUBSTITUTION
Puck Battle Series Intro
Player Substitution is a Christmas Romance and is intended for a mature audience. A change of underwear may be required.
Chuck Radcliff is not the a**hole everyone thinks he is. At least Miranda never thought so, until recently. He puts on a tough guy act for the rest of the world. He’s the rough, scrapper on the ice; the man’s man off it; and a tiger in the sack. It’s all bullshit, except for the last part—he’s a dynamo between the sheets.
She gave him her heart and her virginity a long time ago. They were supposed to be the fairy-tale romance of high school sweethearts whose love transcended time. Instead, their marriage is a bad reality show with flaws displayed for the world to see, and it’s all his fault.
He messed up.
Big time.
Now days before Christmas, she has a decision to make. Miranda isn’t the type to forgive and forget—this nice country girl has to be more cunning than that.
They say all is fair in love and war. Let’s find out if that’s true as Miranda puts Chuck to the test. The best revenge is living happy and that’s what she plans to do.
Each book in the Puck Battle series features a different couple and can be read as a standalone. HEA guaranteed.
Grab your FREE copy for subscribing today: Player Substitution
SNEAK PEEK
HOLIDAY FACE-OFF
Puck Battle Series Book One
Holiday Face-Off is a Christmas Sports Romance and is intended for a mature audience.
All is fair in love and hockey, right?
WRONG.
Being single is the only way to protect her heart, especially from sexy bad boy hockey players who are a dime a dozen in the Canadian prairies. With a rash of disappearances in the area, heading home for Christmas is the only way to stay safe. University freshman, Carly Saint, has a chip on her shoulder and a past that’s off limits, but even the toughest woman can’t say no to Theo Montagne, the NHL’s rising star.
She thought she knew everything about the famous hockey player from what she’d seen on TV. Except a chance encounter with the smoking hot centreman isn’t at all what she expected. When the blizzard of the century forces them to seek shelter to survive, she discovers how different he is from any man she’s ever met.
Theo has certain naughty ideas of how they can spend their time in isolation, and Carly’s defensive game crumbles against the league’s top scorer. But when the snow tapers, their newly formed bond and lives will be put to the test.
Each book in the Puck Battle series features a different couple and can be read as a standalone. HEA guaranteed.
Grab your copy today: Holiday Face-off
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kristen Echo is a lover of romance stories. She writes passionate love stories that are both sexy and dirty. Her books will make you feel more than a little naughty in all the right places.
She lives in Manitoba, Canada where she spends any free time with her two lovely little girls and the love of her life. When she's not writing, you can find her contemplating life’s mysteries with her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee, or with her nose stuck in a sizzling hot romance.
She’s a Canadian, so of course she loves hockey. The Winnipeg Jets are her home team and will forever hold a special place in her heart. But her true love is football. Sorry, Canadian Football League—she’s a diehard NFL fan. Blue and orange are her colors.
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