“Don’t you say that if you don’t mean it.” Emma’s voice trembled,emotion ready to spill out any moment.
“I meant every word.” Dex pushed off the counter and crossed thekitchen, closing the distance between them. “I never knew what love really wasuntil I met you. I’ve never felt for anyone the way I feel for you, and ifyou’ll have me I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you.”She took Emma’s face in her hands and kissed her gently.
Each one of Emma’s senses zapped to life as the kiss deepened. Shefelt at home again, with Dex, right here in this very moment.
She broke the kiss and let her forehead rest against Dex’s. “Ilove you too.”
Dex wrapped her arms around Emma, and she melted into her. Tearsmixed with kisses as they held each other for close to an hour. Emma neverwanted to leave the warmth of Dex’s arms again.
“I’m such a mess.” Emma laughed as she wiped the tears from hercheeks and stared into Dex’s eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here.” In a matter ofminutes her life was good again. Her bah-humbug Christmas had morphed into themost wonderful holiday ever.
Dex glanced at the counter and shrugged. “I had to come. Whowould’ve made the cookies?”
Emma chuckled. “I’ve never loved Christmas cookies more in my lifethan I do right now.”
Dex’s eyes sparkled as the lights from the Christmas treereflected in them. Emma could never forget how the sunbursts danced brightly inthe emerald-green pools whenever they locked with hers. She had no idea whyshe’d ever let anyone take that gaze away.
* * *
The game wasn’t even half over, and Dex was losing badly at Super Mario Kart.Emma’s nephews Tyler and Jake had been taking turns showing Dex the rear endsof their cars. Now that Emma had joined the game, she’d taken the lead, and Dexwas still dead last. The competitive streak definitely ran in the family. Emmahuddled closely on the couch as the game ended and smiled up at Dex.
She shook her head. “Do you always win?”
Emma scrunched her nose. “Pretty much.”
She leaned near and kissed Emma, tingling as she thought about thebet they’d made. Dex was getting smarter. She’d made a wager that would benefitthem both later that night, and she couldn’t wait to pay up.
“Come on, boys. It’s time for presents.” Glo stood in thethreshold of the door and shooed them out. “You two as well.”
Dex had brought presents for the boys as well as one for Emma’sparents. She and Emma had exchanged their gifts for each other throughout thenight and into the early morning. Then they’d lain in bed, wrapped up in eachother, watching the sun rise through the bedroom window. Waking up with Emmawas the most precious gift in the world.
They’d spent the rest of the morning working at the homelessshelter serving Christmas dinner. Emma had stood right alongside Dex dishingout food and mingling with people and was a natural. Juni and Josh had beenthere as well, and they’d gotten to know Emma better. Juni had told Emma she’dbeen rooting for her all along and was so glad to see her and Dex together. Itseemed that Juni was Emma’s biggest fan. After they finished and were headed toEmma’s parents’ house, Emma had told Dex she’d found the whole experiencetotally fulfilling, and they’d made a pact to do it together every year.
Dex and Emma settled in on the couch, and Bill handed everyone apresent, with the largest in front of Emma’s mom.
“I bet I know what this is,” Glo sang out as she ripped the paperoff the wooden creation. Her face dropped. “What exactly is this?”
“Oops.” Bill jumped up, took it from her, and set it on Dex’s lap.
“For me?” It was a cordless tool-charging station just like Billhad made for his garage.
“Yeah. You said you liked mine.”
“Wow. This is…” She swallowed to keep the tears from forming inher eyes. She set it on the coffee table in front of her, then bolted up andhugged Bill.
He squeezed her and patted her on the back. “I’m glad you likeit.”
“I absolutely love it.” She hugged him much longer than necessarybefore she dropped onto the couch and stared at it. She’d never had anyone makeher anything so special. Emma took her hand and squeezed it. This was turningout to be the best Christmas ever.
Bill retrieved the other large present from under the tree andhanded it to Glo. “This one’s for you.”
She opened it and squealed. “My bird feeder.” She held it up foreveryone to see. “It’s perfect.”
Dex sucked in a deep breath. She loved her mother and father, butseeing them on Christmas Day wasn’t something she could ever count on. Here,she was in the midst of Emma’s family, and her heart was full. The love theyshared for each other was overwhelming. It was the perfect holiday with theperfect girl and her perfect family. Dex couldn’t ask for anything more in herlife right now.
Epilogue
The day couldn’t have been more perfect if Dex’s fairygodmother had conjured it up with her magic wand. The sun was shining, andthere wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The temperature had topped out at seventy-fourdegrees, and a mild breeze had kept the guests comfortable in their seats. Thefall weather had cooperated perfectly for the outdoor ceremony. Dex and Emmahad decided to keep the wedding small and spend the bulk of the money they’dsaved this past year on their honeymoon, of which the destination was yet to bedetermined.
The day had been perfect. Dex couldn’t believe how lucky she was,and the permanent grin on her face made it clear she was right where she wantedto be. Her eyes welled as she watched her lovely bride stroll onto theperfectly polished hardwood area centering the room. Dex had hit the jackpot.Emma was both captivatingly sexy and irresistibly sweet. Dressed in a simplewhite dress that fit her curves perfectly, Emma turned and blew her a kiss. Thejolt zapped through Dex as it always did when she looked at her that way.They’d been
