A Billionaire's Holiday Love - Posey Parks Page 0,32

for a piece of our business if we ever needed anything handled. Earlier, I texted Vincenzo. He said he’d arrive tomorrow so we could have a sit down.

If that motherfucker Lewis didn’t watch it, I’d have a little fun before my cousin made him disappear. I really didn’t want to involve my mafia family. But that fucker Barker forced my hand. I couldn’t mention my cousins to Hope. Not now, anyway.

“Maybe he’ll back off.”

“We’ll see.” I shoveled the last bit of broccoli into my mouth.

Hope rose. “I’ll make hot chocolate with marshmallows and candy canes to drink while we decorate the tree.”

I gathered our dirty dishes. “And I’ll load the dishwasher.”

She stood in the center of the large kitchen. “Doesn’t all our hard work make you feel good?”

Hope marveled at the high beam ceiling, then the custom cabinets we installed.

“Yeah. This place brings back so many memories. The walls, the fireplace, and the floors are all original. But the changes we made. Man, if my grandfather’s looking down right now, he’d be proud.”

Hope leaned up on her tippy toes and wiggled her nose along mine. “He’s proud of you. Not just about the cabin, but how hard you worked to make your dreams come true.”

Caressing her ass, I kissed her sweet lips. “Thanks, sweetheart. I’ll run to your place and grab the decorations.”

“Great. They’re near the front door.”

Thirty minutes into decorating the tree, I offered Hope spiked eggnog. She danced and sung Christmas carols as we decorated the tree. I couldn’t stop laughing. This was what I had to look forward to in the future. Her animated joy of this holiday that pained me for years. I was happy I found this beautiful woman who brought out the best man I could be.

Hope shoved her cup toward me. “More eggnog, please.”

I planted my lips on her forehead. “Nope, can’t have you drunk the best part of the night’s almost here.”

Hope's brows lifted. “And what’s greater than this moment?”

I shook my head and placed the gold star in her hand. “Climb the ladder.”

Her jaw slacked. “Noah, I can’t do that. You, place the star on the tree.”

I smacked her ass. “Up.”

She sighed. “Ok.” Her messy bun flopped back as she stuffed the tip of the tall tree into the bottom of the star. I stood guard. Making sure she was secure on the ladder at the same time marveling at the beautiful tree and Hope.

“It’s perfect.” She clapped. “Light her up.”

I grabbed Hope off the ladder, then plugged in the lights.

Her hands flew over her mouth. “It’s beautiful. Look at all the large green and red ornaments.”

“I have to admit you’re the best at decorating. I like the red ribbons circling the tree.”

She nudged my arm. “Thanks.”

I could tell she was in her element. Hope could add tree decorator to her resume. She snapped a thousand pics.

Hope’s phone rang. Then high-pitched screaming pierced my ears.

She stared at her phone screen.

“Hope, Claire, chill,” a guy stated.

“Come here, Noah.”

I stepped behind her.

“Claire and Miles, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend Noah Canyon.”

“Hello,” Claire smiled.

“Hey man, my sister looks happy. Let’s keep it that way,” her brother tipped his chin.

“Miles,” Hope snapped.

“It’s ok, Hope. Miles, I’ll protect your sister with my life.”

His dark brown face lit up. “Thanks Noah.”

I nodded. “It was nice meeting you both.”

They resembled each other in the slightest way. Rather, it was their noses or eyes.

“Look what we hung yesterday.” She showed them the antler chandelier I hung with her guidance.

We had a few more rooms to renovate upstairs before we were done. The goal was to rest the last two weeks before Christmas.

The second she ended the call. I sat her phone on the coffee table and scooped her up into my arms.

Her fingers caressed my neck, and her socked feet massaged my ass.

“You’re all I want, Hope.”

“I’ve fallen for you, Noah. So hard.”

My lips attacked hers. “Fuck, I missed kissing these lips every hour of the day,” I murmured.

“Noah, we hadn’t been apart that long.”

“I don’t know how you felt. But being away from you for any length of time squeezes the air from my lungs.”

Her lips plunged into mine again. “No more holding out, Noah.”

My nose nuzzled hers as our lips locked. The valves in the large muscle in my chest worked overtime, pumping blood to my beating heart. I’d never felt this strongly about a woman in my life.

I separated our lips only to whip her god-awful Christmas sweater over her head, tossing it to