watching me with a mix of surprise and confusion. I kissed her quickly and tucked her into our car.
“You made it,” Zoe told me a few minutes later while I handled the snowy roads. “Your first Legacy Christmas party. I’m impressed.”
I shook my head and smiled but kept my eyes on the road. “I bought you a Christmas present.”
“Oh yeah? I bought you one too.”
“I bet mine is better than yours.” I smirked.
“If it’s just you in a big red ribbon, I’m not interested.”
I laughed. “You’re a liar.”
“Maybe.” She tensed as we rounded the corner into our driveway. “When we go back to Seattle, will we still be…together? Or is this a Colorado thing?”
I slowed the Rover down, stopping completely when the house came into view. “What do you want it to be?”
“You first.” Her chin lifted despite the fear in her eyes.
That ache was back, throbbing behind my ribs. Damn, she was gorgeous…and mine. “We’re together wherever we go.” I put the car in park and reached for her hand. “I’m going to fuck this up. I don’t want to, but I know I will. I know I already do on some days. But I want this. I want you in my bed, and I don’t just mean in Colorado. I want you with me in the hotels, in my apartment in Seattle—or yours,” I rushed to add.
She shook her head. “You don’t want to see my apartment.”
“I do. I want to be wherever you are.” It was the most honest thing I’d ever said to her.
Her lips parted, and she smiled. “Good. Because I feel the same.”
“Thank fuck.” Every taut muscle in my body relaxed.
“Oh, come on, like anyone has ever told you no.” She picked up my hand and kissed the back of it.
“I’ve never cared enough to put myself in a position for someone to say it.” Did she know everything about me? No. But she knew more than anyone else. That was enough for now.
“We can’t stay here forever, you know. I can’t always tour with you. I won’t be outside your dressing room, fending off the women lined up to take my place.” Her grip tightened.
I leaned across the console and kissed her until we were both panting. “No one else,” I repeated the promise I’d made months ago.
“No one else,” she said against my lips. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.” I pulled back so I could see her in the dashboard lights. “And we can come here whenever you want. We never have to leave, as far as I’m concerned. Fly to Seattle for meetings, go out on tour, whatever.”
She looked at me like I was nuts. “No, we can’t.”
“Yes.” I looked her in the eye. “We can.”
Two little lines appeared between her eyebrows.
“You know I’m shit at following the rules, and I’ll just buy you a second present to open next week. Merry Christmas.” I looked pointedly toward the house.
She glanced back and forth in confusion.
“I bought it. The house. The land. All of it. Except the bears. Turns out, those aren’t for sale.” I held my breath as she sucked hers in.
“You bought the house…as in, that house? The McClaren house?” Her voice broke.
“We can call it whatever you want, since you’re on the title too. I was going to give you the whole thing, but just in case I fuck this up, I have the legal right to park a camper on the front lawn and loudly beg your forgiveness.”
“This had to have cost millions.”
“A couple.” Three.
“We weren’t even officially together until twenty minutes ago!”
“I didn’t say my attorneys approved of the decision.” I shrugged. “I like it here. I want to know we can come back whenever we want, so I bought it. Merry Christmas. Accept your gift.” Was it always this hard to give a woman a present?
“I didn’t get you anything near this big!” she sputtered.
“You’re welcome.” I grinned, then drove us into the garage and parked. She was still slack-jawed when we made our way inside.
“Seriously, Nixon…” She shook her head, looking around like it was the first time she’d seen it. “This is too much. I bought you a new strap for your Les Paul because the other one leaves a welt on your shoulder.” She sighed.
My chest tightened. “Really?”
She nodded, pursing her lips.
“You noticed the welt.” I pulled her against me.
She nodded again.
“You’re incredible, and I can honestly say that’s the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever been given.” I dipped to kiss her.