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In addition to the bells, he’d taken green and red ribbons—the colors made her cry all the harder—and tied them on the ends of each branch. The fact that the bows were a bit lopsided and imperfectly tied endeared them to her all themore.
“Honey?” He sat up. “You aren’t crying, are you?”
“No,” she sobbed. “I’m not.”
He was on his feet in a flash. Crossing to her side in two swift strides, he pulled her into his arms. “Please don’t cry, sweetheart. Idid this to make you happy. Not to upset you.”
“I’m not upset,” she wailed.
“You sure sound upset.” He bent at the knees so their height matched and peered at her face. “And if all that stuff comin’ out of your eyes is any indication, you look upset, too.”
“Don’t you know anything?” She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her lips to his chest. “This is my happy face.”
He smiled at that, his tension slowly easing. “Now there’s a scary thought.” And then he kissed her, kissed her with a passion she couldn’t mistake. It was a touch that spoke of love and forever and permanence and commitment, words that were once forbidden, but now seemed imperative. “Merry Christmas, wife.”
It took Shayne several minutes to recover, her lids lifting reluctantly. “I don’t understand a bit of this. You put up a tree and decorated it.”
“So I did.”
“You must have worked on it all night.”
“Just about.”
She could scarcely take it in. “But why?”
“Because I was wrong. Dead wrong. You and Sarita deserve a proper Christmas.”
“You even have presents.” She was dreaming, she had to be. But it appeared real, beautifully, incrediblyreal.
“They’re nothing much.” The wicked light that appeared in his eyes instantly alertedher.
“What have you done?”
“Now, honey. If I told, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
Before she could ask any more questions, they heard the patter of feet outside the door. Amoment later, Sarita burst into the room. Spying the tree and presents, she released a squeal of delight and threw herself into her father’s arms. Chaz closed his eyes, clutching her close, the expression on his face almost painful to witness.
Then he tossed her into the air, laughing at her helpless giggles. “Merry Christmas, princess.”
Mojo and Jumbo plowed through the doorway next, with Penny and Doña Isabella not far behind. “Check the tree! Not bad, boss man.”
The next few hours were the most pleasurable Shayne could remember in a very long time. After changing and grabbing a quick breakfast, everyone gathered in Chaz’s office to open presents. That day Sarita solidified her relationship with her new parents, racing back and forth between Shayne and Chaz, dispensing hugs and kisses with such utter generosity that if Shayne hadn’t already fallen in love with her brand-new daughter, she’d have tumbled head over heels right then and there. And Chaz's expression was filled with such an abiding joy that tears were never far from the surface.
Doña Isabella and Chaz’s men were also the recipient of Sarita’s affections. She darted from one to the other as they each opened their presents. She oohed and aahed over everything, no matter how ridiculous, from the meat cleaver for Mojo, “since he has a tendency to throw his away,” to the first-class clipboard that turned Jumbo pale with fright.
Chaz didn’t spare any of his employees from his warped sense of humor. For Penny, he’d wrapped up a huge box of matchsticks and a deck of marked playing cards. “So you can win a few.” And when Shayne dared to scold him, he’d simply laughed and whispered he’d also put a fat bonus in their paychecks, asurprise they’d appreciate far more than any other gift he could have chosen.
He’d kept his present for Doña Isabella more serious, giving her a beautiful quilted dressing gown and cozy slippers. Shayne had drawn a sketch of the mosaic patio she’d build for Isabella come spring. And Sarita took one look at the fancy new dollhouse her daddy had brought back from San Francisco and disappeared into the corner, happily playing. She only emerged on those occasions she wanted her new “momma” to change her hair ribbons, rhapsodizing over the many choices.
At long last, Chaz drew Shayne away from the others, asmall, flat box in his hand. “I’d rather do this next part in private,” hesaid.
She glanced around the room. Everyone was preoccupied and wouldn't miss her if she slipped off with Chaz for a while. Tucking her hand into his, she drew him toward their bedroom.
“Is this private enough?” she asked.
His smile felt as tender and loving as a kiss. “This is perfect.”
“So who goes first?”
