Page 109 of A Newport Christmess

“The magic words have been spoken. Lead on.” She took hold of my hand and followed me to the family room with quiet steps. The large Christmas tree sat like a glowing watchman over the presents scattered around the room in small piles, a personalized stocking that marked who each stack belonged to.

“It’s magical.” A smile danced on Quinn’s lips, her eyes lit with the reflection of the tree.

“Growing up, my mom and I were the only early risers in our family. Every Christmas morning, we’d come and sit together on the couch, wrap up in a blanket, and enjoy the Christmas magic before everyone else woke up and it slipped away in the busyness of the day.” I led her to the couch on the other side of the room, where I had two mugs of hot chocolate awaiting us on the side table.

She took a seat on the couch, and when I spread the blanket over our laps, she nuzzled into me. “I love that tradition. Thanks for letting me be a part of it this year.”

“Thanks for being willing. And for being here on Christmas.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

I handed Quinn a cup of cocoa with a candy cane hooked over the side of the mug. “Just keep your distance from the tree. It’s a real one. At the wedding, when Sandra found out you were coming for Christmas, she insisted she was going to take the tree down and replace it with an artificial one.”

Quinn took a sip of her hot chocolate. “I’m glad she didn’t. She had enough to worry about with the wedding and hosting everyone for Christmas.”

“That’s what I told her you’d say. Plus, I assured her, on the off chance you touched it, I would gladly keep you company during your medicine-induced stupor again.”

Quinn nudged me in the stomach. “I’m pretty sure I’ve had enough medicine-induced stupors these past few weeks to fill my quota for the year.”

I stared at her. “Did you have a reaction I’m not aware of?”

She bit her lip. “The other night at the hotel, I had a slight run-in with a Christmas tree, but it was fine. Rachel got me Benadryl, and the hives were gone by morning.”

“How did you manage to have a run-in with a tree?”

A soft groan emanated from her. “I may have been in the lobby when you dropped Rachel off ... hiding behind a tree. I mean, in my frazzled state, I didn’t remember the fact that I was allergic to it. I was just desperate to not let either of you see me.”

“Wait. You saw me pull up at the hotel and didn’t come out?” I wasn’t upset, only confused.

Her gaze lowered to her mug. “I was having a moment of doubt, then Rachel got out of your truck.” She shook her head. “She seemed perfect for you—minus the whole boyfriend thing, but I hadn’t known that at the time.” Quinn’s eyes lifted to mine. “I worried I’d gotten in the way. That you would be better off with someone like her.”

That explained Quinn’s seemingly random comments about dating other people and me finding someone else to take to the wedding. But Rachel had been so far off my radar it hadn’t even crossed my mind that Quinn might worry about her. Though, after what Cody had put her through this last year—and the fact that he had posted a selfie with him and his new girlfriend in the Caribbean yesterday—I couldn’t blame her. I knew it would take Quinn time to fully trust me. And that was okay. She would eventually, and I was in this for the long haul. “Don’t get me wrong, the few times I spoke with her, Rachel seemed like a great person, but she’s not for me. She’s not you.”

“But what if, eventually, you realize how difficult it is to be with me? I’m not very good at keeping up a house, or organization, or remembering to do things. And I can’t—"

“I’m not worried about it.” I shrugged, setting my mug back on the table. “In fact, I look forward to it. All of it. The good. The bad. The messy. As long as we’re together for it all.”

She shifted more fully to face me, tucking her legs against mine. “But when we have kids”—she paused, her eyes going wide—“I mean, if we ever get married and have kids ... one day ... a long time from now ... no pressure or anything.”

I chuckled. “I know what you meant.”

Her shoulders relaxed. “I’m nervous I’ll be the most scatter-brained, paranoid mom in the history of moms.”

A brief glimpse of Quinn as a mom filled my mind, warming me straight to my core. She had no idea yet what she had to offer as a mother. But I would give her all the time she needed for that, too, when—not if—the day came to add to our family. I brushed my thumb across her cheek, relishing the softness of her skin against mine. “You’re going to be an amazing mom, whenever that day comes. And we already know we’ll have beautiful babies—Grams said so.”

“True.” She reached across me to set her hot chocolate on the table next to mine. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I consider myself amply warned.”

Her eyes returned to mine. “It’s not too late to back out.”

“For me, it is.” I held her gaze. “I’m all in.”

She stared at me like she was trying to make sure I was serious. “This is crazy, right? I mean, we’ve only known each other a few weeks, but I feel surer of this—of us—than I have been of anything ... maybe ever.”

“I feel the same.”

“I think I love you,” she blurted, her cheeks glowing red in the dim light.