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As I glance up, Travis narrows his eyes. “You still thinking about the snowball fight?”

I shake off the notion for a moment because I need to keep my eyes on the game. “Yup. And it’s gonna be just as good as your fancy Rockefeller Center ice skating rink,” I tell him.

Travis piques a brow and gives me a look that says,good luck with that. “You sure?” Not that he gives me time to answer. “Though, I have to say you and Ains have done wonders filling in for me and Pres while we’ve been busy with April this year.”

I grin. “Any time. Happy to knock you off your perch.”

“You wish,” he jibes back.

When I see Ains waving toward us, I jog over and wrap her up in my arms. Under our jackets, we’re both wearing the same reindeer sweater, complete with a red bobble nose that juts out from the center of his face.

That night last week at the library was so fucking hot. I remind her of it every day, and that we should make it a once a week feature. Something I’m yet to convince her of.

Maybe once a month might be a little more realistic. Taking her over her desk while still in her uniform, pulling her ponytail, is one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen in my life. Something I vow I will do again on a regular basis.

It’s early days with us yet, but we have a strong connection, and we both want to be in this long term. Hell, we’ve already said we love each other numerous times.

I’m also glad that it looks as though Drake will get what he deserves and should likely serve up to a year in jail for simple assault against Ainsley. Though she still maintains he needs professional help and treatment for his alcohol addiction. Onlytime will tell.

The rumor mill is already circulating that he’ll be moving back to his parents’ town somewhere just on the border of Wyoming and Idaho. Away from here, anyway. There is a restraining order against him so he won’t be able to come near her again. And I’m really hoping this time he isn’t stupid enough to violate that after all the trouble and trauma he’s caused my girl.

“You ready for the snowball fight?” I land her on her feet and bend to peck her on the lips.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” She laughs. It’s taken the past two weeks to have her not looking over her shoulder everywhere she goes. I think it’s eased her mind now that she knows Drake will be out of town permanently, and she can work on trying to put the past behind her.

She’s decided to burn the letter to her dad with me tonight, and I’m so proud of my girl for telling him no and doing what she wants to do this Christmas.

Valerie is doing so much better every day. I’ve been around at her place doing some handyman jobs while Ainsley helped her decorate for Christmas, and made sure she isn’t trying to do too much. For Christmas day, she’s going to spend it with us at my parents’ house.

Little Ginger is now officially ours. He was never claimed, so we’ve officially adopted him and are co-parenting just fine between our places. Fudge has taken him under his wing, and the two of them are inseparable. Fudge is trying to teach him the cat flap situation, but he’s still a little too small for that. It’s pretty cute, though, watching them curl up together and fall asleep in the same bed. We’re even going to take them both to see Mr and Mrs Curruthers soon for a visit.

Ains andI spend most nights with each other, over at one of our places. I’m sure in the future she will give up her rental and we will move in together. I want her to be ready. I want it all with her. I’d love to make her mine and marry her one day and take her off the market for good.

All in good time.

“What are you smiling about?” she whispers as Marley and Trav walk over to some of the other adults arriving. I see Jake with their rescue dog, Muffin, and Rich and Justin hoping to get in on the kids’ snowball fight. Realistically, they’re big kids themselves, so they will fit right in.

“Thinking about what I’m going to do to you later,” I say, nibbling on her ear while no one is looking. “Over and over again.”

“You have to survive this snowball fight and tell everyone the ground rules first,” she giggles. It’s pretty easy. We’ve set up the hay bales down two sides of the park. There’s two people per team, and they get to launch snowballs at the other team from behind their bunker, while trying to run to the next bunker to take shelter.

The adults will score per team how many hits each team gets, and the winners will get a two hundred dollar voucher from The Toy Playground in town to spend on anything they want. Justin and Rich have both agreed to help, though I think they’re going to be doing more snowball launching at each other than some of the kids. If we break the Wyoming record for the biggest snowball fight, it’ll be even better.

“Then I can do you?”

She nods against my shoulder and I feel half a chub coming on, even out here in the freezing cold. “Any which way you want.”

“Promise?” I pull on the reindeer bobble in the middle of her jumper, sliding my hand inside her jacket and over to her tit for a quick squeeze.

“Promise.” She smiles, not even bothering to brush my hand away.

And even standing out here in the freezing cold, with the snowfall cloaking over us, the biggest snowball fight in Wyoming about to begin, I feel like I’m home. Because I’m with her.

“I love you,My Little Librarian.”

She reaches up to give me another quick kiss. “I love you, too,sexy Daddy.”

And that right there soothes my soul, right to my very core.

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THE END