Page 109 of Perfect Assumption

Hayden chokes. “Angie, be a sweetheart and get this old man another drink? With your man making comments like that, it’s a good thing I hired a chauffeur for tonight.”

“Absolutely, Hayden. Ward, behave yourself,” Angie warns.

I grin. “Why? It’s so much fun not to.”

“Because you never know when you’re going to get coal in your stocking,” she calls back at me.

“That’s for bad boys, Angie,” I tease as she hands Hayden his drink.

“And you’re claiming you haven’t been bad?” One perfectly arched brow raises.

“Nope.”

“Nothing that would land you on Santa’s naughty list?”

Carys snickers. I glare at my sister. “I’m a freaking saint.”

“Right. If that’s the case, then you won’t have any problem opening your gift.” Angie goes over to the tree and pulls out an old-fashioned Christmas stocking and offers it to me.

I narrow my eyes. “This one wasn’t labeled before.”

“No, it wasn’t. I heard all about your gift-shaking tendencies from Carys. Really, Ward? You’re thirty years old.”

I reach for the gift but hook Angie around the waist, yanking her into my lap, where she falls with a squeal.

The room erupts in laughter. I snatch a quick kiss from Angie before helping her to her feet. She holds out my gift and murmurs, “Merry Christmas. I hope it’s what you wanted.”

“It’s from you. It’s going to be perfect.” But just for the sake of our audience, I shake the stocking anyway.

Everyone, including Angie, cracks up laughing again.

“I hope there was nothing breakable in there, you bonehead,” David calls out. Carys is curled on his lap, watching me with anticipation.

My eyes fly upward to Angie. She quickly shakes her head. “You’re fine.” Then she holds out her hand, and it’s trembling. “But I’m not. Open it already.”

I tear into the bright green, then red tissue paper before I find a glittery tissue layer beneath. My breath leaves in a whoosh. I recognize that paper, even if I don’t know the store. Now, it’s my hands that are hesitant as I pluck away at the tape slowly.

My pulse speeds up when Angie leans down to whisper in my ear, “I happen to know it fits.”

Gulp.

I tear into the paper and find Christmas coal.

The dark gray lace on the teddy is so delicate I’m afraid my fingers may puncture it, but I can’t resist dancing my fingers over it as I imagine Angie lying on her bed wearing this scrap of nothing while my lips…

My thoughts are rudely interrupted by David demanding, “Hold it up, Ward.”

I hold up my middle finger instead. “Asshole.”

“See? Like I said, a bad boy. I thought you were supposed to share your gifts,” Angie teases.

“Holy freaking snickerdoodle, Angie. This is the most perfect gift I’ve ever received, but there’s no way I’m letting anyone imagine your body in it even for half a second.” Immediately after my declaration, I kiss her unabashedly in front of everyone to show my appreciation.

And to give her a preview of what the night ahead will hold.

When I let her up for air, Angie’s smile is so bright it easily rivals that of the Christmas tree in the corner. I immediately want to throw my family out so I can fully explore her joy further. But I know we have all night.

If I’m lucky we’ll have forever.