Chapter 34
Kathleen hadn’t cared at first, but now she found herself wishing time would slow down.
“You’re still not going to sleep?” Shawn asked, breaking her thoughts.
She blinked, then her eyes lit up with realization. “Were you waiting for me?”
Without answering, Shawn stood up.
“I’m coming,” she said quickly, scrambling to her feet and hurrying after him. “I’ll go to bed with you.”
He clenched his jaw but said nothing, choosing to ignore her.
The streetlight outside the Vance residence cast its steady glow through the night.
Kathleen had stayed up late and found it hard to wake up the next morning, but she forced her eyes open. She remembered her mother once told her she had to get up early on Christmas morning.
As she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the sharp line of Shawn’s jaw, followed by his familiar lips–tempting yet merciless.
Her hand was resting on his chest, and she had no idea how long she’d been clinging to him in her sleep.
It wasn’t like she had meant to take advantage of him. Once she was asleep, she had no control over herself.
Before Shawn woke up and snapped at her again, she quickly pulled her hand away and slipped out from under the covers.
After washing up quietly in the bathroom, she noticed he was still asleep. So, she tiptoed downstairs.
The maids had already prepared breakfast. The table was full of Christmas morning classics–warm cinnamon rolls, waffles, scrambled eggs, sausages, and fresh bread.
“Merry Christmas, Henry and Judy,” Kathleen greeted them warmly.
She had always addressed them like that, and they never seemed to mind.
Judy waved her over with a warm smile and handed her a gift. “Merry Christmas to you, too.”
Henry followed suit, handing her another one.
Kathleen blinked in surprise. “I have gifts as well?”
“Of course,” Judy replied with a chuckle. “Shawn still gets his every year. We want you both to end the year with happiness and luck.”
“Thank you, Henry. Thank you, Judy.” Kathleen accepted the gifts with a grateful smile.
A little later, Shawn came down. Henry and Judy handed him their gifts as well.
After receiving them, he looked a little awkward as he pulled a gift from his pocket and handed it to Kathleen.
Being caught off guard, Kathleen’s eyes widened.
Shawn’s voice was clipped. “Just take it.”
“Why? Isn’t this something only parents give to their kids?” she asked.
Judy watched them in amusement and explained with a smile, “A Christmas gift from a husband to his wife means affection. Henry gave me one first thing this morning, too.”
Kathleen was stunned–not because Judy hinted at Shawn being affectionate, but because Henry still gave Judy a Christmas gift.
That was what real love looked like. How much did Henry adore Judy to keep up with that?
“Thanks,” Kathleen responded as she accepted Shawn’s gift. “Thanks for your love.”
Frowning, Shawn gave her a warning look.
She beamed, her expression full of delight.
When no one was looking, she leaned toward him and whispered in his ear, “It feels pretty heavy. Does that mean your love for me runs deep, too?”
Her warm breath brushed against his skin. The tips of his ears turned a noticeable shade of red.
“Shawn, your ears are blushing,” she whispered with gleeful mischief.
Shawn shot her a glare and stepped away quickly.
He wasn’t just blushing–his heart had skipped a beat the moment she leaned in like that. That woman was nothing if not shameless.
At breakfast, Kathleen sat across from Shawn, the Image of his flushed ears still fresh in her mind. She had to bite her lip to stop laughing
Why hadn’t she noticed before how easily flustered he could be?
Chapter 34
Shawn noticed her smug expression and narrowed his eyes in warning again, but Kathleen’s grin only widened.
Judy caught all their subtle glances and felt secretly overjoyed.
It seemed marrying Kathleen to Shawn had been the right decision. She brought out a sense of liveliness in him that Judy hadn’t seen in years. At this rate, it wouldn’t take long for them to fall for each other, and maybe even have a child.
