The Hero's Christmas Package: A Military Holiday Romance (Operation XMAS Book 1) by Avery Hunter

Author:Avery Hunter [Hunter, Avery]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-20T16:00:00+00:00

6

Rhys

We finally manage to rouse ourselves enough to get dressed.

We’re presentable by the time her family trickles into Joanne and Bart’s house, though we’re not exactly kempt. The knowing glances and chuckles directed our way reveals everyone knows what we’ve been doing.

I don’t care.

Or I try not to, anyway.

I can’t help searching her parents’ face for any hint of disapproval, since they mean so much to me. I find none and breathe a sigh of relief as I start helping decorate.

I can’t keep my hands off Kate. Any time she’s within reach, I have to touch her. I want to pull her against me and savor her skin against mine, but I hold back.

I can’t do anything to dishonor her or disrespect her parents when the whole family means so much to me.

After decorating Joanne and Bart’s, we hit her siblings’ homes. Not all of them have their own places. So far, it’s just the married ones who’ve moved into homes built on the Campbell land.

I can’t help picturing having a little cottage like Eric and Samantha’s, or a bigger house like Joseph and Laurie, in a few years. I can see sharing it cozily and happily with Kate, but I soon realize by the age I’m picturing myself in those images that I’d be retired from the military.

I’m no closer to figuring out that dilemma than I was since I accepted it was finally time to see what could be with Kate. She obviously wants me to leave and settle here in Blackberry Bay, but I can’t picture it. What would I do here? What would I do without the stability and structure of the Army? What kind of a life would I be able to offer such an amazing woman?

No, I can’t see it.

She invites me to sleep over that night after dinner, but I can’t. I cup her cheek. “It’s too soon to do that with your family here.”

Her expression droops. “No one cares. We’re adults.”

I shake my head. “I can’t do that to your parents. They practically raised me, and we have no reason to rush.”

After a deep sigh, she smiles. “Goodnight.” She leans forward, lips parted.

I accept the invitation and take a long kiss that leaves me breathless and my head spinning when we break apart several minutes later.

“Goodnight.”

She grasps a handful of my sweater. “You’re coming back tomorrow, right?”

“Try to stop me,” I say with a wink as I reluctantly pull away and step into the blustery night. So much hovers on the tip of my tongue, but it’s not the right time to say any of it.

Instead, I lift my hand in a casual wave as I back away from the screen door and head toward the stairs. Walking away takes more strength than I ever imagined, and more strength than I realized I have.

It feels wrong to keep putting distance between us, even though I know I’m doing the right thing. I miss her already.

My knee is acting up, so the drive to my parents’ house is miserable, but I make good time.

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