and had to go from here. Kiona approached her family, and Ridge held out his hand to hold hers. She took it and nuzzled close to his side, loving him so much.
After Ridge secured someone to deliver the tree—because that’s how he did things—they headed over to Pike Place Market. Kiona exclaimed over the handmade products, especially the hand-blown glass items. She purchased a small glass pumpkin for her studio, and Ridge bought several more to add to her collection. She shook her head and laughed. “You didn’t have to buy me those. The little one I got was forty bucks by itself.”
Ridge raised his eyebrow. She chuckled again.
“Well thank you.”
He tapped his lips, and she stretched up to kiss him. Ridge took the opportunity to crush her to him and take the kiss deeper, but she managed to fight him off. “Sheesh, man, didn’t you get enough last night?”
“Not nearly. More tonight.”
Kiona rolled her eyes at him and took Alex’s hand, but inside she thrilled at being desirable to a man like him. She’d heard him make an appointment with the lawyer for that afternoon, and he’d told her she and Alex were going with him. He would wrap up things quickly, and the rest of their time would be spent together.
They came to the end of the outdoor stalls, and Kiona glanced up to the apartments across the street. She wondered if any were available. The view to the market and the water beyond, with glimpses of the ferries coming and going would make for inspiring scenery while she worked.
“Ridge, do you think any of those are available and affordable?” she asked.
Her husband turned to look, and he frowned. “Why?”
She grinned. “Don’t be so grumpy. I could use it for a studio slash playroom for Alex and me, and um, maybe you don’t have to sell the house. We could live here in Seattle.”
His fingers spasmed on her hand, and then he released the tight hold right away. “Are you serious, Kiona? Don’t tease me, honey.”
“I’m not.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. Alex stood close to them, unwrapping a piece of chocolate Ridge had bought for him. Kiona drew him to her side and squeezed them both in a tight hug. “I think we can be great again, and I want to give us a chance, a real chance.”
“In that case, I will buy you the entire building, and you can paint in whichever apartment you feel like each day.”
She burst out laughing. “Idiot, calm down. Just one…and thanks. I…I love you, Ridge.”
He crushed her in his embrace until even Alex protested that he couldn’t breathe. Her husband held on a little longer, and then released the two of them. He caressed Kiona’s cheek and kissed her lips, this time restraining the lust, and they continued their shopping.
After Ridge bought every bobble Alex begged for, and their arms were loaded down with bags, they returned to the car. Somehow he managed to pack it all in the trunk of his car. When he slid behind the steering wheel, Kiona commented, “Be looking out for the horde of thank you cards from Hawaii or some other vacation spot.”
Ridge frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“You bought Alex so much stuff he didn’t need, you probably funded the store owner’s next trip.”
“Bah, I want him to have a great Christmas, and you too.” He ran a thumb across her lips. “I have my family back, and I’ll be damned if I fuck up and lose you again.”
“Ridge, watch your mouth.”
“Sorry.” He didn’t appear sorry in the least, but his attitude only served to strengthen her conviction that she did the right thing letting him back into her life. They belonged together, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
* * * *
Christmas Day
Kiona sat on the living room floor with Ridge at her side and Alex scouring the area beneath the tree for more presents. She couldn’t believe how fast they’d gotten the house furnished, but she was pleased with the results.
After Ridge secured someone to deliver the tree—because that’s how he did things—they headed over to Pike Place Market. Kiona exclaimed over the handmade products, especially the hand-blown glass items. She purchased a small glass pumpkin for her studio, and Ridge bought several more to add to her collection. She shook her head and laughed. “You didn’t have to buy me those. The little one I got was forty bucks by itself.”
Ridge raised his eyebrow. She chuckled again.
“Well thank you.”
He tapped his lips, and she stretched up to kiss him. Ridge took the opportunity to crush her to him and take the kiss deeper, but she managed to fight him off. “Sheesh, man, didn’t you get enough last night?”
“Not nearly. More tonight.”
Kiona rolled her eyes at him and took Alex’s hand, but inside she thrilled at being desirable to a man like him. She’d heard him make an appointment with the lawyer for that afternoon, and he’d told her she and Alex were going with him. He would wrap up things quickly, and the rest of their time would be spent together.
They came to the end of the outdoor stalls, and Kiona glanced up to the apartments across the street. She wondered if any were available. The view to the market and the water beyond, with glimpses of the ferries coming and going would make for inspiring scenery while she worked.
“Ridge, do you think any of those are available and affordable?” she asked.
Her husband turned to look, and he frowned. “Why?”
She grinned. “Don’t be so grumpy. I could use it for a studio slash playroom for Alex and me, and um, maybe you don’t have to sell the house. We could live here in Seattle.”
His fingers spasmed on her hand, and then he released the tight hold right away. “Are you serious, Kiona? Don’t tease me, honey.”
“I’m not.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. Alex stood close to them, unwrapping a piece of chocolate Ridge had bought for him. Kiona drew him to her side and squeezed them both in a tight hug. “I think we can be great again, and I want to give us a chance, a real chance.”
“In that case, I will buy you the entire building, and you can paint in whichever apartment you feel like each day.”
She burst out laughing. “Idiot, calm down. Just one…and thanks. I…I love you, Ridge.”
He crushed her in his embrace until even Alex protested that he couldn’t breathe. Her husband held on a little longer, and then released the two of them. He caressed Kiona’s cheek and kissed her lips, this time restraining the lust, and they continued their shopping.
After Ridge bought every bobble Alex begged for, and their arms were loaded down with bags, they returned to the car. Somehow he managed to pack it all in the trunk of his car. When he slid behind the steering wheel, Kiona commented, “Be looking out for the horde of thank you cards from Hawaii or some other vacation spot.”
Ridge frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“You bought Alex so much stuff he didn’t need, you probably funded the store owner’s next trip.”
“Bah, I want him to have a great Christmas, and you too.” He ran a thumb across her lips. “I have my family back, and I’ll be damned if I fuck up and lose you again.”
“Ridge, watch your mouth.”
“Sorry.” He didn’t appear sorry in the least, but his attitude only served to strengthen her conviction that she did the right thing letting him back into her life. They belonged together, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
* * * *
Christmas Day
Kiona sat on the living room floor with Ridge at her side and Alex scouring the area beneath the tree for more presents. She couldn’t believe how fast they’d gotten the house furnished, but she was pleased with the results.
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