Festive Faking (Rust Canyon #1)

25. Mac

Chapter 25

Mac

If given the choice, I would have spent a second straight day in bed with Aspen, but it was Christmas Day, and the holiday demanded time spent with her family.

Both of us were running on fumes, having barely slept the past forty-eight hours, but it was so worth it. Even now, as we stepped into her parents’ home, I craved her. Simply removing her coat and catching a whiff of her shampoo was enough to have my cock thickening painfully.

Cool it down, man. Taking a few hours off from fucking the most incredible girl you’ve ever met won’t kill you. If anything, it’ll give your dick a chance to recover. You’re lucky you haven’t rubbed it raw yet.

“Merry Christmas,” Aspen rasped, voice hoarse.

A smug satisfaction surged in my veins. I might not have taken away her voice completely, but I’d gotten pretty close.

Daisy’s forehead wrinkled as she moved closer to assess her daughter. “You sound like you’re coming down with a cold, honey.”

My snicker was barely concealed behind a fake cough as Aspen shot me a warning glare to keep my mouth shut.

Daisy’s concerned eyes shifted from Aspen to me. “Looks like you’ve both caught it. I’ll make you some herbal tea with honey.”

“Oh, Mama, you don’t have to—” Aspen began to protest.

“Nonsense.” Her mother waved her off. “You’re under my roof, and it’s my job to take care of you.”

Aspen sighed, knowing she wouldn’t win this argument.

“Thank you, Daisy,” I chimed in. “Tea sounds lovely.”

She was gone in a flash, and I grabbed the gift bags we’d brought with us from the cabin and tucked them beneath the tree. My special present for Aspen was burning a hole in my pocket, and my fingers twitched, palms growing sweaty as I tried to picture her reaction.

If there was one thing that could settle my racing heart, it was the woman herself, so I guided her to the couch, only managing to take a deep breath once she was settled beside me, the weight of her head against my shoulder bringing comfort.

This felt so fucking right. We fit perfectly together, and now that we’d both let our guards down, it came so naturally.

Daisy returned with two steaming mugs, which she offered to us. I cupped the heated ceramic, bringing it to my lips and taking a sip. The warmth from the drink settled in my belly, only adding to the coziness of this relaxed family gathering.

I was thirty years old, and the vision of what I wanted for my future became crystal clear for the first time. This place and these people had brought it to the surface, and now the compulsion to make it a reality couldn’t be ignored.

Tomorrow, I would put the wheels in motion, but today, I was going to enjoy my first true family Christmas.

A wistful smile crossed Daisy’s face. “Seems like only yesterday that we had two little ones jumping on the bed before dawn, begging to open presents.”

Jett curled an arm around his wife. “Time sure flew by fast.” A rough chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Though it sure didn’t feel that way when we were in the thick of it.”

“Let that be a lesson to the both of you.” Daisy pointed to her children before adding, “You, too, Mac.”

I ducked my head to acknowledge I was ready to listen to whatever piece of wisdom she was about to impart.

“Take the time to enjoy life because, one day, you’ll blink and it’ll be nearly over.”

Silence descended upon the room under the weight of her statement.

I was more determined than ever to live without regrets. We were only given a short time on this Earth, and I knew exactly how I wanted to spend it.

“Are we doin’ presents or what?” Meemaw’s voice shattered the introspective moment.

Jett simply shook his head at his mother. “Sure you don’t want to eat first?”

“Nah. I gotta wait an hour after I take my pills.” She clapped her bony hands. “Tripp, you play Santa since you’re closest to the tree.”

Aspen’s brother stood to distribute the packages to their rightful recipients, but I halted him by clearing my throat.

“Actually, I have something I’d like to give Aspen first.”

Meemaw’s gasp rang out loud and clear. “Praise the Lord! Boy finally worked up the nerve to propose so I can get those great-grandbabies.”

You could have heard a pin drop as all eyes turned to the two of us on the couch, and Aspen’s blue ones widened in alarm.

Don’t worry, honey. I’m not that insane.

“Mac,” she hedged, drawing my name out.

I placed a reassuring hand on her knee and squeezed. To Meemaw, I replied, “Sorry to disappoint, ma’am, but maybe next year.” I tossed her a wink, and several chuckles sounded, the mood sufficiently lightened.

Shifting so I could reach into my pocket, I produced the figurine Rose had so kindly acquired for me. There hadn’t been time to wrap it even if I’d had the supplies.

The minute the horse-shaped ornament came into view, Aspen sucked in a sharp breath. “Is that—?”

I nodded in confirmation. “Called in a favor.”

Her hand reached out, tentatively stroking a fingertip over the horse’s carved gray mane.

When she peeked up at me, so many questions swam in her beautiful eyes. Swallowing, she managed to ask the simplest one. “Why?”

“Because I know how much your life here in Rust Canyon means to you. I wanted you to have this ornament as a symbol of home, so that wherever you go, you can look at it and remember what you’re working toward.”

Her hand trembled when she plucked the white horse from my hand. “But—” She paused, and I could practically hear the gears turning in her head. “It belongs here. On the tree on Main Street.”

“Now, it belongs to you . You can still place it on the tree when you come home if you wish, but I’ve arranged for it to always be returned after the holiday.”

“Mac,” she breathed out. “This is—This is really thoughtful. Thank you.”

Smiling at the girl who had stolen my heart, I brushed my lips against hers. “You are so very welcome.”

We pulled back, and the tender moment was shattered when panic stole over her features, causing instant alarm to rise up my throat which threatened to choke me.

“What’s wrong?”

A blush crept up her neck and onto her cheeks as her eyes dropped to her lap and her voice grew small. “I, um . . . I left your gift back in LA.”

We both knew that was a lie, but she was mindful of our audience having no clue that we weren’t a couple before this week. Hell, I wasn’t sure we were now. We hadn’t exactly had that conversation, and while she might be inexperienced, Aspen wasn’t na?ve enough to believe that sex equated to a relationship.

Hiding my feelings for her had gone out the window days ago, so I decided now was as good a time as any to cement the depth of them and eliminate any doubt as to where I stood when it came to us.

Cupping her face with both hands, I poured my heart out. “Aspen, you are the gift.”

Her lips parted, and a rush of air escaped.

I kept going. “You changed my life in a way I never saw coming. I don’t want to go back to being the man I was before you tore down my walls, brick by brick, and saw value in the person I hid behind them. You’re the only one I feel comfortable being my true self with, and I can trust that you’ll continue to keep me grounded.”

Those twin blue gems glistened as they filled with unshed tears. When one leaked out, carving a path over her soft cheek, I quickly wiped it away with my thumb.

Pressing my forehead to hers, I whispered, “Thank you for opening my eyes to the possibilities this world has to offer a guy who didn’t get a choice in being born a ‘spoiled rich kid’.”

She threw her arms around my neck, hugging me tight. Even though the words were muffled in the fabric of my shirt, I heard when she said, “I wish more people could see you the way I get to, Mac.”

If the pieces fell into place the way I hoped they would, maybe she would get her wish someday. For now, I was content to hold her, knowing she was the only one who knew the real me—more than that, she liked the real me.

Stroking down the length of her red waves soothed my soul. She brought me peace, and though I’d tried, words would never be enough to express my extreme gratitude for her compassion as I discovered my worth.

A soft sigh stole my attention away from the woman in my arms, and I shifted my gaze to find Daisy with both hands clutched to her chest, her own blue eyes glassy when they met mine. Jett offered me a quiet nod of approval, and Tripp looked like a tortured soul, no doubt thinking about the million what-ifs when it came to his best friend, Penny, and their platonic relationship he wished was more. Meemaw tossed me a wink like we were in on a secret.

These people had only been in my life a week, and they already felt like family. Without question, they’d taken me in as one of their own, and like with Aspen and this town, I didn’t want to give them up.

This was where I belonged.