The festive cheer of the outdoor plaza wrapped around Reese and Collin as they strolled through the winding pathways dotted with glowing Christmas lights. The air was crisp, carrying hints of roasted chestnuts and peppermint from the vendor carts, and the atmosphere buzzed with holiday energy. Shoppers moved in and out of stores, arms filled with colorful bags and their voices blending into a harmonious hum of laughter, chatter, and the occasional carol from a distant street musician. Reese adjusted her scarf, the soft wool brushing against her cheek, and glanced at Collin, who was scanning the crowd with an easy smile. His hands were full of shopping bags, mostly with items for his family since, as he'd humorously pointed out earlier, it was impossible to buy her a gift while she was right beside him.
"So," Collin began, his brow quirking playfully as he looked at her. "What do you think Naomi and Scott would appreciate more—a personalized cutting board or that absurdly overpriced diffuser?"
Reese smirked, her breath puffing into the cold air as her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Definitely the diffuser. Naomi's been on a mission to create a 'wellness sanctuary,' to get in shape in all aspects for the wedding and this would fit right into her plan."
Collin groaned lightly, adjusting the bags in his hands. "I knew you'd say that. Guess that means braving one more shop."
"You'll survive," Reese teased, nudging him with her shoulder. "Besides, nothing says holiday spirit like fighting through crowds for the perfect gift."
Collin chuckled, the sound warm and rich. As they continued to walk around the shoppes, a cozy café caught Reese's eye. The display in the window showcased an assortment of cheesecakes, their glossy tops glistening temptingly under the soft light. She slowed her pace, her gaze lingering on the decadent caramel swirl centerpiece.
Collin followed her line of sight, an amused grin spreading across his face. "Cheesecake. Of course."
"It's my weakness," she admitted, her lips curving into a small smile. "And that one has caramel swirls. How am I supposed to walk past it?"
"You're not," he replied, already tugging her toward the door. "Come on, one slice for now, and we'll take another for later."
Inside, the café was warm and inviting, the scent of coffee and vanilla mingling with the soft melody of a Christmas carol playing in the background. They found a small table near the window and shared a slice of Reese's beloved caramel swirl cheesecake. Collin was quick to tease her about her enthusiastic bites.
"You think your dad will like the whiskey?" he asked, using his fork to scrape up the last bite of cheesecake.
"He'll love it," Reese said, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "Even if he doesn't, he'll pretend he does. He's good at that."
Collin leaned back in his chair, his grin widening. "Sounds like a skill I could use when you inevitably decide my wrapping is unacceptable."
"Don't even start," Reese shot back, laughing. "I've already resigned myself to fixing whatever disaster you create."
They packed up their cheesecake to-go and decided to head back to the car. Collin blasted the heater; the warmth was a stark contrast to the chilly air outside. The drive was quiet.
Reese hesitated before broaching a question that had been on her mind.
"So, what are your plans for Christmas Eve? I was wonder--"
"Yes," Collin said immediately, not even letting her finish.
She blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What?"
"Whatever you're about to ask me," he clarified, glancing at her with a soft smile. "The answer is yes. I want to be wherever you are."
Reese felt a warmth spread through her chest, her fingers instinctively reaching for his hand. He brought her hand to his lips, planting a gentle kiss that sent a flutter through her stomach. The rest of the drive was spent in comfortable silence, the city's holiday lights reflecting off the windows until they reached her condo.
They were greeted by Loki who seemed to only be interested in the shopping bags. The chill of the condo was not as bad as the late afternoon air outside but Collin quickly turned on the fireplace to warm up the space. Reese turned on the Christmas tree lights and turned on her Spotify, allowing the soft hum of Christmas classics to create an inviting ambiance. Collin stretched out on the floor, pulling out the shopping bags while Reese retrieved ribbons, tape, and an assortment of wrapping paper from the closet.
"All right," she said, tossing him a roll of wrapping paper with a smirk. "Let's see if your skills have improved."
Collin unrolled the paper with exaggerated precision, his expression one of mock concentration. "Don't expect miracles," he quipped. "I'll be lucky if I manage to make this look less like a five-year-old's art project."
Reese laughed, sitting cross-legged beside him and beginning to wrap one of her own gifts. "Just follow the basic rules—fold neatly, tape securely, and for the love of all things festive, don't use too much paper."
"Basic rules," Collin echoed, raising an eyebrow as he attempted to fold a corner.
As they worked, Collin's phone buzzed on the coffee table. He glanced at it, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It's Mason," he said, quickly typing out a response.
"Everything okay?" Reese asked, pausing mid-ribbon curl.
"Yeah," he replied, setting the phone back down. "Just reminding me about the office holiday party tonight."
"Holiday party?" Reese tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "I thought you were done with work for the year."
"Mostly," Collin said with a shrug. "But it's tradition. I wasn't planning to go because I wanted to spend time with you. Still, it's casual, and a lot of people bring their partners. Could be fun."
Reese hesitated, her initial instinct to decline bubbling to the surface. "I don't know. I was kind of looking forward to staying in."
"We can stay in," Collin offered easily, reaching for his phone again. "I'll just let Mason know—"
"Wait," Reese interrupted, sighing as she set down her scissors. "If you want to go, we can go. It's fine."
"Are you sure?" His smile was soft, grateful. "It'll only be for a couple of hours. And afterward, we'll come back here, finish the cheesecake, and I'll even let you critique my wrapping some more."
"You had me at cheesecake," she said with a chuckle, her reluctance melting away.
Collin pulled her in closer to him, pulling her onto his lap, "Okay," he said, planting a kiss on her lips, "we better get ready then."
Collin picked Reese up and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to the master suite bathroom. He gently placed her down on the bathroom vanity and turned on the rain shower. The heat from the shower fogged up the mirror, creating a soft misty atmosphere and Reese slid off the vanity, pulling her sweater over her head. They stepped inside the shower, but she barely had time to allow the tiny droplets to caress her body before Collin slipped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Collin," she protested weakly, laughing as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder. "We don't have time for this."
"We've got time," he murmured, his lips brushing against her neck. "Trust me."
Her laugh turned into a soft gasp as his hands roamed her waist sliding between her legs, his touch tender and insistent as they pressed between her folds. The water cascaded over their bodies as he trailed kisses down her neck and across her collarbone. Their breaths mingled in the humid air, and the space between them dissolved entirely. Reese pulled away from him turning to face him, she kissed his wet lips passionately.
When they finally emerged from the shower, the bathroom was filled with swirling steam, the mirror completely fogged over. Reese reached for a fluffy towel, wrapping it snugly around her body as droplets of water still clung to her skin. She caught Collin's teasing grin through the haze and smirked back, tossing a towel at him.
"You're lucky we didn't end up spending the entire night in there," she quipped, wringing water from her damp hair.
"Lucky?" Collin replied, feigning offense as he dried his hair. "I was just getting started."
Reese rolled her eyes, shaking her head with a laugh. "We'd never make it to the party."
He stepped closer, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her to him. His touch was warm against the chill creeping in from the cracked bathroom door. "If I had my way," he murmured, his lips brushing her temple, "we'd skip it altogether."
She smiled softly, placing a hand on his chest and pushing him back gently. "Tempting, but you were the one who wanted to go, remember? Now, go find something to wear before I change my mind."
Collin smirked, letting her go with a reluctant sigh. "Fine, fine. But don't take too long.
Reese made her way to her walk-in closet. She rifled through her dresses, pulling out an emerald-green wrap dress that she forgot she had. The rich color was striking yet elegant, and the soft satin fabric clung to her figure in just the right way. She paired it with simple gold earrings and nude heels, the overall effect both sleek and understated.
As she adjusted the dress in the mirror, the sound of Collin rummaging in the bedroom made her smile. She peeked out to see him holding up a navy-blue button-down shirt and a pair of black slacks he'd left at her condo weeks ago.
"I forgot how well-stocked I am here," he said, glancing over his shoulder with a grin. "It's almost like you're planning to keep me around."
Reese leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and watched him with an amused expression. "Don't flatter yourself. It's purely practical."
"Uh-huh," Collin replied, smirking as he slipped on the shirt and began buttoning it. "And here I thought it was a gesture of love."
She rolled her eyes playfully. "You're delusional."
"Maybe," he said, turning to face her fully. His gaze swept over her, his smile softening into something more appreciative. "But I'm not wrong about one thing—you look amazing."
Reese felt a faint blush rise to her cheeks but waved him off with a small laugh.
She returned to the bathroom to grab her clutch, slipping her phone and a tube of lipstick inside. By the time she stepped back into the bedroom, Collin was standing by the door, his outfit perfectly pulled together. He offered her his arm with a playful bow.
"Shall we, Ms. Sutherlin?"
Reese slipped her arm through his, her smile mirroring his. "We shall."