Kyle burst out laughing. “A what? I shared an ice cream cone with you. I kissed you a few times. That’s not a relationship. As for the Wrights’ marriage, the blame for that mess of a family lies at the feet of Cecelia and Tom. Lastly, I’d be pretty flattered if Maggie here dumped Shane for me but that’s not what happened, not that it’s any of your business. Now, Maggie is right, you’re embarrassing yourself, go home and leave us alone.”

Maggie waggled her fingers at them and Kyle slammed the door in their faces.

“You’re perfect for this family, Maggie.” Polly chuckled and walked into the living room.

“I’m really sorry about Lyndsay, sugar. Honestly, I never even took the girl out. I don’t know what her deal is.”

Maggie pulled him to her by the waist of his chinos. “Her deal is that you’re the sexiest, most handsome man around and she lost her chance and can’t deal. Too bad, ‘cause I’m not letting you get away.”

“Good.” He kissed her quickly before anyone could come out.

By the time Christmas approached, Maggie had pretty much moved into Kyle’s condo. Her house meant a lot to her but also held a lot of ugly childhood memories. The less time there, the easier it was to deal with the fact that her mother had pretty much never wanted her. She’d bought the place, thinking if she’d made it hers, she could finally put the memories in perspective. But she realized now she had to jettison that house and move forward, making new memories and accepting her childhood for what it was.

Thankfully, she slowly built a relationship with her father. They had dinner every once in a while and spoke on the phone often.

She’d become a regular in the Chase household. They treated her like one of their own and she truly felt like it. Winter had brought a bit of a lull in Kyle’s business and Maggie was off school for winter break so they had a lot time to spend together.

Kyle woke up one morning about two weeks before Christmas in a hyper mood. “Let’s go and get a tree today,” he begged. Maggie had decorated the condo but they’d held back on a tree until they both had the time off.

She stretched and pulled him back down to her. “Convince me.”

“Gladly,” he murmured and with a grin, disappeared beneath the covers.

“Oh, yes, that’s the way to convince a girl of just about anything.”

He chuckled as his mouth descended and sent shivers over her flesh.

They went to the Christmas tree farm and chose a nice noble fir for the living room. She made mulled cider while he put the tree up and got it watered. Afterward, they decorated it with ornaments of their own and a few they’d bought together.

When they finished, they sat on the couch together and watched the lights on the tree, drinking the cider. “This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” Maggie said with a satisfied sigh.

“Me too, Red.” He loved the way they were building a life together. Loved to watch her in his kitchen—their kitchen. Loved to see her shampoo in the bathroom. Loved the way that her side of the bed smelled of oranges. He’d always thought having a relationship would be another person taking up his life, taking away space from him. Instead she added to his life, made it bigger, brighter.

“I need to finish my shopping. I’m not quite done. I’m going to meet Dee at three and we’re actually going to brave the mall in Crawford. I’ll meet you at your parents’ for dinner tonight.”

He nodded and kissed her as she got up to leave. “I told Daddy that I’d help with the tree in the side yard. Not that he’s old or anything but I don’t want him up in a ladder with a saw. Shall I take the presents in the hall closet over with me?”

They were going to have Christmas at the Chase household. They’d spend Christmas Eve there with the rest of the family and then open presents the next day. Her father was even going to come over for the gift exchange. He and Edward had become fast friends since Tom was using Edward’s firm to represent him in the divorce with Cecelia.

She hugged him and bit his ear gently. “Thanks, hon, I’d appreciate that.”

Kyle and Matt worked in the yard, dealing with the tree together and laughing. Kyle felt so relaxed. More than he’d ever felt. He’d always had a good relationship with his family but having Maggie in his life made him feel settled in a way he’d never imagined.

“You pick up the ring yet?” Matt asked as they put away the tools in the shed out back.

Kyle had decided to ask Maggie to marry him on Christmas Day. He’d have the ring wrapped up and waiting for her under the tree. “Yep. It’s in Mom’s jewelry box. She’s going to wrap it and put it in a larger box. I wrote out the card for the inside already.”

“I can’t believe you’re going to ask someone to marry you. Not that Maggie isn’t great—she really is and the two of you give me hope that someday I’ll meet someone who I fall that hard for. But still, this is big, Kyle. Forever and ever big.”

“She’s my whole life, Matt,” Kyle answered simply.

From his spot across the road and behind a hedge, Alex ground his teeth. Of course the bastard was laughing, he’d stolen Maggie right from under Alex’s nose. This should have been his Christmas with Maggie. It was their tree that should have been decorated and presents piled beneath.

Instead, all he had was an empty house and his memories of their time together. But that was about to change.