“Talk to me,” Fitz said softly as he ran his fingers through Jack’s hair.

  “I’ve been avoiding hiring someone, and at first, I told myself it was because we didn’t need to fill that position, so I took on all the extra work. I convinced myself it was no big deal and let myself get lost in the work, not realizing how much I’d taken on. If I hadn’t wanted to give the work to the rest of the team, taking it on myself was not the right answer.”

  “Is it because of him?” Fitz asked. “Is that why you don’t want to hire someone new?”

  Jack nodded. He met Fitz’s gaze. “I have so much to lose now. Not that I didn’t before, but…I have you now, and after almost losing you because of that psychopath….”

  Fitz let out a heavy sigh. “I understand that, but if we never get to be together, it’s kind of the same thing, isn’t it?”

  “I hadn’t looked at it that way.” Mostly because he hadn’t wanted to. “I guess I hadn’t worked through as much of what happened as I thought. I should have trusted my family to have my back. They always have and always will.” He cupped Fitz’s face and stroked his cheek with his thumb. “As soon as we get back, I’ll hire someone. I promise you, I’ll do better.”

  “I’ve missed you so much.” Fitz turned his face and kissed the palm of Jack’s hand. “I love you, Jack.”

  “I love you too, baby.” Jack sat up and turned, smiling when Fitz straddled his lap, his blanket still around him.

  Fitz slipped his arms around Jack’s neck and kissed him. “You smell so good.”

  “I took a quick shower when I got in.” Jack ran his hands up Fitz’s thighs and under his sweater to stroke his soft skin.

  “Is that a candy cane in your pocket,” Fitz purred, rolling his hips against Jack’s growing erection. “Or are you just happy to see me?”

  With a laugh, Jack patted Fitz’s butt. “How about you let me jingle your bells back in our room?”

  Fitz snickered. “We’ve been spending way too much time around Ace.” He stood and took hold of Jack’s hand. “Duchess, go find Uncle Joker.”

  Duchess trotted off to find her uncle while Fitz led Jack back to their room. The second the door closed behind them, the blanket was on the floor, and Fitz was all over Jack. They scrambled to undress each other, and when they were naked, Jack walked Fitz back to the bed, their tongues tangling as they kissed. Heat flared through Jack; he couldn’t believe he’d almost messed this up.

  Determined to show Fitz how much he loved and needed him, Jack swept Fitz off his feet, making him throw his head back with a laugh. God, how he loved that sound. The joy and adoration in Fitz’s eyes squeezed at Jack’s heart. He’d once promised Fitz to spend every day showing him how much he was loved. He wasn’t going to forget again.

  With Fitz lying on the bed, his gorgeous hair wild around his face, Jack grabbed the lube from the nightstand drawer and climbed onto the bed covered in soft blankets. He lay between Fitz’s legs, one arm around each of Fitz’s thighs as he swallowed Fitz down to the root.

  “Jack!” Fitz gasped and threw his head back, his plump lips parted, and his eyes closed as he grabbed fistfuls of the blankets. He arched his back, and Jack couldn’t take his eyes off his stunningly beautiful man. Jack was so damned lucky. He sucked and licked, nipped at Fitz’s inner thigh, and reveled in the way Fitz writhed and pleaded. His fair skin was flushed, and his brow beaded with sweat, one hand going to Jack’s head.

  When it looked like Fitz was on the verge of coming, Jack pulled back. He lubed up his finger, and as he leaned in to kiss Fitz, he placed the tip of his finger to Fitz’s hole and gently pushed, loving the sound of Fitz’s moan. Fitz thrust up against him, and Jack did his best to quickly but carefully prepare Fitz.

  “Jack,” Fitz gasped. He tapped Jack’s flank, and Jack knew what that meant. He pulled his fingers out of Fitz and rolled them so Jack was on his back and Fitz was on top. Turning, Fitz lined Jack’s cock up and slowly sank back down, riding Jack reverse cowboy style. Jack gripped Fitz’s hips, cursing under his breath as Fitz started moving, his ass smacking against Jack’s groin as he rode him hard.

  The air filled with the sounds of their gasps and panting. When Jack thought he might lose it, he sat up, grabbed Fitz, and turned them, Fitz on his hands and knees with Jack kneeling behind him. He pounded into Fitz, urged on by Fitz’s pleas for more, faster, harder. Jack took hold of Fitz’s shoulder and thrust in deep, over and over.

  Fitz whimpered as he jerked himself off. When he couldn’t hold himself up, he slid onto his stomach with Jack following him. He spread Fitz’s legs and buried his face in Fitz’s hair.

  “I love you so fucking much,” Jack said, breathless.

  “I love you too, baby.” Fitz turned his head, and Jack kissed him as best he could from his position, his hips losing their rhythm as his orgasm exploded through him. He cried out as he emptied himself inside Fitz, a gasp escaping him when Fitz’s hole tightened around him.

  Fitz cried out as he came, and Jack pumped into him a few more times before pulling out. He lay on Fitz for a heartbeat as he caught his breath. With a sigh, he nuzzled Fitz’s hair, then moved off him, rolling onto his side facing Fitz. Jack smiled at him, his beautiful face flushed pink, his hair stuck to his brow.

  “You mean the world to me,” Jack whispered, brushing Fitz’s hair away from his eyes. “I’m so sorry. For everything.”

  “You mean the world to me, too,” Fitz replied quietly. He rolled onto his side, facing Jack. “That’s why I worry so much when you don’t take care of yourself.”

  “I know.” Jack ran his thumb over Fitz’s bottom lip. “I’ll do better. I promise.” He wasn’t one to make idle promises. Fitz knew that. His father had taught him that if he was going to give his word, he needed to follow through, and Jack always did. Except in this case when it mattered most. A thought occurred to him. “What if you help me tomorrow?”

  “Really?”

  Jack nodded. “You’re good with your hands, and your fingers are slender and long.” Fitz snickered, and Jack booped the tip of Fitz’s nose with his finger, making him laugh. “Not like that, you perv.”

  Fitz laughed. He worried his bottom lip between his teeth. “You really think I can help you?”

  “If I show you what you need to do, I know you can do it. That way, we can finish faster, and then I’m all yours.”

  Fitz blinked at him. “Really? But you brought your laptop. You said you might need to get some work done. If you need to work, Jack, I understand.”

  “No. This is our Christmas vacation. Maury can handle anything that comes up. We’ve all been talking about promoting some of the guys at work so we could step back a little. Maury’s been on my team since we opened Four Kings Security. He’s more than qualified to manage the Cybersecurity Department.”

  Fitz sat up, his eyes wide. “You…you’re going to work fewer hours?”

  Jack followed, sitting up. He leaned in and kissed Fitz. “I should have been taking better care of myself and our relationship.” He nodded. “I want to spend more time with you, sweetheart.”

  Fitz squealed and tackled Jack, making him laugh, his heart ready to implode from how happy Fitz was. He’d been so foolish, risking what he had with this amazing man, a man who, with each day, he could see himself with in a forever kind of way. Thankfully, he’d come to his senses before he ruined the beautiful thing they had together.

  Hmm, maybe there was a little something magical about Winterhaven.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “Can we talk?”

  Mugs and Kisses had just opened, so Fitz was the only one inside. Merry didn’t look at him as he slid a tray of decorated gingerbread men into the glass case. One had a little sad face, and Fitz had to try hard not to smile. Merry was too darned cute.

  “Is that one for me?” Fitz asked, pointing at the glum gingerbread man.

  Merry sighed. He turned to Fitz, hurt in his big blue eyes. “I knew my chances with him were slim, but how can I compete with you?”

  “You don’t,” Fitz replied, removing his gloves and shoving them in his coat pocket. “Merry, the reason Noel asked me to dinner was—”

  “Because you’re beautiful? Because you’re so pretty, one hunky boyfriend is not enough, you need one for each arm?”

  Fitz opened his mouth to reply, but Merry thrust his hands in Fitz’s direction.

  “Look at you! Look at your hair! I mean, do you wash it with the tears of angels? Do birds come to your window every morning to wake you with their song? Who has cheekbones like that? And why do you always smell like flowers and sunshine? It’s not normal!”

  No one had ever angrily shouted compliments at him before.

  Fitz smiled warmly at Merry. “Honey, he wanted to talk about you.”

  Merry opened his mouth as if to argue, then closed it. “Wait, what?”

  With a chuckle, Fitz started to remove his coat. “Why don’t you make us a couple of those amazing Christmas-in-a-cup mochaccinos, and we can talk about it.”

  Since Jack was making good on his promise to take care of himself, he’d slept in this morning, and Fitz woke up to his man’s sweet kisses. They’d fooled around a little, and afterward, Fitz told Jack about Merry and Noel and how when Fitz saw how hopeless Merry was around Noel, he’d decided to do everything in his matchmaking power to help Merry snag himself an early Christmas present. They’d agreed Fitz would meet Jack at the Ice Castle afterward.

  Fitz draped his coat over the back of a chair, thanking Merry for his heavenly drink. They sat at the small table. “Noel asked me to dinner because he wanted to talk about you. He’s been smitten with you since you arrived but doesn’t quite know how to approach you.”

  Merry scrunched his nose. “You mean because every time he so much as looks at me, I freak out?” His expression softened. “He’s really interested in me?”

  Fitz nodded. “He asked for my help.”

  “He did?” Merry’s face lit up, and his cheeks flushed pink. He inhaled deep through his nose and exhaled through his mouth. “Okay. Just tell me what to do. I can do this.”

  “That’s the spirit!” Fitz checked his watch. “Noel is going to walk through that door in ten minutes.”

  Merry’s eyes went huge, and he let out a squeak. “What?”

  “He’s going to walk up to the counter and order a black coffee. You’re going to pour him that coffee and hand it over. Let’s go practice.” He got up and motioned for Merry to stand behind the counter. Fitz told Merry exactly what to say, and Merry practiced over and over. The time came, and Fitz hid in the kitchen behind the counter. The little bell above the café door rang, and Fitz turned to Merry.

  “Ready?”

  Merry shook his head. “I can’t do this.”

  “Sure you can,” Fitz whispered. “We practiced. Remember?”

  “I can’t. I’m going to mess it up.”

  Fitz took hold of Merry’s shoulders and met his gaze. “You can do this. I know you can. Just go out there, and when he steps up to the counter, you say exactly what I told you to say.”

  “Um, hello? Merry?” A deep, rumbling voice asked.

  “That’s your cue,” Fitz said, gently shoving Merry. He bit his bottom lip and watched through the small window in the door as Merry’s big, tall, handsome lumberjack crush stood at the counter, waiting for his coffee, as planned.

  They were starting small. Simple.

  Merry stood on his side of the counter looking adorable with his tousled blond hair, big blue eyes, and flushed cheeks. He forced a big smile, and Fitz cringed. Not exactly like they practiced. Merry looked a little unhinged, but they’d work on that later—one step at a time. Merry opened his mouth, and no sound came out.

  You can do this.

  Merry promptly closed his mouth, seemed to gather himself, then opened his mouth to speak. “Haaaoooono.”

  One word. That was all Merry had to say.

  Merry spun on his heels and power-walked back into the kitchen.

  Oh dear. Fitz might have underestimated the severity of the situation.

  “Can you give him his coffee?” Merry pleaded as he paced the small kitchen. “It’s next to the espresso machine.”

  “Of course, hon. Just take deep breaths. In through your nose, out through your mouth, okay?” Fitz walked out and smiled warmly. “Good morning, Noel.”

  “Fitz.” Noel sighed. “Is Merry okay?” He craned his neck to see around Fitz, but the swinging door to the small kitchen was closed. At least he couldn’t see poor Merry hyperventilating in the back.

  “He’ll be fine.” He winked at Noel. “He just realized he left the oven on. We might have some extra crispy cookies on our hands.” Fitz grabbed Noel’s coffee cup and handed it to him. Noel reached for his wallet, and Fitz waved a hand in dismissal. “On the house. For the, um, inconvenience.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yep.”

  Noel leaned in to whisper. “Now what?”

  “Does he have your number?”

  Noel nodded. “Yeah.” His cheeks got a little red. “I, um, gave it to him when he first moved here. I was called out to replace his garbage disposal.”

  Interesting.

  “Wait, did he talk to you then?”

  “Not really. He murmured something that sounded like a ‘thank you.’ But he didn’t run away, which was good. Though he didn’t have anywhere to run to since we were in his house.”

  Very interesting. “I’ll think of something.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” Noel left, and Fitz sighed.

  “It’s safe to come out now. He’s gone.”

  Merry groaned as he walked through the swinging door. “I can’t believe I messed that up. It was one word. Hi. Who can’t say hi? Me, apparently.”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself. We’ll figure something else out.”

  Merry shook his head. “I’m not like you, all beautiful, confident, and perfect.”

  “Oh, honey. That’s sweet, but don’t let this fool you,” Fitz said, motioning to himself. “It took a lot of heartache, therapy, and ice cream to be this confident, and even then, I have days when I’m feeling so crappy, all I want to do is curl up on the couch under a cozy blanket with Duchess and a of cup of tea and watch re-runs of The Great British Bake Off.”

  “Really?”

  Fitz nodded as he walked to the couch and sat, Merry sat beside him. “When I met Jack, I was a hot mess. I’d just gotten out of a ten-year relationship with a man I thought I was going to marry, only to discover it would never happen because he was already married. Had been for years.”

  Merry’s eyes went huge. “While you were together?”

  “Yep.”

  “That’s awful!”

  “It was, but it was also a blessing in disguise. The moment I saw Jack, I knew he was someone special. Of course, nothing happened when we first met. It wouldn’t have been fair to either of us to start something with someone like Jack when I was still picking up the pieces.”

  Merry cocked his head to one side. “What do you mean, someone like Jack?”

  “Jack is different from any guy I’ve ever dated. He’s a genuinely nice person. Sweet, adorkable, and incredibly smart. He’s also a former soldier with a lot of baggage from his military days. Not that I don’t have plenty of my own baggage. Talk about daddy issues. Anyway, when Jack put his arm around me, I knew he was the kind of man you built a life with. I wasn’t ready for that.”

  “So what happened?”

  “I got help. Went to therapy. Got my life together. Did something I had never done before. I focused on myself. Then, I retired from the fashion industry and opened my own salon. By then, it had been two years, and I hadn’t answered any of Jack’s messages. He was so sweet, checking up on me. We had no idea we were checking on each other through mutual friends. After two years of not talking to him, I figured he probably thought I was a jerk. But thanks to our meddling friends, we got together. Then someone kidnapped him and tried to kill us. More therapy ensued. It was a whole thing.”

  Merry blinked at him. “What?”

  “That’s a story for another day. My point is, I’m far from perfect.”

  “I’ve seen the way Jack looks at you.” Merry let out a dreamy sigh. “I wish I had someone who looked at me that way. Like I hung the stars in the sky.”

  “You could.”

  “I’ve never had a serious relationship. I’ve dated, but it always ended the moment I didn’t…you know.” He leaned forward to whisper. “Have sex.” His cheeks flushed pink as he sat back.

  “Then those guys weren’t for you,” Fitz said.

  “Even if I could manage to get it together long enough to form sentences and speak to Noel, what if he wants to, you know, and it’s a disaster?”

  “Does that mean you want to have sex with him?”

  Merry’s face flushed bright red. “Um….”

  “Have you thought about having sex with him?”

  Fitz hadn’t thought Merry’s face could get any redder, but nope. He’d been wrong.

  “Are you okay?” Noel asked.

  They’d been so engrossed in their conversation that neither of them heard the bell above the door jingle.

  Merry squeaked and jumped. “Yep! Not thinking about sex!”

  Fitz slapped a hand over his mouth to cover his gasp. Oh, sweet Dolly Parton.

  Noel blinked at Merry. “Um, okay?” He pointed to the counter. “I forgot to get a stirrer. I’ll, um, grab one and go.”

  Merry nodded, his face looking like it was about to burst into flames at any moment. As soon as Noel had his stirrer, he was out of there.

  With a groan, Merry let his head fall into his hands. “I’m hopeless.”

  “We’re going to get through this,” Fitz promised. “I’d better get to the Ice Castle to help Jack, but as soon as I’m done, we’re going to devise a new plan.”

  Merry nodded, and Fitz left. Maybe he could get Jack to help him.

  The rest of the guys and several of the townspeople were back to decorating, and Fitz stopped by to say hello. Leo beamed brightly at him, and Fitz couldn’t take the cute. Today, he had on a double pom-pom knitted hat.