“I’ll let the dogs out if you don’t mind and get them ready. You’re okay with them in the room tonight?” he asked. “I did bring Doc’s crate and can put her out here.”

  “No,” she said. “Betty is on Josie’s bed now and holding it through the night. I wasn’t sure she’d go to bed with the other two dogs here, but I think she was happy to have Josie to herself.”

  He laughed low in his throat. “Josie does pay more attention to my dogs and I feel bad for Betty.”

  “So that is why Betty stays on your lap during movie night?”

  He flushed and she let out a giggle, then stood up and went to her room while Carter took care of his dogs.

  Once all the gifts were on her bed, she realized there was a lot. She probably went overboard, but it was so much fun. Josie rarely asked for anything and maybe that was why she bought what she did.

  Carter was coming in the back door with the dogs and she went upstairs to check on Josie. The TV was still on but would be off in a few minutes and Josie was out cold.

  She went back downstairs to start quietly bringing the gifts out.

  “Is she asleep?”

  “She is,” she said. “Cookie time first. Hope you’re hungry. We can dump the milk. I’m not much of a fan of drinking it.”

  He reached for the glass and drained most of it, then left a bit on the bottom and they each got a cookie off the tray.

  “These are good,” he said. “When we got older, my father left Santa a beer and pretzels.”

  “What?” she asked, laughing.

  “Yeah. He said the man deserved more than sugar and dairy for all his work. We thought it was great. To me, it made Santa seem more like my father.”

  “That’s so sweet,” she said. “You looked up to your dad, didn’t you?”

  He shrugged. “I guess so. I’ve always been more like him. Or could relate to him more than my brother did.”

  The two of them put all the boxes under the tree. “Where are you going?” she asked when he went out the front door.

  “To get my gifts,” he said.

  She’d known he’d gotten something for Josie but hadn’t thought much of it until now.

  He came back carrying six boxes. “That is more than one gift,” she said.

  “Two are for you,” he said. “The others are for Josie. I didn’t say it was one.”

  “She loves you just as much as I do,” she said, going into his arms when he was done putting them under the tree.

  “I love her too,” he said. “And I’ve got one more trip to make out there.”

  “You bought more?” she asked.

  “Gifts for the dogs. I’ve got them in a box and we’ll keep them out of reach on the fridge. My dogs would figure out what is in them.”

  “I still wouldn’t put it past them to get them on the fridge,” she said. She’d kept all the dog’s gifts in her room.

  By ten they were both in her room, the house locked up tight and they were climbing into bed.

  She’d shut the door in case Josie came down, but Josie hardly ever did. Carter was in his underwear with his jeans by the side of the bed on a chair. She had her tank top and underwear on that she slept in.

  “You can watch TV if you want,” he said before she reached for the light by the side of her bed.

  “It’s fine,” she said. “I normally do, but I’m tired enough and know Josie will be up soon. Not to mention, maybe I want to do something else to make me sleepy.”

  The light went out next to her bed. “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “Very sure. We can be quiet.”

  She slid down and Carter turned her on her side, him behind her, his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his chest. Her back was nice and warm through the thin material of her tank top.

  She felt his cock long and firm against her hip.

  His mouth went to her neck, his lips lightly kissing her, sending shivers everywhere.

  “You know what I want to do?” he whispered in her ear.

  “What?” she asked, backing into him more.

  “Fuck you just like this.”

  He didn’t normally talk like this. Not that she cared. She actually liked it. She was going to tell him too.

  “I want you to. I want you to say what you want and not hold back. I wonder if you do at times.”

  “Maybe,” he said. “But I won’t anymore.”

  It told her that he was probably still insecure about himself. Maybe he thought she wanted to be with someone not like him and it wasn’t the case.

  “Carter. I love the person you are. Every bit of it. You have to know that by now.”

  “I do,” he said. His hands were sliding under her top, cupping her breasts, pinching her nipples. The skin on his hands was so rough and calloused and it turned her on like nothing ever did before.

  “Then don’t think I want someone other than you. I want you to be who you are and do what you want to do.”

  His hands moved faster, removing her panties, his sliding down too. She figured that maybe she finally got through to him.

  She shifted her legs so that the top one lifted up, Carter moving into position and finding her opening slick and ready for him.

  He slid in from behind like that, their bodies almost glued together. There was no way they could move much and she was okay with that. It’d let them stay quieter too.

  She let out a little moan though. “Shh,” he said.

  “I’m trying,” she said. “It’s hard. You feel so good next to me. Inside me. Every part of my body you touch is always on fire.”

  His hips were shifting slightly with small movements in and out of her. His one hand still on her breast, the other one going down between her legs.

  “Do you like that?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said as he was stroking her bud.

  But then he pinched it as he had her nipple. Both at the same time and she all but shouted out and had to bury her head into the pillow to muffle any noise.

  He kept it up assaulting her body as he’d never done before.

  She was on an edge of a powerful and slippery slope that she needed to fall off of quickly. He seemed to sense that. Her leg lifted up more so he could squeeze in closer. More with longer strokes. Anything and everything he could do, she was waiting for it.

  “Come for me,” he said in her ear. “Right now, all over my cock.”

  Yep. That was it. Those words that he’d never said before. Words that weren’t polite or said in front of a woman. That did it. That was what she needed.

  She started to come, the muscles between her legs squeezing him and milking everything she could.

  Both his arms were around her, hugging her tight as his hips were jerking into her more and more, the moan escaping his lips but not loud enough to wake anyone. Not even the dogs that seemed to be sleeping next to them on the floor.

  Avery had no thoughts in her brain after that. It was as if it was lights out and she was fast asleep, Carter holding her tight and her thinking it was going to be the best holiday she’d ever had.

  34

  To Do His Part

  “Merry Christmas. I’m Josie.”

  Noon on Christmas Day the three of them and the three dogs were walking into his parents’ house.

  “We’ve heard so much about you,” his mother said. “Merry Christmas. I’m Vanessa and this is Joe. We are Carter’s parents.”

  “I know,” Josie said. “He told me all about you. And he has a brother named Grayson and a sister, Natalie. I don’t have any siblings. Maybe someday Avery will give me a little brother or sister.”

  Carter turned to look at Avery and saw the shocked look on her face. He knew that she’d told Josie that the little girl could call her Mom if she wanted, but it hadn’t happened yet.

  But that comment did make him wonder if Avery finally realized it was only a name and Josie was thinking of Avery as her mother now. A second mother.

  One he had to wake up this morning because she’d been out cold.

  Doc was the one that had woken him up a little before five. His dogs were good, but in a strange place and with the excitement, his large puppy needed to go out again.

  He’d slid out of bed as quietly as he could, let his two dogs out, and came back to see Avery still on her side curled the way she’d fallen asleep in his arms.

  He got back in bed, started to kiss her shoulder and wake her up, told her the time and saw her all but jump out of bed as if a boogieman came into the room.

  He’d said Josie was still asleep, he’d snuck up to look around the corner, but the two of them had gotten up anyway, turned on the lights on the tree and had some coffee while they waited for Josie to come barreling down the stairs.

  It was before six when gifts were being ripped into and he and Avery at least had been able to shower and get dressed before that.

  “I’m sure she will someday,” his mother said. “I keep hoping for a grandchild of my own.”

  “I can be your grandchild,” Josie said. “I’m Avery’s mother’s grandchild.”

  He saw his mother’s eyes all but fill up, his father grinning. He had no words for that and he was sure they didn’t expect them from him either.

  “You are,” Avery said. “We are all part of a family whether we share the same blood or not.”

  “That’s right,” his mother said. “And please come in. I’m getting some snacks out. Josie, what did Santa bring you?”

  “I got a sled so that I can go outside and play. We’ve got a tiny slope. It’s not much but it’s still fun. Carter said Dopey could pull me around. Dopey likes to tug on ropes and he’d put it in his mouth and run around the yard if I tossed him treats.”

  His mother laughed. “You’ve put a lot of thought into that, haven’t you, Carter?”

  He flushed. “Dopey would have fun. It’d give him exercise.”

  “Doc has more energy than Dopey,” Avery said.

  “She’s still a puppy. I don’t want to hurt her as she’s still growing.”

  “I’d supervise it either way,” she said. “I don’t want any of the dogs hurt.”

  “What else did you get this morning?” his mother asked.

  “Lots of things. I got clothes and art supplies and a new iPad because I had Avery’s old one.” Josie put her finger to her chin as in thought. He realized it was like he did at times too. “Oh, and Avery got me some stuffed animals because I like them on my bed and some other toys.”

  “That sounds like a lot of stuff,” his father said.

  “Carter got me the best though,” Josie said.

  “Really?” his mother asked. “What did Carter get you?”

  “A baking kit because I make him desserts when he comes over sometimes. Well, I used to, but now he’s over all the time and Avery said we can’t have dessert daily even though I want it. I told Carter that too and he laughed. Now I can make more as I’ve got all my own tools and equipment. Things so that I can’t cut myself or anything. And he got me a bracelet-making kit and sketch pads because he said that he needs more pictures of Dopey and Doc. Did you know he framed pictures of Dopey and Doc that I drew and hung them in his house?”

  He hadn’t expected Josie to say as much as she did and he was trying to hide the embarrassment. More so when Avery gave him a look about the dessert comment and why she might suspect he did what he had.

  It wasn’t so he got dessert daily but rather something he knew the little girl liked.

  “I didn’t know that,” his mother said. “I don’t go to Carter’s house that much to see those things.”

  “I was so surprised when I saw it last week,” Josie said. “We went to his house and he cooked us dinner. He said that sometimes a man needs to do his part too. That means sharing the chores. Don’t you think that is nice?” Josie asked. “Avery does everything and I try to help, but she tells me no. She doesn’t always tell Carter no though.”

  “Josie,” Avery said. “I think maybe you had a little bit too much sugar with breakfast this morning.”

  There was laughter around the room. Avery was as embarrassed as him, but his parents were enjoying this.

  “I had three pancakes with chocolate chips in them because Avery said it was a holiday and that was kind of like dessert, but it was still breakfast. Then I had strawberries and syrup on them. Lots of syrup. All the dogs got pancakes too, but not with chocolate chips because chocolate is bad for dogs.”

  “How do we get her to stop talking?” he whispered to Avery.

  “Welcome to my world,” she said quietly to him. “But it means she is comfortable.”

  It was probably the best thing she could have said to him.

  “Well,” his mother said, “if you’re hungry I’ve got snacks before dinner is ready. That will be a few hours. We’ll eat around two. Grayson and Natalie should be here any minute and then we can open gifts. I believe there are things under the tree with your name on it, Josie.”

  “Really?” Josie said. “Thank you. You just met me though.”

  Avery looked a little stunned by this, but Carter wasn’t. His mother had been waiting for a child to spoil.

  “Why don’t I help you get those snacks,” Avery said to his mother. “Josie, can you stay out here with Carter and his father? Maybe draw a picture?”

  Josie went running to her bag that she’d dropped by the door when they’d taken their jackets and boots off. She came dashing back in with a pad and a pencil, then sat down and got to work. That was one way for the little girl to be distracted and not expose anymore information he’d rather people not know.

  Hours later they were back at Avery’s house. Josie was playing with some of her toys in the living room and the two of them were in her kitchen.

  “Sorry I had to leave you for a bit.”

  “It’s fine,” she said. “I know you’re on call for things. Just like me. I’ve gotten calls and had to leave too.”

  No one wants to get in an accident on Christmas day, but there was one and the car was too damaged to be driven away. He’d had to leave, hook it up to the truck and bring it back to his garage. He’d felt bad saying that the garage wasn’t open until Tuesday to look the car over, but the person hadn’t minded. Said they expected that anyway as it was a holiday.

  He had to remind himself of that. People didn’t expect him to be open twenty-four-seven to do things other than in an emergency.

  Most times Avery took calls over the phone and didn’t often have to go to the clinic, but she did last week with a dog that had broken its front leg jumping off the stairs. He’d been at the house and stayed with Josie rather than the little girl having to leave after dinner.

  “I know,” he said. “I’m glad you understand.”

  “I do. It’s a different life here. I’m the one that is always on call and I get that. I’ve got to figure out if I can find a vet to fill in for me so that I can have some time off. If not, then the practice will be closed and that does stink, but I’ve got to be able to not burn out too.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone to come over for a week or so. If you sweeten the pot for them, a hotel or rented house,” he said, laughing. He wasn’t joking though. It would probably take that and the cost of running a business on the island.

  “I thought of it. All good suggestions,” she said. “And I’m sorry Josie was so gabby today. I didn’t expect that.”

  “It’s fine. She was excited and that is what a kid should be like on Christmas Day.”

  “I know,” she said. “I often wonder if I should reach out to Colleen’s mother and sister. I hate that there isn’t much family for Josie. Should she have that connection to Colleen’s side?”

  “You need to decide that on your own,” he said. “You’d know what is best. You said Colleen wasn’t close with her family. Why?”

  “Colleen’s parents divorced when she was young. I think we had that bond. The two of us. Her mother found another guy and married right away. The sister is actually a half sister. Colleen always felt like she was left out.”

  “The redheaded stepchild syndrome?” he asked. “Though you’re the one with the red in your hair.”

  She smiled. “I wish I didn’t have as much as I do, but it’s fine. And yes, that is exactly what it was for Colleen. Her mother chose that other family over her daughter. Colleen’s father moved on and out of the area too. She felt as if she had no one.”

  He wanted to say kind of like Avery, but Avery always had her mother. He understood now the bond between the two women and why Josie was really like a daughter to Avery.

  “Don’t you think if Colleen’s mother or sister wanted to know Josie they’d make that step?” he asked. “They know you have custody.”

  “I’ve thought of that. They have all my information. They moved out west years ago. They didn’t even come back for the birth of Josie. It was a few years before they met her and that was because Colleen had felt a little guilty and flew out to see her mother. She’d come home upset and that was the end of it.”

  “Did she say why she was upset?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Just more of the same. She was never good enough. Her mother had another family. She was all but ignored and they didn’t connect with Josie. Didn’t show any excitement over meeting the child and went about their lives as if Colleen and Josie hadn’t flown there for the week. She spent most of the trip on her own with Josie and regretted it.”

  “You never know things until you do them. You shouldn’t regret it either,” he said. “Sounds like she tried and needed to in order to move on.”

  “I think so too. I wonder if that is when she made her will,” she said. “I never asked. I don’t think it matters. Josie would have been miserable with anyone other than me. I know that.”

  “Exactly,” he said. “Don’t ever think otherwise. She’s a happy well-adjusted child. You’re giving her the family life she is used to.”

  “But she enjoyed yours today,” she said.