She opened her eyes to see Alex already half dressed. Smiling, he bent to kiss her forehead. “I didn’t want to wake you, but Lexie’s up. It’s our first Christmas together, and I don’t want to miss a minute of it.” Penny flipped back the covers. “Me, either.” When she reached up to twist her hair into its knot, Alex stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the curve of her neck. He followed it with another kiss and another, all the way up to a spot just behind her ear and murmured, “Leave it down. For me.” Shivers tripped down her back, and she was helpless to deny him anything. She nodded. As soon as he released her, she pulled the sides back with a ribbon and hurried out the door after him. “Papa!” Lexie ran across the room to throw herself in Alex’s arms. “I didn’t think you were ever going to wake up. Aunt Jewel said we needed to let you and Mommy sleep because you were tired.” Jewel didn’t try very hard to hide her pleased smile.
