Jess was standing next to a tree at least a foot taller than she was. Considering Jess was just an inch shy of six feet, the tree was huge. Its base spread out at least five feet, if not more. "How about this one?"
There was no way the tree would fit in her condo. How the hell am I going to tell her no? Jess had that same look on her face that she had earlier when she asked her if she had gotten her tree. Eager, but waiting to be disappointed. What in the hell did that bitch Myra do to you?
"It's really a beautiful tree, Jess. But there's no way it'll fit in my dinky condo."
"Oh." Jess's shoulders sagged. "Okay." She put the tree back.
Damn. Kim thought fast. "You could get a tree too. I'm sure this one would fit in your place. I'd help you decorate it."
Jess's expression brightened. She started to stand the tree back up. Her face fell and she let it go. "I forgot. I don't have any decorations."
"We could get you some." Inspiration struck. Take a chance. Kim spent most of her time at Jess's. "Or how about this... We could share the tree. You buy the tree and I'll provide the decorations."
"You would really want to do that?" Jess asked.
Her tentative manner made Kim more determined than ever to make this a special Christmas for Jess. "Sure. Why not? It'll be fun."
Jess shook her head. "Of course you would," she said, sounding as if she was talking to herself. When she met Kim's gaze, the sparkle was back in her eyes. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me. It's been a while since I had someone to share Christmas with." She bumped shoulders with Jess. "I'm really looking forward to it."
"Me too." Jess wrapped one arm around Kim's shoulders in a brief hug.
Wow. Wasn't expecting that.
"Have you ladies decided on a tree?"
Thought we dumped him. The overeager salesman had followed them around when they first arrived. After Jess turned the full force of her ER Chief persona on him, he had made himself scarce.
Kim looked over at Jess. "Have we decided?"
With a broad grin, Jess pointed to the seven-foot tree she had chosen. "That one."
The salesman put on his gloves and hefted the tree.
"Can you deliver it today?" Kim asked.
"Yep. Cost you twenty-five extra, though."
"We don't need —"
Kim cut Jess off. "That'll be fine. Thanks." When the salesman was out of earshot, she turned to Jess. "I'll pay for the delivery."
"I could have taken it home."
"Do you really want to drive on the freeway with a huge tree tied to the roof of your truck? And have tree sap stuck to your paint job? Plus trying to get that monster in the house?"
Jess deflated. "Oh. Guess I should have picked a smaller tree."
Kim bumped Jess's hip. "I love the tree. It's perfect. Come on. Let's set up to have it delivered, then we can buzz by my place and get the decorations."
* * *
They were just getting ready to leave the Christmas tree lot when Jess's phone rang. She pulled her phone off her belt and glanced at the screen. "It's my sister. I can call her back later."
"No. It's okay. Go ahead and answer it if you want." Kim was curious to see what the interaction on the phone was like between Sam and Jess.
Smiling, Jess pressed the phone to her ear. "Hey, Sam. What's up?" She listened for a moment, then laughed. "That's not a very subtle hint." Tilting the phone away from her mouth, she said, "She's telling me where the video game she wants for Christmas is on sale." She turned her attention back to the phone. "I was talking to Kim..." She rolled her eyes. "No. We just bought a Christmas tree for my place." Jess's eyes grew wide. "No. I will not tell her that."
Kim was dying to hear the other side of the conversation. She caught herself leaning closer to Jess. If she wants you to know, she'll tell you.
"I have to go, Sam. I'll talk to you later... Okay... Bye."
When Jess set her phone on the center console, Kim noticed a crack in the screen. "What happened to your phone?"
"Um..." Jess looked everywhere but at her. "It got knocked off the coffee table. Thor stepped on it." She shoved the phone back into its holder on her belt and glanced at Kim.
Kim quirked an eyebrow at Jess. Come on. Tell me. There was more to this story, she just knew it.
Jess blushed. She shifted in her seat and then seemed to come to a decision. "Well... Sam and I were playing video games and sort of arguing over whose turn it was." She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket. "We started wrestling over the game controller. Thor rushed over and tried to join in." She looked down. "One of us either sat on my phone or Thor stepped on it... I'm not sure," she finished in a rush.
Kim had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. I wish I could have seen that. She hoped she would get a chance to meet Sam soon. She had a feeling she would get to see a whole other side of Jess when she did.
"So did you win?" Kim asked.
"Huh?" Jess looked up.
"Did you win at the video game?"
Jess grinned. "I got two levels farther than Sam. Without killing her once."
Kim was having too much fun to let this go. "Sam?"
"No." Jess laughed. "Adara."
I should have known. "Ah. The intrepid explorer of exotic lands." Who just happens to be incredibly stacked. Now I have an idea of what to get Jess for Christmas.
Jess's eyebrows shot up. "You know the games?"
"I haven't played in a while." Kim grinned. "But yeah. I might have played some of the earlier ones... a time or two."
"All right. Sam is going to be so jealous. She hasn't dated a woman yet who likes Adara."
Kim's jaw dropped. No way. "Your sister is a lesbian?" she blurted before she could stop herself.
"Oh. I thought I mentioned that." Jess arched an eyebrow and grinned. "Is that a problem?"
Kim snorted. "Hardly." Her stomach chose that moment to growl loudly. "I'm starving. What do you say we get some lunch before they deliver the tree?"
Jess laughed. "What's new?" She dodged Kim's playful poke. "Okay. I give." She started the engine. "Mexican?"
"Of course," Kim said.
* * *
"Ready?" Kim bent toward the outlet.
"No. Wait. Let me turn off the lights." Jess doused the room lights. "Okay. Go."
Kim smiled. Jess's exuberance as they decorated the tree had been heartwarming. It was the most fun that Kim had had decorating a tree in more years than she could count. She plugged in the Christmas tree lights.
When she stepped from behind the tree, she saw Jess staring at the tree with an awestruck expression. Moving close to her side, Kim asked, "Like it?"
"It's perfect." Jess cradled Kim's face in her hands. "Just like you."
Kim flushed from the heat of Jess's gaze. "I'm not even close to perfect."
"You are to me," Jess said. She drew Kim into her arms and kissed her long and lovingly.
Pressing herself against Jess, Kim whimpered as Jess's tongue slid into her mouth. Oh, what you do to me with just a kiss. She wrapped her arms around Jess's back. The press of their breasts ratcheted her arousal higher.
Jess grasped her ass and pulled Kim tightly into the space between her spread legs.
Unable to stop herself, Kim ground herself against Jess's pelvis. She pulled away from the torrid kiss, panting. "God, Jess." When Jess began to tug at her clothes, Kim groaned in relief. "Yes." She lifted her arms and allowed Jess to pull her sweater over her head.
Jess's eyes sparked fire at the sight of Kim's bra-clad form. "Just perfect." Her hands came up and cupped full breasts, then squeezed.
Her legs going weak, Kim latched onto Jess's shoulders. "I'm going to fall."