Hailey felt her cheeks warm at the compliment.
"You don't have to spend a lot of money on me," she said softly.
"I want to," Eric replied firmly. "Let me do this for you. For us."
---
Christmas Day arrived with clear skies and the kind of crisp winter air that made everything seem brighter and more festive.
Hailey had spent extra time getting ready, choosing a dress that was elegant enough for wherever Eric might be taking her but not so formal that she would feel overdressed if they ended up somewhere casual.
She had been curious about his plans all week, but he had refused to give her any details beyond telling her to dress nicely.
"You look beautiful," Eric said when she emerged from the bedroom, his eyes lighting up with appreciation.
"Thank you," Hailey replied, smoothing down her dress self-consciously. "You clean up pretty well yourself."
