Chapter 12

CHAPTER

TWELVE

FOX

“Man, I could live in a place like this,” Alida says, wonder twinkling in her eyes, as we stroll down the main strip of Evergreen Pass.

It’s no surprise that it’s another full day of holiday plans. My family has always gone all out, and this year is no exception. As much fun as it is to see wonderment in the eyes of the littles—and Alida—I wish I had any excuse to take her back to the cabin now so I can make love to her all afternoon.

“You could move here,” I suggest, easily able to envision a life with her in this quiet town. I’d happily sell my place for a new beginning here with Alida. We’d have a cabin a short distance from town to ensure our privacy. The town is small, but there’s an urgent care clinic. I almost say as much, but Alida doesn’t give me the chance.

“I can’t move,” she says as we stroll along the snow-dusted sidewalk, my family ahead of us.

“Why not?”

“My mom would haunt me if I abandoned that house.”

“What do you want, Alida?”

“Doesn’t matter what I want.”

The flippant tone of her words causes frustration to well up inside me. How much has Alida sacrificed in the name of those she cares about? “You don’t think your mom would want you to be happy?”

“I am happy.”

“Bullshit.”

“What would you know about my life, anyway?” she challenges, some of the sparkle leaving her blue eyes and a daring fire kindling in its place.

I’m not about to admit that I’ve kept a much closer eye on her these past three years than she knows. I told myself I did it to honor Brett’s wishes. But truth be told, I’ve done it more for Alida. Until now, I’ve never allowed myself to be honest about my true feelings. I’ve been in love with this beautiful, smart, pain in the ass woman since the moment I met her. After talking with Grandpa Eddie last night, I’m through feeling guilty about those feelings. “I know you deserve to be happy, Alida.”

“Yeah, not all of us can afford that luxury.”

I wrap an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against my side until my lips press against her cheek. “That’s not true anymore, sweetheart.”

“You think you know everything!” she hisses, and I feel her muscles clench. I recognize the fight building in her body as if it’s muscle memory and not her truth. “You don’t,” she insists, trying to convince herself, but then she glances up through her lashes and I know . She wants to be happy. She wants it more than she’s ever wanted anything.

I yank us to a stop and tug her against me by her coat. She bites her lip and doesn’t fight me. I didn’t think she would. I cup her cheek and draw her in for an unnecessary kiss. She melts right into me, and dammit if my dick doesn’t get half hard at her enthusiastic response.

“What was that for?” she pants when I break apart the kiss, apparently forgetting she was trying to be mad at me.

“Because I felt like it.”

She licks her lips. “What else do you feel like?”

I press my forehead against hers, completely aware we have an audience nearby. Good to know I haven’t lost all of my training.

Grandma Lola is smiling like a fool, whispering something to Grandpa Eddie. Jazzy’s deep in conversation with Mom, pointing at the jewelry store. And for once, I’m not even that annoyed. Maybe I will buy Alida Kingston a ring after all.

“I feel like taking you back to the cabin and claiming you for my own.”

“I don’t belong to anyone.” Alida doesn’t break eye contact. It’s why I can see the twinkle in those baby blues that dares me—begs me—to challenge her on this. To make her happy.

I cup her cheek, bringing my lips a feather’s width from hers. Our breaths mingle as I say, “You’ll always be your own woman, Alida Kingston. It’s one of the many things I admire about you. But that doesn’t mean I can’t claim you.”

“And how would you claim me?” she asks, feigning innocence.

“With my hard cock, sweetheart.”

“Maybe I want—” Her phone rings, and she pulls back. “It’s Kayleigh. I have to take this.”

“I’ll wait for you over there,” I say, nodding toward my family though I don’t move.

“Kayleigh, hey!” I catch a quick glimpse of a FaceTime call as Alida maneuvers around a nearby Christmas tree, one of many decorating the main strip. “I’m actually off this Christmas. Can you believe it?”

I should respect her privacy and join my family, but a snippet of conversation roots me in place a little while longer.

“Where are you?” Kayleigh’s voice echoes.

“I’m out Christmas shopping.”

“With who?”

“With a friend.”

“You don’t have any friends.”

“I do too!” I can’t help but grin at her tone.

“Name one.”

“I have friends, Kayleigh. How’s your ski trip?”

“Hey, that guy looks familiar. Who is he?”

Shit. I didn’t realize Alida circled the tree, likely catching me in the frame.

“Oh, I ran into Fox. You remember him? So, funny story.”

I mouth a sorry and hurry back to my family to give her some privacy. But I’d be lying if I said I regretted getting caught. I promised not to tell Kayleigh about any of this, but I didn’t promise to be invisible.

“You two are so stinkin’ adorable,” Jazzy gushes, her attention on her kids playing in the toddler’s snow park. Seriously, this town has everything for Christmas. “Hurry up and marry her already so Lily and Ethan have some cousins, would ya?”

“No need to rush him, dear,” Grandma Lola says.

“We waited three weeks,” Grandpa Eddie calls her out.

“See?” Jazzy says. “I’ve never seen you smile this much. I honestly thought you didn’t know how.”

“Ha ha .”

“Are you two coming to Midnight Mass tonight?” Mom asks.

“No, we won’t be there.” I spare my family and don’t say that Alida and I will be finding our own religion while everyone is out of the cabin.