Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

TEDDY

C harlotte Monroe was a tease.

It was the combination of her legs in those tights and the flirty touches. She leaned in close to talk to the kid on my lap or whispered something funny in my ear. The result was, I was surrounded by her scent, her warmth, and inundated with visions of her legs encased in tights with a tiny skirt that barely covered her ass.

Then there was the kiss on our break. I meant to get her worked up, but it only succeeded in making me ache for her. Last night and this morning were just a warm-up for what I wanted to do to her.

For the first time in my life, I wanted to forget about my responsibilities and get lost in the moment with this woman.

I didn’t see myself settling down, and someone like Charlotte would bring a whole lot of chaos. But she was fun too.

Why did that sound appealing all of a sudden?

Charlotte insisted on meeting with every kid in the line, so the vendors were already cleaning up by time we were done.

When the last kid grabbed their candy cane, I stood and stretched my back .

Abby looked up from the screen on her camera. “You make a great Santa. You should do it more often.”

“Let me see,” Charlotte insisted, standing by her shoulder so she could see the screen. “He’s perfect. My instincts were right.”

I pulled off the hat and ran a hand through my hair. “Your instincts said I would make a good Santa?”

Charlotte looked up from the screen. “You were a natural.”

“I don’t know about that.” I felt awkward the entire time. I was waiting for one kid to pull on my beard or call me a fraud. But quite a few of the kids had said they knew I was a stand-in. Santa couldn’t possibly be everywhere at once. I wanted to ask how does he deliver the presents all over the world, but I’ll let the parents tackle that one.

I figured out that Santa wasn’t real when I was nine. My mom asked me to keep the secret for my siblings. I took that task seriously when she said my brothers and sisters should get to experience the same magic I had.

When Wes asked if Santa was real, I told him the same thing Mom told me. I loved that she trusted me with such a big secret.

What would Mom think of Charlotte? She’d probably love her. I was a different man than I would have been had my mother lived.

Charlotte was a warm, generous person who took care of those around her. It was surprising, given her upbringing. But then again, kids were resilient, and she was strong.

None of my instincts were telling me she was lying. But I couldn’t forget she had told my father she needed to stay here to avoid some kind of trouble. I should get to the bottom of it. But Abby was packing up, and Charlotte was walking out of the barn.

“I’m going to check on the vendors and see how it went,” Charlotte said over her shoulder.

I wanted to get out of the Santa suit, so I headed to the house. Dad was inside drinking coffee. I pointed at the mug. “You know that’s why you have trouble sleeping at night.”

“Thanks for the reminder, Dad,” he said dryly.

I cleared my throat. “I’m just trying to help.”

“I can take care of myself,” Dad said gruffly.

Why was everyone saying that lately?

“The festival looked like it was a success. I didn’t see the final numbers yet, but I’m sure Charlotte will show me a spreadsheet shortly.”

“That’s good.”

“I’m wondering if you shouldn’t take some time for yourself. You don’t need to work so much. We could manage without you sometimes.”

I was helping Axel renovate his cabin some nights, but he still hadn’t told the rest of the family. “Is this about everyone already being paired off?”

Dad pursed his lips. “Partly.”

I sighed. “Maybe marriage isn’t in the cards for me.”

Dad gave me a pointed look. “You haven’t had a serious relationship since college. And don’t think I didn’t know that you broke up with her when you came home.”

I grabbed a glass from the cabinet so he couldn’t scrutinize my expression. “I didn’t have time for a relationship then.”

“Or any time since?”

I moved to the fridge and filled the glass with water, then ice. “You know I don’t talk about stuff like that with you.”

“I’m just worried about you.”

I lowered the glass. “Isn’t that my job?”

“You know parents never stop worrying about their kids.”

I leaned against the counter; grateful the island was between us. “Yeah, but I haven’t needed that kind of parenting in a long time.”

Dad raised a brow. “I’m starting to wonder if I let you take on too much responsibility after Mom died. You had to grow up too soon.”

“I was an adult. I didn’t enjoy the partying at school anyway. I just wanted to get my degree and go to the academy.”

“You’ve accomplished everything you’ve wanted to.”

My stomach dropped out. I didn’t like where this was going.

“But I want you to be settled and happy.”

I chuckled without any humor. “You don’t get much more settled than building a house.”

“I heard the guys talking about you and Charlotte, and I can’t help but think she’d be great for you.”

I held up a hand, hating to have to lie to him. But I wasn’t sure if this thing with Charlotte would last. “You know I don’t like her.”

“If not with Charlotte, then someone else.”

“Charlotte isn’t my type. She’s too—” I was going to say flighty, but now that I’d gotten to know her, she wasn’t. She was passionate and intentional about everything she did. She was a genuinely good person and deserved someone who could give her the white picket fence. “My job is dangerous. You know that.”

Dad’s forehead wrinkled. “Lots of police officers have families.”

“The divorce rate is high,” I said reverting to the stats I used on my coworkers who gave me shit for being single.

Dad gave me a look. “You commit to everything you do. Somehow, I think you’d work at a relationship too.”

“A woman shouldn’t have to settle for my lifestyle. The crazy shifts. The danger. Work and family are my main priorities. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.” I held onto the beliefs I’d had for years. I wasn’t ready to let go.

“You’re stubborn.”

I raised a brow. “You insisted on keeping the farm when everyone encouraged you to sell. ”

“You disagree with that decision?” Dad asked, considering me.

I thought about how I worked with family members like Wes and Jameson most days, and events like the festival brought all of us together. “It was the right thing for our family. It’s extra work, but it also means family time.”

Dad nodded. “Even Faith and Ryder were here today.”

“It’s nice to have them living close by and participating on the farm.” The business forced us to work together. The farm was the glue that held us together after Mom died. We had a common purpose outside of our grief and personal ambitions. No matter what we did, we always came back. Even Ryder. It took his wife asking for a separation for it to happen, but it did, and I hoped he was here to stay. “Speaking of family coming home, Axel was discharged.”

Dad’s eyes lit up. “When’s he coming home?”

“He’s already here. He bought a cabin and is staying there for a bit to acclimate before he meets up with everyone.”

A flash of pain crossed Dad’s face. “He didn’t want to see us?”

I cleared my throat, hoping I was handling this correctly. “Not at all. He just needed time to decompress. He was planning on being here for Christmas.”

Dad nodded. “I can understand needing some time before he’s subjected to our family. We can be a lot.”

“And you shouldn’t worry about us. We’ll be okay.”

Dad raised a brow. “And trust that you’ll make the right decisions when it comes to love.”

I reared back from the shock of those words. “Who said anything about love?”

“The purpose of life is to eventually fall in love, share your life with someone.”

I pressed my lips into a straight line. “I’m content with how things are. ”

Dad shook his head. “I hope you don’t pass over something that could be good for you.”

The image of Charlotte in her elf costume popped into my head. She possessed all the qualities that I admired. She was strong, hardworking, and determined. She’d defied my initial impression of her as flighty and spoiled. I didn’t think she’d work hard for our farm, but she had, and she was invested in the outcome.

But that didn’t mean she’d make a good partner. I just needed to get out of this conversation. “Let me get out of this Santa suit. I’m hot and sweaty.”

Dad waved me away. “I bet.”

I breathed a sigh of relief as I ducked into the small bathroom off the kitchen. I took off the suit that I’d resisted wearing. I’d actually enjoyed spending time with the kids and Charlotte. We made a good team.

I was eager to get back to where we were this morning. I’d been thinking about all the things I wanted to do to her when I got her home. Maybe I could join her in her after-work bath. The thought had me rushing through washing my face and running a hand through my hair. I needed a shower or even a bath.

I dumped the suit in Dad’s hall closet. I’d tell Charlotte where it was later. Maybe Dad could play Santa next time. Satisfied with my decision, I slipped out when I realized Dad had gone upstairs. He probably needed to rest after a long day working the festival.

Tonight, my thoughts were centered around Charlotte and our recent physical connection. I wouldn’t think about the implications on our work relationship.

I headed back to the barn to help my brothers tear down the vendor tables. Inside the barn, Charlotte was disassembling the photo setup. We worked until everything was cleared away. Then we gathered outside the barn .

“I’ll work the numbers and let you know how it was, but I think it was amazing, judging by the amount of people in line for Santa photos.”

Daphne nodded. “There was a crowd by the vendor tables all day, and I saw people making purchases.”

“I just hope they left with a smile and memories of a great day on the farm.” Charlotte clasped her hands together. “Next year, they’re going to think of the Calloway family’s Pine Valley Farm when they think of buying a tree.”

“I hope you’re right,” Knox said cautiously.

It was hard to remain even-keeled around Charlotte. She tended to sweep everyone up in her enthusiasm. I should know. I’d been resisting her vortex for the better part of a year. But I was done with that.

“You need anything else, or can we get out of here?” I kept my tone neutral, but I hoped Charlotte caught my innuendo.

“I think that’s everything. Thank you so much for helping me out. I know you were skeptical.” Charlotte looked at me.

“I think you’ve proven that you were right about hosting events on the farm. It’s working for Monroe Farm, so it should work for us. But seeing all the people here today, having a good time, I just wanted to thank you for putting everything into us. It means a lot,” Knox said.

Charlotte’s eyes were suspiciously shiny. “You’re welcome. Sometimes it’s hard to see progress over a short period of time. But we’ll keep at it, making this an annual event.”

Knox nodded to her, then said to me, “I’ll see you later.”

If there was any innuendo in his tone, it was lost on me. My gaze was on Charlotte. “You headed home?”

“I need a bath and something to eat. In that order. Then I’ll probably fall asleep early.” Charlotte headed toward her car that was parked at the main house.

She stopped at her car and turned to face me. “Thanks for dressing up as Santa. I know you didn’t want to do it. ”

“It wasn’t so bad.” My family wanted me to be happy, and right now, that meant being with Charlotte. A vice clamped on my chest, making it tight.

Charlotte opened the door and slipped inside.

“I’ll see you around.” I carefully shut her door, watching her back out before I got into my truck. I was using it more than my cruiser lately. I wasn’t sure what that meant. The cruiser kept me in the right frame of mind for work. I had to act a certain way in the uniform or when I was driving the cruiser. But the truck let me relax and just be me, the guy who grew up on a farm.

I kind of liked that guy. The one in worn jeans and flannels. Who didn’t have to act so uptight.

I had to admit that Charlotte was right. It was good for kids to see me in a different way, even if they didn’t know who I was.

Something that felt a lot like affection settled in my chest as I turned on the engine, backed out, and followed the lane past my house. I parked behind Charlotte’s car as she was getting out.

Her eyes widened as I threw the truck in Park, turned off the engine, and climbed out of the car. I stalked toward her.

“What are you—” Charlotte began.

“I want to take a bath with you.” My heart was actually thundering in my chest. I couldn’t believe I was nervous to proposition a woman.

Charlotte seemed like she was processing my words. Then she said, “Yeah, that would be nice.”

I didn’t want to talk about what this meant. I just wanted to enjoy the evening with her. I grabbed her hand and led her to the porch where I waited for her to unlock the door.

She turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open. I followed her inside, closing the door, then turning the lock. “I’ve been thinking about getting you alone all day.”

Charlotte licked her lips. “Me too. ”

With my hand still on her wrist, I led the way to her bathroom. Inside, I turned on the water, testing the temperature.

Charlotte was already stripping. Naked, she stepped up to the tub and poured something that looked like bubbles into the water.

Steam filled the room as the water heated.

“Are you going to join me?” Charlotte asked with an arch of her brow.

I’d been frozen by the sight of her naked body, her nipples hard points, her skin already flushed from the heat. But now, I moved quickly, kicking off my shoes and shedding my clothes, and stepped into the water after her.

Charlotte settled between my legs. My dick was already hardening, but I didn’t want to rush this. I wanted to enjoy every minute. I reached around her to cup her breasts, thumbing over her nipples until she was squirming in my arms.

“Teddy.” Charlotte pressed her back against my chest, her head falling into the crook of my shoulder.

“Yeah, baby.” I kissed her exposed neck.

“I need you.” Her voice was soft, and her legs fell open.

“I’m going to take care of you.”

Her lashes fluttered closed.

I felt a rush of tenderness for this woman. She trusted me to take care of her, and I didn’t take that responsibility lightly. I’d make her feel good. I’d make her forget about any guy that came before me.

I sucked on her neck while I moved one hand down her stomach and between her legs. She widened her legs and tipped her hips in a silent invitation. “Are you aching for me?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

I slipped a finger through her folds and then inside her heat.

Charlotte whimpered.

My straining cock pressed against her backside. I wanted more, but I could be patient. “You teased me all day with that elf costume.”

“I didn’t mean to. Who would have thought it was sexy?”

It probably wasn’t supposed to be. It was just tights and a green felt skirt, but to me, it was. “You taunted me. Then there was that kiss.”

She let out a breath. “You started it.”

“It was you,” I breathed across her sensitive skin. “With those tights. That flirty skirt, and that ass.”

She arched against me as I added a second finger.

“You need me.”

“Yes,” she hissed, her muscles tensing.

She was close. I turned her, and she immediately straddled my hips, settling her pussy against my cock.

“The condom’s in my jeans.” I’d restocked when I stopped at home this morning, hoping I would be joining her after the festival.

“I’ll get it,” Charlotte said sweetly, moving to reach for my jeans.

I took advantage of her position, to slip a hand between her legs again. She was ready for me. I pumped in and out as she sucked in a breath. “I can’t think when you’re doing that.”

“That’s the idea,” I said, content to tease her while she fumbled with my wallet, finally pulling out the strip of condoms. She ripped one off, tearing the wrapper and sliding it over my dick.

I wanted to feel her bare, but I was too responsible to take that risk. Part of caring for Charlotte was ensuring she was safe. I wouldn’t take that risk with her.

If I was being honest with myself, I’d admit that I was the one who wasn’t comfortable going bare.

My dick jerked in her hands as she smoothed the rubber over my flesh.

Charlotte licked her lips like she was thinking about taking me in her mouth. But I was too desperate for her. I lifted her onto my lap, one hand holding my dick at the base so that she could ease down over me.

As she sank down, her head fell back and her eyes fluttered closed. “You feel amazing.”

“So do you.” I banded an arm around her waist, holding her tight to me. She only had a limited range of motion to move up and down, and I was okay with that because keeping her close was more important than chasing the quick orgasm.

I wanted to draw this out, make it as good as possible for her.