Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

COLE

When we finally inflate Frosty, I stand back with Travis and the boys to inspect it.

“Now that’s a giant snowman,” Rich says, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

It’s still a pretty funny sight, even though this is the third year running that it’s been a thing. Travis now thinks it’s a Silver Pines National Treasure, since it was his idea and all.

The giant town Christmas tree sits at the other side of the Town Hall where Mayor Lockwood has some of the guys already on a ladder, putting up fairy lights.

“If you think that’s good, wait until the Rockefeller Center takes shape with the ice skating rink,” Travis chuckles, rubbing his hands together; the cold is setting in. The giant snowman wasn’t the only thing he outdid himself with. People far and wide know about the make-shift Rockefeller Center, and come all the way here just to check it out.

“Well, at least none of us have to worry about being Santa again this year, since Jake has it covered.” I give Jake a harder than necessary pat on the back next to me. Both he and Charlene volunteered t o be part of Santa’s grotto last year right before Christmas, just after the snowstorm hit. Charli was not only his helper, but dressed up as an elf. I’m not sure I want to know what went on in that grotto, truth be told.

He laughs. “All for the kids.”

“Better you than me,” Justin says. “How about you, Cole? Word is you and Ainsley are setting up some snowball fight competition this year right after the Hunger Games treasure hunt?”

“Yeah, Mayor Lockwood had no choice but to approve the idea after it got passed by the council.”

“She seems a bit more reluctant to it than she was to my Rockefeller Center,” Travis mocks, not being able to contain his laughter. “Guess you can’t win ‘em all.”

I side eye him. “Lucky for us, the majority ruled. It’ll be fun, as long as nobody gets a snowball to the eye. That means all of you have to go gentle if we ever wanna pull this off again.”

“Us, gentle?” Justin pats his chest. “It’s gonna cost you if you think we’re not gonna be the champions.”

“It’s for the kids.” I roll my eyes.

“How does the snowball fight work exactly?” Travis asks.

I smirk. “Well. Ains and I are currently ironing out the details. My initial idea was having teams of two with a field of bunkers set up through the park, maybe hay bales, and you get a set amount of snowballs to grenade out against your opponent before the timer runs out.”

The guys laugh.

“No wonder Lockwood is less than excited about it.” Justin shakes his head.

“So, you and Ainsley a thing?” Rich tilts his he ad, switching tact.

I’m surprised by his question, even if I shouldn’t be. The dance thing is all over town with what happened with Drake, and being seen again together at the Noodle Bowl the other night was sure to get tongues wagging.

But I pop a shoulder anyway, because I’m not too sure what we are, even if I know what I wanna be. I need to talk to her first. I know things were electric between us even before we got in the sack, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her since this morning. It was so hot the way she tackled me in the car and when she straddled me in my parked truck in the garage. I’m practically salivating when I think about all those tight spaces.

The sex was hot. And then all night in my bed, Lord have mercy.

I want more. Boy oh boy, do I want more. “You know me, a gentleman never tells,” I finally say, as the guys all look to me for an answer.

Travis is the only one not showing any surprise. I’m pretty sure he already knows.

“So this is new?” Justin asks. “Or am I just late to the game?”

“It’s new,” I say. “She’s a cool chick and we’re just getting to know each other.”

“Didn’t she move in next door?” he goes on.

“Yup. She sure did. And my cat has taken a shine to her. I can’t get him to leave her house when he wanders over there.”

“He’s not the only one by the sound of it.” Rich laughs just as we see Jessica Lockwood eyeing us for us from across the way. Now that Frosty is in place, the street lights are about to be turned on. Then we can finally retreat into the hall for some food. Thank God, because I’m starving. “Goin’ for the hot li brarian, huh?” Rich nudges me.

I palm the back of my head. It’s fine when I’m thinking or saying it, but not other dudes. “Something like that,” I grit out.

“She’s pretty cute,” Justin joins in, giving me a devilish grin. “That whole librarian thing is pretty smokin’.”

I scowl in his direction, bristling from his words. He holds his hands up, chuckling in some kind of defense. “Hey, man. Just sayin’”

“Fuck, you’ve got it bad.” Travis slaps me on the back good-naturedly. “Happens to the best of us, bro. If you find a good woman, I say go for it. They don’t come around every day.”

“Now this is true,” Jake agrees with a nod. “Take my word for it. It’s worth it.”

“Well, I gotta talk to Ains first,” I say. There’s a few things we need to clarify before I get anywhere near her kitchen table, my truck or my bed again. In fact, talking to her is exactly what I’m gonna do before I get bombarded by Jessica Lockwood and the committee. I’m already on the outs with her over getting our snowball fight approved, and some decisions going over her head a little. Maybe buttering her up with some eggnog in the Town Hall could be in my best interest to ensure things go smoothly.

But first. Ainsley.

**

I’m half an eggnog in before I find her in the hall with the girls. She’s chatting away to Hank as his kids still run around outside with Parker and Chris’s tribe. I see Marley across the way with some of his friends. I need to catch up with him and make sure he’s on board for the snowball fight arrangements .

I sidle up beside her with a glass of the good stuff. “Need to talk to you,” I whisper, giving her a friendly bump with my shoulder. I nod toward Hank as he starts talking to Marley’s folks next to him.

She turns quickly and holds her hand to her chest. “Shit, you scared the life out of me!” Her surprise quickly turns into a smile as she looks at the glass I’m holding out. “Is that for me?”

“Sorry about that. Consider this a peace offering.”

She quirks a brow. “A peace offering for what?”

I move closer to her ear. “Doin’ what I did to you in the early hours of morning. I feel bad for not letting you sleep.”

I love the way her cheeks darken. It’s delicious.

“Don’t ever feel bad for keeping me awake,” she says.

I clear my throat. We need to get off this subject, even if I started it. “Lovely evening.”

She rolls her lips. She knows I’m trying to keep it light, and not touching her is proving difficult. “It sure is. I love how they do the whole eggnog and banquet thing before Christmas. I think it’s a nice way for the town to get together.”

“Makes me wonder what they’ll break out for Carols by Candlelight this year,” I muse.

She laughs as she takes the glass and holds it up to her pretty lips, taking a small sip.

“Who knows.”

“Ains, I really need to?—”

“There you are, honey.” I whirl around to a familiar voice; Mom, with Dad close behind her, waving a glass of eggnog our way.

“Hey, Mom.” I smile as I take a gulp, wondering if we ’re ever gonna get a second alone. “Dad.”

“Hi, son.” He pats me on the back as Mom pulls me in for a hug.

“Ainsley, honey,” Mom coos, extending her arms out to my girl as they hug. “Cole tells us you and him have been coming up with some new activities for the Christmas show this year.”

Ainsley’s eyes momentarily round as she glances up at me and I try to hide my smirk behind my eggnog glass. “Apparently a good old-fashioned snowball fight never hurt anyone,” she says, looking back at my mom when she’s recovered.

“The snow may as well be good for something,” Dad chimes in. “And we’re going to have a heck of a snowfall this weekend. Not sure if you’ve been watching the weather lately.”

“As long as it’s not as bad as last year.” I grimace. Let’s hope we’re not all stuck indoors for days on end again.

“Well, I have my pantry stocked up, just in case.” Ainsley never ceases to amaze me. Of course she’s organized in case there’s another freak blizzard.

My mouth pulls up in a smile. One thing I wouldn’t mind is being locked in anywhere with her for a few days while the snow settled. Could be wishful thinking, but being snowed under isn’t a totally horrible idea.

“Have you tried the eggnog yet?” Mom asks Ainsley.

“I have.” Ains holds up her glass. “And they’ve put on a wonderful spread at the buffet.”

“I made those little love heart cookies with the sprinkles on.” Mom winks. “You two should try one.”

I want to facepalm myself. Could Mom be any more obvious? It’s not as if they know I’m sweet on Ainsley, or that we’ve hooked up. They know she moved in next door and that we’ve been spending ti me together on all the Christmas committee stuff. Maybe Mom is just putting two and two together and coming up with whatever she likes. She may be correct on this one, but I don’t need her coming on too heavy.

“They sound delicious. I might go and try one,” Ainsley says. “How about you, Mr. Garrison? Can I get you anything from the buffet?”

Dad smiles but shakes his head. “I’m fine, sweetheart. But thank you.”

“Well, me and Ainsley better go grab some cookies before they’re all gone,” I say, after a moment with a notion of my head in Ainsley’s direction.

Hopefully she can get out of Mom’s clutches sooner rather than later so we can have that chat. I guess the town Christmas get together probably isn’t the best time to be thinking about a deep and meaningful conversation.

“You two enjoy!” Mom hollers as I gently tug at Ainsley’s arm and lead her over toward the said cookies.

“Your parents are so sweet,” she giggles.

I roll my eyes. “Yes, they are, but Mom likes to meddle.”

“My mom’s the same.”

“I’m sorry she couldn’t be here tonight.”

“I’m going to see her again in the morning. She should be out of hospital soon, fingers crossed.”

We pass Emma and the posse of girls who all look over at us.

“Do you kinda get the feeling we’re the talk of the town right now?” I say out of the side of my mouth.

Ainsley laughs. “Kinda.”

My eyes wander over her pretty face and down to her Christmas sweater. “We really need to talk. Why don’t we grab a Christmas cookie or three? I know without looking that my mom still has her eyes on us, then we can find somewhere quiet?”

“That sounds good.”

She’s so damned cute. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of looking into those big, soulful eyes, the color of the ocean.

“Finally caught you two,” Jessica Lockwood drawls behind us the second we hit the buffet dessert table. Fucking fantastic.

Ainsley and I both share a look and turn simultaneously.

“I have to say, the two of you sure worked hard on the new festivities this year. Regardless of my feelings about the snowball fight and potential insurance claims, I think it’s going to all work out,” she says. Maybe she’s had too many glasses of eggnog, or maybe she really is coming around to the idea.

If only she knew just how hard we had been working on and under the festivities for this year. My mind drifts to Ainsley’s ass planted on the kitchen table while I suckled on her nipples and brought her to orgasm. If only Jessica knew where those paperwork minutes had been.

“I think so, too,” Ainsley says. “Everyone is so cheery and pumped for everything to begin.”

I grin. “You never know, Mayor Lockwood, you might even enjoy it.”

Her lips purse like she’s fighting a smile. “I wouldn’t bet on that, Cole Garrison. And I’m sorry to hear about your mom, Ainsley. Is she okay?”

“Thank you,” Ainsley says, her eyes flicking down to the ground. “She’s doing much better. I think it’s safe to say she’s out of the woods and she should be coming home in a few days.”

“I’m glad to hear that. ”

I grab another cookie because Mom was right, these are seriously good. Mom’s always been an excellent baker, but she’s kept these a secret. “Well, Ainsley and I were just going to check out Frosty.” I gulp down the last of my drink, hoping I won’t get spots on my tongue for lying.

“I’ll see you both later.” We say goodbye and watch as she waves across the room to stalk somebody else.

“She scares me a bit,” Ainsley says.

“Me too,” I agree. “We’ll never hear the end of it if the snowballs get out of hand.”

Ainsley laughs but quickly sobers, so much so, I glance down at her.

“You okay?”

“I’m good, just — last night was a lot.”

“It was. That’s why we need to talk. Should we try and find a quiet place while everyone else gets sloshed?”

She nods and I take her hand, lacing my fingers around in hers. I lead her to the side exit but as soon as we get outside the snowfall has well and truly started, and there’s no way we can stay out here too long. Frosty or no Frosty.

“My truck?” I suggest, as I look up to the sky.

“Yeah, it’s warm and quiet,” she says, tugging at my hand, making me avert my eyes from the rapid succession of snowflakes tumbling down on us.

I lead her around the corner from the back of the hall out to the parking lot. “I missed you today,” I breathe as we walk briskly. My breath coming out in a puff, making a fog of its own in the air from the cold.

“I missed you, too.” Her hand squeezes mine.

When we reach my truck, I lean into her before I unlock the doors with my fob. She turns and presses her face into my chest and we have a quick cuddle. I tilt her chin up with one finger and bend my head to place a quick kiss on her lips. The only reason I don’t l inger or grab her by the waist is because I don’t want the girl to freeze out here. “I’ve been wanting to do that all day. Since you left my bed this morning,” I say, licking my bottom lip, tasting her cherry lip gloss, then I dip my head for another.

She blinks up at me. “Me too.”

My body isn’t just humming, it’s on fire, despite the cold. But I have to get us into warmth, so I pull her door open and turn my head slightly when I see someone in my periphery.

I hear the sharp gasp of Ainsley next to me as we both see fuckface Drake scowling over at us from where he must have just parked a few doors up.

“Oh, shit,” I hear Ainsley whisper.

“Just keep walking,” I mutter in his direction. I don’t want to cause a scene here, but lucky for him he drops his eyes to the ground, scurrying toward the Town Hall with his hands shoved in his pockets. I’m happy to see that he still has bruises on his face from that pesky broken nose. Must be a bummer being a douchebag.

“Thank God.” Ainsley palms her chest. “The last thing we need is another confrontation.”

“He got the message.” I smirk as she climbs up into my truck and I jog around to my side and climb in.

“So, we’re really not playing at this?” she asks as soon as I turn to her in the seat.

“Babe, I think after last night, we can both agree that this is real. It was never about fake dating for me.”

“You want to date for real?” she asks, like it’s still so hard to believe. And I’m willing to drill it home to her if that’s what it takes.

I lean over; the seat crunching from my weight as it shifts. My hand finds her chin, where I lift it with my fingers, tilting her head to look up at me.

“Don’t hide that pretty face. Yes, I want to date for real. Last night was hot. You’re hot, and sweet and adorable. But it’s not just because of that. I want more, Ainsley, more than just sex. I want to know everything about you, if you want that too?”

Her eyes are big and round, her face all flushed as she gazes at me. Perfection.

I wanna rip that Christmas sweater off her and take her in my backseat, but that also wouldn’t be a good idea given where we are tonight.

“I want that, Cole. More than anything.”

Her words are like magic on my heart, and I lean in for another kiss.