Chapter Eleven

Jesse

Two weeks later, I glanced out through the gap in the curtains …waiting. I didn’t have long as I watched the sleigh glide on the snow up Kat’s driveway.

I smiled and turned to find Kat dashing through the living room.

“I have so much to do.” Kat gushed, carrying on into the kitchen. “They arrive in the morning, and I need to—”

“Take a ride with me,” I finished, following her. “I promise to help you clean, make beds, do any damn thing you want me to…as soon as you’ve ridden with me.”

She smirked. “Ridden? I like the idea of that.”

I grinned because my idea of riding today wasn’t the same as what I knew Kat was thinking. “You need to dress warm.”

Her eyes widened. “Warm? I thought we planned on getting naked.”

“Come on.” I grabbed her jacket, hat, and gloves before dragging her outside.

“Oh!” she whispered, delighted. “This kind of riding? It’s been forever since I rode in a sleigh.” Her arms wrapped around my waist and once she’d squeezed, she let go and ran to the sleigh, allowing Ted, the owner to help her on board. “I’m excited about this.”

I strolled forward, amused at how excited Kat was. Her face lit with delight as she patted the seat next to her. I chuckled and climbed in. A blanket was thrown over our laps and then we were off as I pulled Kat into my arms. “I’ll keep you warm,” I suggested, wiggling my brows when I met her gaze.

She snuggled closer, and whispered, “You always keep me warm, Jesse.”

Kissing her forehead, I held her close while I got my emotions under control. The fact she was in my arms and in my life was a surprise because I never thought she would look at me in the way that she now did. I’d known straightaway she was going to change my life. I just hadn’t realized that it would be in this way.

I never thought a woman would give me such a fulfilled feeling, one of love, and belonging, but she did. As I glanced at her in my arms, I cupped her face with a gloved hand and slowly stroked her skin. She smiled up at me and my heart expanded to near bursting. She was mine and nothing, and no one, would change that. I wouldn’t let it.

As we approached the town and the festive stalls around the town square, the sleigh started to slow before coming to a stop.

Kat frowned and looked at me in query.

“Hot chocolate, whipped cream,” I waggled my brows and laughed at the blush working its way onto Kat’s face, “and they may even have marshmallows.”

“You tempt me, Jesse Morales,” Kat mumbled, taking my hand. “I’m too old for this.”

“Heck, no way!” I placed my hands on her hips once we had our feet planted on the snow-covered ground. “I’m going to love you like you’ve never been loved before.” I smirked as I teased, “And I’m going to warm you up better than any hot chocolate can.”

“Good luck with that. Kat’s as cold and frigid as they come,” a voice behind us barked before he chuckled.

Kat and I froze before she slowly turned. “Mike,” she hissed but while her chin was raised, I saw her fade into the scenery. It was terrifying and I wouldn’t have thought that someone so vivacious and full of life could dull like that. “What is wrong with you? I thought we put all the anger behind us.”

Smirking, Mike raised his hands, “It’s just a joke Kat...but I have to say, I’m surprised you’re screwing the sheriff, considering you never seemed that interested in sex.”

It took me a minute to come back to my senses and, when I did, I whirled around to face the jackass she’d had the misfortune to marry. “Let me tell you,” I spat, while Kat clung to my arm to keep me back, “that Kat is the most giving woman I’ve ever met, and, if, for one minute you have any other opinion, then I suggest you keep it to yourself…because it looks embarrassing for you!” I snarled. “You know why? Well, I’ll tell you! It means that you have no clue how to pleasure a woman.”

“Jesse,” Kat whispered. “Let’s go. Please.” She tugged on my sleeve, which brought my attention back to her and the tears on her face, not to mention the audience we had.

I cleared my throat and wrapped an arm around Kat’s shoulders before I kissed the top of her head. “I love you,” I whispered before pulling away.

“You,” I pointed at Mike, “need to remember the facts. You are the one who left. You are the one who married the woman you were having an affair with while married. Kat is free to be with whom she chooses and that, just so happens, to be me. One day soon, she is going to be my wife, so you better get used to it.” I smirked. “She’s mine now.”

Ignoring the stares from Mike and the crowd, I led Kat toward the hot chocolate stand I’d been heading toward before we’d been so rudely interrupted. “He’s an asshole.”

“I can’t believe you said all that to him.” Kat avoided my gaze. “I’ve wanted to say some of that for a long time and you just blurted it out.”

I chuckled. “What I really wanted to do was knock his lights out, but as the sheriff, I couldn’t. I may do it if he has anything else to say.”

“My knight in shining armor.” Kat smiled.

“Do you think he’ll tell Miles and William?” I asked, only now worrying about Kat’s sons.

“They’ve only recently started talking to each other so I doubt it.” She bit her lip. “But, then again, I don’t really know. Mike obviously wanted to cause trouble back there, so maybe he’ll text them.” Shrugging, she turned to face me, walking backwards. “They listen to me, so, although I’ve been really nervous about introducing you to them, I know deep down that they’ll be okay.”

Snagging my hand, she tugged me close, reached up and planted a sloppy kiss on my mouth. “I think we need to wait to get back to your house before we start getting wet,” I whispered, tickling her sides.

She giggled. “I already am,” she cleared her throat, “wet, that is.” Kat grinned as her laughter filled the air and took a cup of the hot liquid offered. “Cream and milk chocolate, please.” She held her hand out and waited for the vendor to add the items.”

“The same please.”

“I love this. I usually treat myself when I’m in town to this. It’s so thick and creamy.” Her eyes slowly closed as a soft sigh left her lips. “Sweet too!”

Her words had me frozen in place with my gaze firmly on her lips, which curved upwards in a secretive smile. “Getting to you, huh?”

Wrapping an arm around her waist, I hauled her against my hard body and hissed when she wiggled on me. “You are asking for trouble.”

“I thought you’d like the thick and creamy reference.” She stepped out of my arms and swirled a finger into the top of her drink. It came away covered in froth, my eyes narrowed when she slowly sucked her finger into her mouth, and moaned around the digit.

“If I didn’t have my jacket on and fastened, the whole damn street would see what you do to me,” I commented, taking her hand and leading her away from the crowded stall.

“You still hurting?” she asked from the corner of her mouth.

“Maybe.” My lips twitched because I refused to laugh so I quickly kissed her lips. “And the minute we are alone, I’m going to show you exactly how much, and pay you back for arousing me in public.”

“I thought I did that anyway.” She stepped back into the sleigh.

“You always do. I’ve been constantly uncomfortable since I first saw you.” Covering our laps with the blanket, I snagged another as well. “Wouldn’t want to draw attention to what I have planned for beneath here.”

Her eyes widened in surprise as she met my mischievous smirk, and confessed, “I’m in love with you, Jesse Morales.” She brushed the overlong hair back from my brows. “I have no idea how I got so lucky, but I’m not about to let you go.”

I held her gaze and cupped her beautiful, cold face. “I love you too, Kat.” I kissed her forehead. “I’m not going anywhere, unless you’re with me.”

She looked relaxed and content for the first time since I’d met her.