THE WOMAN HAS A SMART mouth that I didn’t realize I would love instantly.
“Yes. My woman. If you have a problem with that you best tell me now so I can talk you out of it.” She laughs, and it is one of those huge belly laughs that seemingly come from her toes.
“Yes Ham. I do have a problem. I am not your woman.” She says in a soft voice with a huge smile, while squeezing my hand that is still joined with hers. However, she swiftly removes it.
“I guess you best get yourself prepared for me working hard to get you, because I won’t stop until I make you mine.”
She gives me a smile and looks out the window.
I pull the truck into a parking space near the municipal building. Moosehead has a small population and nothing but a couple of mom and pop restaurants. We have to drive about twenty miles to come upon St Paul or Minneapolis, which isn’t a big deal.
Jace opens his door and hops down as I round the front of the truck to get to the passenger door. “I’ll get a ride home. Don’t wait on me.” He says as he walks away.
I chuckle and shake my head as I open the door and Avalynn jumps down into my waiting arms and slides slowly down the front of my body. As soon as her toes are touching the ground, I lean my head down and claim our first kiss. Her tongue meets mine and while they firmly mesh, I can feel her melt into me. Having had my fair share of first kisses, I am aware this is my last first kiss. I feel it in my bones.
Her mouth tastes like peaches and coffee. A strange combination, but I will never want to stop kissing her perfect, warm mouth. I never knew a feeling of rightness could happen this quickly, but it did.
I reach for her hand as we walk toward the festival that is being held in the town square. My mom has set up shop near the coffee house and sent a group text to my brothers, father, and me at six this morning. She really is certifiable, but she can’t get enough of the holidays.
I lead Avalynn over to my mom and a woman who I suspect is her grandmother. My suspicions are confirmed when she practically leaps from my side into Greta’s arms.
“Nana! It is so good to see you.” Avalynn exclaims while hugging Greta.
“I had no idea you were coming. How on Earth did you meet Ham so quickly?” Greta responds as I notice her giving my mom a sly look and a gleam in her eye.
“Sorry Nana. I needed to get out of Florida because of a scary situation, but I am OK now. Ham saved me.” She says with a smile that doesn’t seem to reach her ears. Hmmm… I will need to get to the bottom of that story.
“Ma, this is Avalynn. I met her out on highway 109.”
“Is that so?” She says as she gets up from her lawn chair.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Crawford.”
“Are you with this son? If not, I have three others in need of a lady.”
Laughing, she responds with, “No, ma’am. I ended an engagement recently as a matter of fact. I came to see my nana and clear my head, definitely not to be in another mistake.”
“What the hell did you say woman?” I growl. “There’s no ‘mistake’ over here. You belong to me and there is no way around it”. I know it seems crazy, but I really mean it. She gives me a look with a slight annoyance and a little smirk I almost miss. My little lamb wants to pull a fast one, huh? We’ll see about that.
I grab her around the waist in front of everyone, making sure there is no mistake, and I lay a deep, possessive, and wet kiss on her mouth.
“How’s that for meant to be?” I respond to her challenge.
She wraps her arms around my neck and whispers in my ear “That all you got big boy? “ Then she proceeds to slap her hand over her mouth in disbelief that she said that. What happens next, is like a miracle. I let out a full belly laugh. An all-out and out laugh that brings tears to my eyes. This one is going to keep me on my toes.
Tucking her under my chin as I look at my watch, I notice there is only ten minutes until the tree lighting. Once the damn thing is lit, I hug my mom and then Greta. “We gotta go, but we’ll stop by for dinner soon, Ma.”
I lead her back to the truck, lift her up and in. Once she is buckled in the seat belt I walk around to the driver’s side and get in. After buckling my own seat belt, I put the truck in drive and pull out of the lot onto the highway.
“Do you need anything from town before we head home?” I ask.
“Nope, I have everything I need right here.” I assume she means me because I sure as hell mean her. Then she winks at me and adds “in my bag.” Sneaky little elf.
I reach over, lace my fingers with hers and give them a slight squeeze before bringing them to my lips. I am dying to get inside her. I briefly wonder if she is untouched considering how beautiful and pure she is on the outside. No matter, I will be the only man she ever needs.
We reach my cabin in twenty minutes, and I grab her bags from the back seat of the truck. She hops down and starts up the steps.
“Do you want to take a shower? Grab some food?” I ask, giving her different options than what I want to do.
“A shower sounds good. Lead the way.”
The cabin is laid out in a simple manner with three bedrooms down a single hallway. The kitchen, living room, and dining room are sectioned by the furniture in an open concept. I show her to our room and leave her there to get done what she needs to before I join her. Going in there with her right now means I will never let her out.