Chapter Seven
Joe couldn’t help but smile at the little girl’s obvious delight. If she wanted to pet the horse, she’d pet the damn horse. It was the sort of thing he would have wanted to do as a kid and he wanted Sarah to have all those fun holiday memories. He turned to the driver. “Is that okay?”
The driver nodded. “Sure thing. Just stay behind the ears. He doesn’t like having his face messed with.”
Bending down, Joe wrapped his hands around Sarah’s waist and picked her up so that she could pet the animal. He couldn’t help but smile as the little girl giggled in glee as she ran her hands over the mane and down the neck of the horse, who was wearing a Christmas wreath.
After letting Sarah pet the horse a few times, he set her in the carriage and motioned for Nikki to get in. He watched with more than a little interest as Nikki climbed up, inadvertently sashaying her ass in front of his face. Now was not the time to get a boner though, so he pushed those thoughts aside and climbed in behind her.
Nikki rearranged their positions so that little Sarah was sitting between them and he had to forcibly hold in his laugh. His little mate was doing anything and everything she could to put space between them. It made Joe’s lion grouchy, but he assured his beast that they could be patient. If they were lucky, there would be plenty of touching and petting to please his lion soon enough.
The driver got up on his perch and suddenly the carriage started moving. They slowly passed the outlet mall and continued down a side street that led them toward the largest display of lights in the entire city. Joe looked down at Sarah as the carriage turned the corner and a brilliantly lighted Christmas street came into view. “Look at all the lights, Sarah.” He pointed out the strands wrapped around the light poles for the little girl.
Sarah stood on the seat and squealed with delight. Joe wrapped his arm around her waist so she wouldn’t fall as the carriage bounced over the road. It was then he got the feeling that someone was watching him. Looking over, he found Nikki observing him and gave her a smile before turning his attention back to the little girl.
“Do you like the white lights or the colored lights, Sarah?”
The exuberant child clapped wildly and squealed, “I love them all!”
They continued down the street, Joe pointing out the different street ornaments until the carriage came to a stop in front of the town’s very large Christmas tree. There, a group of carolers were singing “O Holy Night”. As he sat listening to the singers croon the lines, Sarah snuggled closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. The action was so simple, so innocent even, but to Joe it meant hope.
Hope that he could have a family after being alone for so very long. Hope that he could win over not only his mate, but the little girl that was quickly worming her way into his heart. Most of all, hope that this Christmas he wouldn’t be alone.
The carolers ended their song and the carriage started to move again. Back down the street they went, this time the little girl pointing out all of her favorite sights, while Joe silently sat there and enjoyed their time together. It was so peaceful, and felt so right, that he hated the ride to come to an end.
When the carriage came to a stop back at the place they had started, he was almost tempted to tip the guy to go another round, but his mate was already moving to get out.
Eager to keep up with her as she exited the carriage with her sister, he followed the two girls. Once they were on their feet, he stopped next to Nikki to point at the little café across the street. “We can get hot cocoa there.” Looking down at Sarah, he asked, “You want some hot cocoa, sweetling?”
The little cub beamed at him.“Yes!”
Joe grabbed his mate’s free hand, then gently pulled her along before she had a second to protest and led the three of them across the street to the café. Once there, he opened the front door and waved them through the entryway. Pointing at a small table near the window, he said “I’ll get it. You girls sit there and I’ll be right over. Nikki, do you want coffee or cocoa?”
Slightly flustered looking, Nikki answered, “Coffee please.”
Joe gave her a wink. “A girl after my own coffee-addicted heart. Be right back, sweetheart.”