Page 77 of Unwrapped

Her cheeks are red. Either from the cold or from my teasing. “Will you ever grow up? Sometimes you’re so immature.”

“What can I say? I’m making up for lost time.” My eyes cut away. She mulls over my words remembering the dark parts of me that I alluded to two nights ago.

“Ugh. Let’s just get this over with.” I open passenger door for her and then lay the back seats down.

“I’ll be right back with our little gang.”

She answers by donning her huge, designer shades. The ones making it impossible to read her eyes. I don’t want to hurt her but damn I want her. Badly. Maybe when I get back to Chicago and square things away with Freddie, I’ll pursue the shit out of her. West Coast or not. Hell, maybe a long-distance romance could work for me. I can spend my daily life settling Freddie in and getting to know her while texting my sexy Shiloh at night. Hmmm….

In seconds, I’m back out at the SUV, carefully balancing the box in my hand while opening the passenger door again. “Merry Christmas.” I place the box on her lap with the kittens all meowling angrily inside. The cold air woke them from their slumber.

She bites her lip, choosing to look out the window as I carefully guide the SUV back into town.

I pull into the lot in front of the vet. She still won’t speak to me, I round the car, opening her door. “The cat got your tongue, sugar?” I can’t help but bait her as I lean in placing both my hands on either side of her seat fencing her in.

She opens her mouth to give me some smart remark and I seize the opportunity, and over her lips with mine. Yeah cause my promise to stay away from her lasted all of two seconds. Besides, my fingers were crossed. Everyone knows that means my words were null and void. My tongue slides in easy. I feel the heat, the anger but there’s also need. I pull back as the kittens start meowling in protest since my body wants to press tighter to Shi’s. “Never mind. I guess it was me who got your tongue.” I lift the box off her lap and start whistling, “Santa Claus is comin’ to town” as I walk up to the front door of the clinic.

The first snowball misses me by a mile. The next one hits me square on my back. It’s more ice than snow and stings a bit.

I half turn, arching a brow, “You wanna start this, sugar?”

“You started it. I’m just ending it.”

I feel the smirk on my face enjoying watching how it pisses her off when she sees it. Placing the box of fur balls down gently on the stoop, I slowly stalk forward. “You better run, sweetheart.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“Liar. And we both know exactly what you’re afraid of.”

“Oh yeah?” She packs another ice ball as she bounces on her feet.

“Yeah… my…big…”

“Fat ego?” She replies, aiming fast and hitting me in the face.

Dropping low, I charge. She shrieks as I haul her by the waist and spin her around. She tries in vain to pummel me with her tiny, gloved fists. But her damn flailing legs hook into the back of my knees and we both fall. Hard. Fast and deep into the snow.

Laughing, like I’ve never laughed, I roll to the side, so I don’t crush her with the weight of me.

“Ugh. My butt is wet.”

“Is that all?”

“Pig.” She smacks her hand against my chest. Before she can move it, I grab it in mine hand and bring it to my lips, kissing her gloved knuckles.

“Not denying it.”

She rolls her eyes and lays beside me. “Do you see it?” She asks, gazing up high. I watch her beautiful face framed her long chocolate hair then settle back into the snow and look up too.

“What?” My eyes take in the baby blue sky, the sun breaking through the clouds and the huge evergreens covered in dusty white.

“Serenity. Peace. I actually can see it.”

I’m quiet for a second as I study the sky. Four tiny paws land on my chest. The little claws knead into my sweater as the kitten ambles higher, peering into my face. The tiny thing purrs as it climbs higher nipping my nose. I turn my head.

“Are you seeing this?”

“I am.”

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