Page 7 of Christmas with Hope

“I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that it is different,” I shook my head.

“Well, for the next few days, you’ll have to get used to it Miss Hope,” he winked.

Chapter Four

“That’s the last of them,” I said, shutting the refrigerator door.

“We’ll probably have to go back to town before our adventure is over with.” Colton gathered the three bags and placed them in the trash can. “I would have put the groceries away.”

“I know you would have, but you had carried the basket, paid for the groceries, and held the doors for me.”

“I wasn’t doing those things because I wanted something in return.”

“I know that,” I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Let’s just agree that we do nice things because we are nice people. Fair enough?”

“Fair enough; however, I’m not nice to everyone, my dear.”

“Oh,” I breathed.

“Yes, oh,” he grinned and then walked out of the room, leaving me wanting to follow him like a lost puppy.

“You’re stronger than this, Hope,” I scorned myself quietly.

Slowly, I made my way out of the kitchen and into the living room. Colton was adding more wood to the fireplace. He looked like a natural at the country life.

“Country life seems to suit you,” I said, making him look over his shoulder at me and laugh. He looked back at the fire.

“I’m not originally from New York. I was raised in Kentucky,” he admitted softly.

“Kentucky?”

My words damn near came out a shriek. I hadn’t seen the Kentucky thing coming, but then again, Colton wasn’t a New Yorker type of name.

“Did I terrify you by admitting that?” Colton faced me and grinned slightly.

“Sorry. It just caught me off guard,” I whispered.

He didn’t reply. He walked over to the couch and sat down. The look in his eyes made me regret asking where he was from. Kentucky must be a sore subject for him.

Slowly, I walked over to the couch and sat next to him. He briefly looked at me and smiled. Then he went back to looking at the fire.

“I didn’t mean to upset you, Colton. I’m sorry.” My words were soft, but I meant them wholeheartedly. Colton was a nice guy. I didn’t like causing him pain.

“You didn’t,” he looked at me and smiled. “I don’t think there are any board games here.”

“What?” I laughed. “Where in the world did that come from?”

“Not sure,” he chuckled. “Just popped up in my head.”

“There has to be something around here.”

We both looked around the room. There wasn’t much in this room, and the cabin only had the kitchen, three rooms, and a bathroom. There wasn’t a single T.V. in the place.

“Guess we could build snowmen and make snow angels,” I teased.

“I’ve never done those things.”

“What?” His words caused me to choke and then cough hard. He patted me on the back.

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