Page 37 of Promise Me This Christmas
“The fact that we both enjoyed being active probably kept us out of trouble,” Carson reflected.
“Though there was that time we hitchhiked to get to the ski hill.My mom was not happy about that.”
“Mine neither.”
He reached across the table for her hand.And just that simple touch made her catch her breath.
“There are advantages to getting older,” he said.“I like looking at you in candlelight.”
“It softens everything,” she agreed.
And thinking back on her life, she realized she had needed some softening.Not in her appearance.This wasn’t about looks.Her emotions had calcified in the years since she’d left Montana.She’d developed a protective covering to prevent herself from ever getting hurt so badly again.None of the men she’d dated in the intervening years had managed to dent that covering.But it had only taken Carson a few days.And he’d done it simply by being himself.
“You don’t need candlelight to look beautiful.I’ve missed you so much.I didn’t even know how much until I saw you walking into breakfast that first day.It almost killed me when you spun around and ran.”
“Can you imagine how shocked I was?Not just at seeing you again.But your…presence.”At eighteen he’d been athletic but skinny.And surely, he had been under six feet tall?“You’ve grown, haven’t you?”
“I didn’t stop until I was in my twenties.And I know I’ve filled out.We work hard on the ranch.”
“Your size kind of intimidated me at first.”
He laughed.“Sorry.Got to call bullshit on that one.Nothing intimidates Larkin Carrillo.”
“Not true.I just hide it well.”
“You have grit, Larkin—you always have.Remember that time we dove off 89 bridge into the Yellowstone River?”
“Oh Lord.I was so terrified.”
“You didn’t show it.As I recall, you were the one who dared me.”
“It sure was a beautiful spot though.”She remembered sunning on the bank of the river after, Carson running his hand down her almost naked back.How his touch had electrified her back then.
And still did.He’d let go of her hand, but her skin continued to tingle where he’d touched her.
“Do you want dessert, or should I ask for the check?”
Larkin glanced around the restaurant.They were the only ones still there.She realized she had hardly tasted the food.She hadn’t even finished her glass of wine.Being near Carson, having his undivided attention, had been so all-encompassing.
“Let’s go,” she agreed.
It was just a short walk back to Bramble House, but it had begun to snow, and the wind was driving the flakes straight into their faces.For more than one reason she was glad when Carson wrapped his arm around her back.Even through their thick winter coats, she could feel his warmth envelop her.
Looking ahead, to the golden lights outlining Bramble House, she thought how comforting the home appeared.Like a land-bound lighthouse, guiding her home.
“Amy and Chet must be exhausted,” she said.
“Yeah.Quite a day for them.But the tea was a success?It looked like it based on my brief appearance.”
“Well—there was a hiccup.Someone—Amy doesn’t know who—put out pot brownies with the tea.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
“I am not.Fortunately, Chet realized the problem early, and they were able to scoop most of them from the trays.But not before a few had been eaten.Hopefully none of the guests suffer any ill consequences.There could be legal ramifications for Amy and Chet.”
“All because of a few pot brownies?”
It wasn’t just the brownies, Larkin thought.There’d been other problems this week, though none as serious.The burned cookies and coffee mix-up could have been accidental.But she suspected the dead mouse, as well as the spiked brownies, were the actions of some troublemaker.But why would anyone want to cause problems for Amy and Chet?It just didn’t make sense.
