Page 13 of Her Cowboy Santa
I take a sip of my hot cocoa, but the sweet drink does nothing to dull the bitter taste in my mouth. “No, I’m an orphan. My parents passed away in my final month of high school. I graduated alone, and I’ve been that way ever since. Well, at least until I met Corey.”
Nate reaches for my gloved hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, “I don’t know your story. I don’t know what your life’s been like, and I don’t mean this question to come out the wrong way. But is Corey Danny’s father? Where the fuck is he? I can’t imagine being away from my baby at Christmas.”
I sigh softly and glance at Danny, but he’s sleeping comfortably against Nate’s chest. I try not to talk about this around him. I know it’s crazy, but I worry that maybe he’ll absorb the words and understand his father’s rejection. Still, since he’s sleeping, I explain, “He’s not around. When we knew there were what the doctor termed abnormalities on the ultrasound, Corey made it clear that he was not willing to care for a baby that was different in any way.”
Nate’s jaw tightens. “Where is he?”
I frown, not sure why it matters. “Why?”
“Because I’m going to kick his ass,” Nate says it so calmly, like he’s talking about the weather or ordering extra marshmallows on my hot chocolate. One extra ass-kicking for the bastard father who walked out on his son, please.
“You can’t do that,” I protest.
“Watch me. Who the fuck would walk out on such a precious little boy and his amazing mom?”
Tears come to my eyes, and I stop walking. I put a hand on his arm and look at him, feeling the way his corded muscles flex beneath my touch. “Thank you.”
I lean up and kiss him on the cheek.
He turns his head, and suddenly, we’re kissing again. It’s the same electric connection we shared in the kitchen, only now it’s burning even brighter. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, stroking mine until I whimper against him.
I can taste the peppermint from his hot cocoa and feel the softness of the carrier that’s holding Danny between us. It’s his soft snuffle that has me stepping back. When he starts to fuss, I say, “I should carry him now. He probably wants me.”
He passes Danny over, careful to support him in all the right ways. When he’s settled against me, I glance up, studying the way the snowflakes land on his beard and melt into it. “You’re a good man.”
He cups my cold face, his gloves soft against my skin. “I’m not a good man. I’m an obsessed cowboy who plans to make you mine.”
My heart skips a beat, but before I can process his words, someone in the crowd calls out, “Excuse me!”
I realize we’ve stopped in front of a lot of people, blocking their view of the latest house. I chuckle softly, nerves making me feel giddy and hopeful at the same time.
Nate takes my gloved hand in his as we resume our course down the tacky light show. He takes dozens of photos of me and Danny and Rudy.
“Wait, wait,” I tell him. “We need some with you in them.”
He grins at my suggestion. There’s an elderly couple nearby, so I wave them over. When they approach us, Nate holds out his phone and asks the woman to help us. Then he puts his arm around my shoulders, and the two of us smile up at his phone as she snaps several of us in different poses.
She passes the camera back, telling us what a beautiful couple we are.
I blush, and Nate doesn’t bother to correct her. If anything, he seems to beam at her indication that we’re together. When he said he planned to make me his, is that what he meant? Or was he merely talking about a fling?
I’m not sure what he meant, and I don’t want to ask. Instead, I keep talking on the way back to the ranch. I tell him about my favorite Christmas traditions with my parents like going ice skating every year and stringing popcorn and cranberries to decorate the tree with.
When we arrive on the porch, I turn to Nate. “Thank you for such a fun date. I promised Mary I’d help make some of her handmade ornaments for the winter fair.”
I don’t tell him that my commitment to help Mary with the ornaments is probably the only thing keeping me from inviting him back to my room. Would Mary be upset if I hooked up with Nate? I’m not sure, and I don’t want to risk losing my job.
He smiles. “It’s okay. I’m going to meet up with some of my ranch brothers.”
Mary opens the front door and glares at him, but there’s no heat behind her scowl.
He holds up his hands and steps back. “I’m going, I’m going.” Then he trains his gaze on me and says, “Tomorrow night’s our next date.”
I break out in a grin as I watch the handsome cowboy walk away. Even if it’s only for a night or two, I definitely want to belong to him.
Chapter 8
Nate
