Page 96 of Noel Secrets
“Addie … I didn’t intend?—”
“Don’t!” She held up a hand as if warding off evil spirits, then rushed into the bedroom and slammed the door on him.
Price hung his head. That had not gone the way he’d hoped. Not at all. He knew it was too much to ask for her to forgive him. He wanted to explain and make it right, but he didn’t know how.
Finally, he eased down the stairs and went back to his pacing. He was careful to stay on the main floor and make his steps silent as if he were on an infiltration mission. He needed patience and strength to get through this. Would Addie ever give him a chance to explain? Would it change anything if she did?
Chapter Seventeen
Addie finally calmed down enough to sleep and then slept in until almost ten. Her sleep schedule was completely out of whack. The rest of her felt out of whack too, especially her heart.
She and Price somehow made it through the day, being courteous and keeping their distance as best they could. She shouldn’t have felt guilty for slapping him and yelling at him, but somehow she did. It only made her angrier. She shouldn’t be the one feeling any guilt in this situation. Still, it pricked at her.
The day was spent working out at the Colevilles’ indoor gym, and then lunch at the main house with Easton, Cassie, Presley, Millie, and Jared. Presley was delightful and helped distract from the tension between her and Price. The adults all seemed to notice it, but not ‘Princess Presley’ as her dad and Price called her. Presley called Price her ‘sir knight’. Price was far too cute with Presley. Addie tried not to notice and let it soften her heart.
After lunch, they went on a horseback ride. She loved it. She’d never been on a horse before and Cassie claimed she was a ‘natural’. She didn’t know about that, but the views of the gorgeous ranch, pine trees, and mountains from the horse’s backwere delightful. She was almost able to ignore Price. If only he didn’t always seem to be looking at her.
They had a snowball fight with Easton, Cassie, and Presley in the snow forts Easton and Presley had made out front of their cabin. It was a lot of fun, and Addie let her guard down and laughed with Price like she hadn’t since before the bomb that took out her house and her heart.
Dinner with everybody was loud and fun. Sheriff Clint, his wife Lilly, and their adorable baby Cooper came. Millie informed them the rest of the crew, except for Miles and Eva, would be there tomorrow night. Millie could hardly wait for them to be part of their Christmas Eve celebrations. Addie appreciated how welcoming the entire family was, especially Mama Millie. She wished she could be at home and especially wished she didn’t have to be worried about how to keep her distance from Price, but this was an ideal Christmas situation and family. She felt like she was in a Thomas Kincaid Christmas painting.
After dinner, they played board games and had cocoa and cookies. Price kept giving her these searing looks that made her stomach flip over with hope that something was happening between them before she reminded herself that nothingcouldhappen between them. He was her bodyguard, not her boyfriend. She said a silent prayer that Aiden could replace him after Christmas. Only a couple more days. Maybe a Christmas miracle would happen and Aiden or the police would catch whoever had bombed her house and she could go back home.
To what home? She had no home on Cape Cod any longer. Sheesh. That was depressing. She hadn’t thought much about all she’d lost, work, or what Gillian or anyone else was thinking. The police said they’d inform her work and respond to texts she received that she was out of cell service for the holidays.
Sheriff Clint and Lilly took Cooper and headed home. It was obviously hard for Mama Millie to kiss the adorable little onegoodbye. Easton, Cassie, and Presley said their goodbyes shortly after. Jared told them he’d follow Price and Addie to their cabin.
Addie gave Millie a hug, grateful for the loving and welcoming lady.
“I’m just thrilled that you and that handsome boyfriend of yours can be with us for this most special of holidays,” Millie said.
“Millie.” Addie shook her head and pulled back, her cheeks hot. She shot a quick glance at Price. He was giving her a beseeching look with those too-alluring dark eyes. “He’s not my boyfriend. He’s my bodyguard.”
“Oh, ha!” Millie grinned. “Do you know how many times I’ve watched bodyguards become boyfriends?” She winked and lowered her voice, leaning closer. “You can’t possibly be missing those killer looks he’s giving you with those dark eyes of his.”
Addie wasn’t missing those looks, but she had to get out of here before Millie said anything else. “Thank you again for dinner. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She rushed out the door, trying to slide into her coat with her gloves already on. Price caught her coat and helped her into it. His hands brushed her arms, and she was in so much trouble.
“Thanks,” she managed.
“Sure thing,” he said, his dark eyes inviting her to give him a chance.
She couldn’t.
They walked quietly home. Addie loved this magical winter wonderland and busied herself staring at the snow-covered trees, the quiet snowflakes falling down, the sting of cold on her cheeks.
Walking into the warm cabin, they thanked Jared and then Price shut the door. Addie hurried toward the stairs as Price deadbolted the door and set the alarm. Price didn’t stop her, andshe was able to escape, get ready for bed, say her prayers, and lay down.
Sadly, she couldn’t sleep. Too stirred up by the anger and frustrations and worries. She was homeless and in extreme danger, but the only thing she could think about was all the longing looks Price kept sending her way with those ‘killer dark eyes’. Dang him.
Sliding out of bed, she rushed out of the master bedroom door and ran smack into Price.
“Whoa.” His arms slid around her lower back as he steadied her. “You all right?”
Addie was more than ‘all right’ in his arms, but she wasn’t ‘all right’, not at all. She wanted to lean into the strength of his chest and arms, inhale his sea salt and cedar scent and then arch up and kiss him …
“No!” she yelled, shocking her and him. “I am not all right. You have to stop.”
