Page 19 of A Very Beary Christmas
Chapter 10
Chloe
I was both relieved and anxious as Sam led me away from the main lodge and toward a small log cabin tucked away in the woods. Relieved because, while everyone had been very friendly and welcoming, it was a bit daunting. I was far more comfortable hanging back in the shadows than being the center of attention. And anxious because I was going to be alone with Sam again.
Being alone with Sam was complicated. On the one hand, I felt a soul deep peace whenever I was around him. I felt lighter. Safer. Happier. On the other hand, being close to him made my body light up in ways that were hard to ignore when it was just the two of us. I felt tingly. Achy. I had this nearly overwhelming compulsion to bury my face in his neck and drape my body over his, to feel his heat seep into my skin and warm me from the inside out.
It was definitely not a friendly, family, G-rated kind of feeling.
Was he feeling the same way? I didn’t know. I was good at sensing danger or picking up on things like anger and rage, but I was not good at gauging normal, everyday, non-violent vibes. However, sometimes when I caught him looking at me, I could have sworn I saw heat and hunger in his golden-brown gaze, but then he would blink and it would be gone. Outwardly, he had been affectionate, holding my hand or touching the small of my back, but that didn’t prove anything. His whole family was a huggy bunch.
At my place, battling the flu had kept a damper on these more-than-friendly stirrings, and on the ride here, the constant banter and beautiful vistas had provided enough of a distraction to keep these things to myself. Alone out here in Sam’s private space, out of sight and earshot of the main lodge, how was I ever going to pull this off without making a fool of myself, or worse, making things terribly awkward between us and possibly losing him as a friend?
“What’s wrong, Chloe?” Sam looked down at me with concern in his eyes, and I realized I had stopped just outside his door.
“Maybe it would be better if I stayed up at the lodge,” I offered.
A low noise, something like a growl, reverberated in the air around us. “You’re safe here with me.”
“Yes,” I murmured, “but you might not be safe with me.”
He tilted his head slightly and his eyes glowed. “What did you say?”
“Nothing.” I forced a smile and stepped in, appreciating the rustic, masculine space. Done in dark greens and browns, it was simple and comfortable. Perfectly Sam. I liked it. I especially liked that a fire was already blazing in the stone hearth, meaning someone must have come in and readied the place when Sam called ahead to say he was bringing me.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” he warned when I began removing my gloves.
“Why not? I thought you told your mother I needed to rest.”
“Do youwantto rest, Chloe?”
Those tingles I had been feeling intensified. “Not really.”
“Good.” He grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Because we need a tree, and you’re going to pick it out.”
“I’m going to what?”
Sam didn’t answer. He simply took my overnight bag into the next room. His bedroom? Then he tugged my hand and we were off again. This time, to the barn. There we found a sleigh with a simple design, nothing like those fancy ones in seasonal commercials. About the size of a small car, it had removable panels on the backs and sides, as well as a small bench seat. Curved metal rails ran below, one on each side.
After putting a blanket on the seat, Sam told me to climb on, then grabbed the straps and we were off.
The sleigh slid easily on the snow, but I worried about Sam doing all the pulling.
“Aren’t horses supposed to do that?” I asked.
He just laughed and told me to sit back and enjoy the ride.
I did. The view, in particular, was spectacular. Despite the freezing temps, Sam wore only a quilted flannel jacket and jeans, both of which looked damn good encasing his muscular legs and broad back and shoulders.
Before long, we came to a stop, and Sam pointed toward a thick forest of evergreens. They created a beautiful scene. Towering, rich dark greens, frosted with glittering white snow beneath a cloudless canopy of blue skies and sunshine. I took in every detail, knowing it would make a stunning piece if I could manage to capture it in a painting. The only thing missing was my bear, who was the centerpiece of everything I created.
My lips curved when I realized Sam was standing exactly where I would place my signature grizzly, smiling back at me with familiar golden-brown eyes.
“Come on, woman. Have at it.”
I inhaled deeply, drawing the scents of sweet pine and fresh snow into my lungs. “You were serious about that?” I asked. “You already have a tree in the lobby.” I had seen it when we had walked into the lodge earlier. It was a massive thing, at least ten feet tall and at least half as wide.
“Yes, but we don’t have one in the cabin, and we need a tree, Chloe.”
A thrill went through me at the way he said “we” and not “I” or “you,” but I tried not to read too much into it. Sam was just being Sam—kind, thoughtful, and playful. Regardless, I could admit I liked the idea of having a real Christmas tree, so I climbed off the sled and took my time.
Having never picked out a tree, I wanted to select a good one. It couldn’t be too big, because Sam’s cabin, while spacious, was cozy. However, it couldn’t be too small, either.
I made Sam stand next to a few possible choices, using his size as a gauge. He was a good sport, patiently posing while I walked around, muttering to myself.
“Too wide.” I frowned, shaking my head and moving toward another. “Too skinny. Too dense. Too sparse. Ah, this one is just right.”
He laughed, seeming to find my running monologue particularly funny. “Okay, Goldilocks. Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I said decisively, pleased with my choice. “Definitely this one.”
