Page 12 of Her Mountain Christmas
After several moments, he pulls away and shoots me a smile. “Wanna put the angel on top of the tree?” he offers, and I know he’s trying to distract me from the turmoil of emotions inside me.
I nod, my heart still going a little haywire from his hug. “Sure.”
Jack hands me the delicate white and gold angel, and then lifts me up, his arm going under my ass to boost me high enough to reach the top of the tree. The way he lifts me like I’m nothing but a feather has a riot of butterflies flapping madly in my stomach. My feet dangle above the ground, my stomach pressed to his broad, hard chest, and all of my focus is on the feeling of his hands on me. The band of his forearm underneath my ass, his other hand on my hip…oh god, I’m wet. He’s so hot. So big and strong and sweet and I could very, very easily fall in love with Jack Carter.
I might already be halfway there.
I reach up and place the angel on top of the tree, going slowly because I don’t want this moment to end. Jack is so warm against me, and he smells so good. His hands on me are like a revelation. An awakening. Like I’ve been starving my whole life, and suddenly I know exactly what it is I want to eat.
He starts to gently lower me back down, my body sliding against his in a way that makes my nipples perk up and an ache settle low in my core. He pauses when our faces are level, our breaths mingling, our gazes locked. Time stops. It’s just the two of us, standing in front of a sparkling Christmas tree, music playing softly, snow shutting out the rest of the world.
My fingers curl into his shoulders, and I make a tiny sound at how hard they are. I tilt my face up, my lips parting slightly, silently begging him to kiss me. My heart pounds crazily against my chest. My stomach is a mess of butterflies.
Jack’s eyes flick down to my mouth, just for a second. Then, he brushes his nose against mine in a gesture so tender it makes my chest hurt a little. It feels like both a promise and a tease of what could be. He brushes his nose against mine again and then starts to angle his mouth towards mine. Every nerve ending in my body tingles in anticipation.
Jack’s phone blares from the coffee table, shattering the moment.
“Fuck,” Jack breathes, and then sets me down gently on wobbly legs. “It’s my work ring tone. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
I nod shakily. “Of course. Yeah.”
He shoots me an apologetic smile as he strides to the coffee table and picks up his phone.
“Chief here,” he says, his voice so deep and authoritative that if he told me to strip and drop to my knees right here, right now, I’d do it, no questions asked. His expression shifts, lines appearing on his forehead and around his eyes as he frowns.“Where?” He listens to the tinny voice on the other end for a moment. “How many vehicles? Right. Okay. I’m on my way. Be there in…” He peers out the window. “Ten.”
He shoves his phone into his pocket and heads for the door. I trail after him like a little puppy, panic surging through me, not at the thought of being alone, but at the idea of Jack having to go out in this storm.
He shrugs on his coat. “There’s been an accident. Three vehicles skidded off the road and into the rocks.”
I glance anxiously out the window, twisting my fingers together in front of me. “But the storm—“
“I’ll be fine,” he says, crossing the distance between us in a few long strides. His palm is warm when he cups my cheek, and I press shamelessly into his touch. “I know what I’m doing, I promise. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I can handle myself.”
I bite my lip, my stomach twisting itself into a knot. Jack leans down and a presses a soft kiss to my forehead that settles me almost instantly. The feeling of his lips on my skin is both soothing and exhilarating. It’s gentle, reassuring, and far too brief for my liking.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can. Make yourself at home. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen, and there’s Netflix on the TV.” I nod as he pulls away, grabbing his keys. When he opens the front door, a gust of cold air sweeps in, flakes swirling in the entryway.
“Jack,” I call out as he steps through the door. He turns back. “Be careful. Please.”
His smile is soft and warm, like he’s touched that I care. “Always am, sweetheart.”
And with that, he shuts the door behind him. I wrap my arms around myself, standing in the warmth of Jack’s quiet house, replaying how he almost kissed me. I’m sure of it.
Just like I’m sure that the only thing I want for Christmas this year is Jack Carter.
Six
Jack
The snow crunches under the tires of my truck as I pull back into my driveway several hours later. Thankfully the accident wasn’t a fatal one, and we were eventually able to get everyone to safety. I really hope people stay off the roads. It’s not snowing as much now, but the wind has picked up, reducing visibility to almost nothing.
Snow swirls against my windshield as I turn the truck off, and anticipation hums in my veins as I look up at the house. The lights are on, windows glowing softly in the darkness, and smoke curls from the chimney.
I trudge through the snow to the front door and let myself in. Immediately, I’m hit with the scent of garlic and tomatoes—and Ella singing along to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” at the top of her lungs. A smile spreads across my face as I shrug out of my coat and toe off my boots. I walk towards the kitchen, my steps faltering and then stopping completely when I see her. Her long blond hair is damp, falling around her shoulders. She’s wearing one of my flannel shirts, a pair of myboxers, and socks that come up almost to her knees. She stirs something on the stove as she sings and shakes her hips.
And that’s it. I’m wrecked. Ruined. Having her here feels so incredibly right. It’s like she’s already mine.
God, this is insane. I’ve known her for a day. She’s clearly got some baggage, given her reluctance to talk about what brought her out here in the first place. And yet…coming home to her is the best feeling in the fucking world. I’m used to coming home to a cold, dark house. Not a house that smells like heaven while a gorgeous woman sings off-key Christmas music. Ella makes this place feel like home in a way I’ve never experienced before.
