Page 70 of Bad Boy Bachelor Christmas
Crouched down in the snow, I watched her sniff the air, catching my scent.
I could have caught her and released her further away, but something about the fear in her eyes caught and held me.
Just like for me, the farm was her home.
She lifted a foot and crept tentatively forward, curious more than anything. I rose to my feet and lifted my arms in a shooing motion. She bolted and disappeared among the trees.
“That’s it,” I said softly, breath steaming on the air. “It’s time to go now.”
CHAPTER32
WINTER
“I’ll be home before you know it,” I said to my parents, whose smiling faces filled my phone screen. We were video chatting, which had taken them some time to figure out, but at least I could see their faces and not just their chins like the last few times.
Behind them, the Christmas tree twinkled, and I could hear Bing Crosby playing in the background. I imagined the whole house smelled like cloves and shortbread—Mom always made a third batch of shortbread cookies to bring to open houses the week leading up to Christmas, and drop off at neighbors’ houses.
“Five days isn’t soon enough,” Dad said, wagging his finger at the phone.
My mother swatted his hand down. “Five days will be here before you know it, and it will give us time to get your room ready. I bought new flannel sheets,” she added in a sing-song voice.
I smiled, and it took me a little effort. “You’re the best.”
Mom and Dad shared a look.
“Don’t worry about me,” I said, beating them to the punch. “I’m fine over here. There are just a lot of special people I’m going to be really sad to say goodbye to.”
And one special person in particular.
“Oh, honey,” Mom sighed, “goodbyes are never easy. But maybe you can visit them on spring break?”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“It will be harder for them to say goodbye,” Dad said, always my cheerleader. “You’ve probably made waves over there.”
Laughing, I rolled my eyes. “I’ve made friends. I don’t know about waves.”
“You’re a wonderful person, daughter of mine,” Dad said. “I’d bet our retirement savings that there will be some broken hearts in your wake.”
Mom nodded her agreement. “What he said, minus betting our retirement savings. I have my eye on a new treadmill.”
Laughing, I wished my parents a good night and told them I’d see them soon. They still hadn’t quite got the hang of ending video chats, so I listened to them bicker playfully before finally ending the call myself, smiling and shaking my head at their antics. At least I had their warm welcome to go home to.
Padding into the kitchen, I topped off my tea mug with some hot water, swirled it around, and added a splash of honey. I’d spent the late afternoon and evening keeping to myself in the cabin, knowing North was up at the house with Justin after our long day in town working on the tree for the lighting ceremony. People had stopped every few minutes to talk to us, which cut into our productivity, but spared us some awkwardness.
North had been off since last night.
I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was something on his mind, and it was heavy. Whatever it was, it had to come out sooner or later. Probably sooner, seeing as how I would be going home soon.
It scared me to think what it might be.
Don’t think about it,I thought as I went back to my corner of the sofa, curled up, and pulled a thick knitted blanket into my lap. I retrieved my book from where it lay open and face down on the armrest, placed it on my thigh, and stared at the Christmas tree by the fire.He’s probably just trying to get his footing like you, thinking about saying goodbye.
I read a page.
Or rathertriedto read a page. Retention wasn’t happening, so I had to go over it again, and again, before finally giving up with a sigh and accepting the fact that my head wasn’t in it and my thoughts were elsewhere.
On the man I’d fallen in love with.
