Page 45 of Bad Boy Bachelor Christmas
My breath fogged on the air as I told him all about my evening. “Cami said Justin used to date her sister. Maple Hill is a smaller town than I realized, isn’t it? Everyone seems to know each other or knowofeach other at least.”
“Pretty much.” He slid his hands in his pockets and tucked his chin into the collar of his jacket. “Newcomers are rare. You’re the first newbie we’ve had staying for an extended time in a couple of years, probably.”
“Did you ever want to leave for someplace bigger?”
“No, never. Growing up here on the farm was the best childhood I could have asked for. I get to travel enough to be grateful to have a simple place like Maple Hill to come home to.”
My cabin came into view up ahead, and he walked me right up to the front door a short minute later. He stood by while I rummaged for my key in my purse. When I found it and nudged the door open, he fell back a step, giving me space.
From where I was standing it felt like he was implying with his body language that he didn’t want to come inside.
Didn’t want a repeat of last night.
I forced a smile and leaned against the doorway. “Thank you for walking me. I’ll see you sometime in the morning?”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Yes, I have a delivery coming for you.”
“A delivery?”
“You’ll need something to wear to Justin’s party. Unless,” he added with a smirk, “you’re content to go in your boots and leg warmers.”
“Don’t knock the leg warmers. They’re cozy.”
“Cute, too.”
I hated how much he made me blush.
North stepped off the porch and wished me goodnight. “Sleep well.”
“You too,” I called after him, when all I really wanted to say wasstay.
CHAPTER21
NORTH
Idrummed my fingers on my knee while I waited for Winter to get ready. I’d wandered down to the cabin about an hour or so ago to walk her back up to the main house, where I had a couple of surprises in store for her. Namely, a dress for tonight’s party and a beauty staff on call to do her hair and makeup and all those other woman-type things.
Glancing at my watch, I saw that we were running a few minutes behind.
Justin was going to blow a fuse.
Or with any luck, he might be too busy schmoozing guests at his party to notice we were late.
Getting a dress on time hadn’t been as difficult as I anticipated. I called the bridal shop Justin had suggested and was referred to another boutique a couple of towns over, where I ended up doing a video call with one of the consultants, who helped me pick out the winner. She’d packaged the dress up and had it shipped that night, and it had arrived this morning with a note thanking me for my business. I’d been tempted to open the box and take a look but decided to wait.
At half past eight I hollered up the stairs for the team to hurry up. Giggles were the only response I got.
Finally, a good fifteen minutes later, I heard them come out of one of the spare rooms. High heels clicked on the floorboards on the landing, and I turned to find Winter standing at the top of the stairs.
The sight of her hit me like a kick to the gut.
Her long brown hair was curled and drawn over her shoulder. Pearls and tiny glistening jewels filled her locks, and they twinkled under the chandelier as she descended the stairs, revealing glittering shoes under the hemline of her dark green dress. The silky fabric of the gown danced as she walked, and every other step revealed long, lean, gorgeous bare leg through a high slit cut almost all the way to her hip.
I offered her my hand as she reached the bottom steps and guided her the rest of the way.
“Thank you.” Pink lips shimmered with gloss, and her eyelids glistened with powdered silver and gold.
“You’re welcome,” I breathed.
