I tried.”
“Whenever the time comes, I know you will make the best dad.”
“That’s right, Hope. Total opposite of my dad. I wouldn’t ever tell my children they wouldn’t amount to anything.”
She leaned up on her tippy toes and kissed my lips. “My wonderful man wouldn’t ever spew negative words to our babies.”
I caressed her cheek and deepened our kiss. Pulling back, I stared into her dark eyes. “Let’s finish up so I can fuck you all over this house.”
“Oh, yes. I can’t wait for that.” She pressed the cutter through the brown dough.
“Do you bake cookies every year?”
“We baked with my mom for years. Claire, Miles, and I donated the yummy treats to the local shelter. We also participated in Charleston’s annual Christmas cookie decorating contest. It was messy and fun,” she laughed.
I peeked around the crowded countertop littered with baking trays. “How many more cookies do we have to bake?”
“The last batch is in the oven. I looked forward to decorating gingerbread houses. But you probably don’t want to do that. You know, because I’ll win, of course,” she winked.
“Yeah, right. I’ll have you know out of my brothers I always had the best-looking gingerbread house.”
“Get ready to lose your crown.”
“It’s on, baby.” I smacked her round ass.
“Ouch,” she squealed.
HOPE
NOAH AND I PULLED RED wagons filled to the rim with bags of cookies toward town square. Large white snowflakes fell from the sky. The plow company arrived at six this morning to clear our drive and walkways. Three more inches of snow fell overnight. Luckily, the walk leading to the large tent was clear of snow. My eyes widened as I scanned the little cute faces in the enormous crowd.
“This event is massive. I thought there’d be maybe two hundred kids. It’s more like five hundred. Thank goodness we baked a lot of cookies.”
“My palms are still raw from pressing the cookie cutters through so many cookies.” He shook his head.
We halted at the large white cookie drop off tent.
I laughed. “Noah, mine too. Look at their faces. It was worth it.”
“You’re right,” he sighed.
“I’m melting away your Grinch layers.”
He leaned in and kissed my lips.
“You are.”
“Ugh,” kids shrilled and pointed at us.
Noah pulled back and waved. “Sorry kids.” He cracked a smile.
His heart was softening. Hard to believe he’d warmed up to this holiday. I didn’t expect him to hum a Christmas tune or anything. Stringing lights on our houses and trimming our trees was a big step for him. I was grateful.
A man wearing a Santa suit escorted us inside the tent.
“Thanks for the beautiful article about our town,” he stated.
Clapping erupted around us. I peeked at the cheerful faces.
Noah kissed my cheek. “Great job, baby.”
My face heated. “It was my pleasure to write about such a beautiful town. My mother would’ve loved it here.”
Tears burned the backs of my eyes.
“She would’ve, Hope.” He held me close.
So many people shook my hand and thanked me repeatedly before unloading our wagons’. Noah folded the wagons and placed one strap on each shoulder.
We stepped out the tent and froze.
“Wow, this is awesome,” I smiled.
Candy poured from the sky, pelting the ground. Kids screamed at the top of their lungs, running, arms stretched. They scooped as many treats as possible into their pockets. Parents pushed and shoved as they scurried after their children in a frenzy.
I peered up again. Two blimps huddled overhead, dumping candy.
I glanced to my left and gasped. Noah disappeared. He was probably looking for me. I’ll text Noah and tell him to meet me at my truck.
Someone grabbed my arm. “Scream and your boyfriend dies.”
My heart slammed against the pavement.
“Keep walking,” the man ordered.
I recognized his voice from the outfitter store.
“What did you do to Noah?”
I reached for the Glock resting in my waistband.
Noah said we should carry guns just to be safe.
“Nothing yet. I planted a bomb in his pocket as the chaos happened. If we don’t make it to your cabin undetected, I’ll blow him to smithereens,” he chuckled.
Tremors shot through my body as I dropped my hand from my waistline. My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I know it's Noah.
A fake plastic smile filled my face. I had to appear happy for Noah’s safety. Waves of heat struck my body with each grueling step I took.
My heartbeat thrashed in my ears as we approached my truck. I parked along the curb because we planned to drop off the cookies, then drive to the ski slopes. Noah was giving me snowboard lessons today.
Barker released my