Mail-Order Brides For Christmas - Frankie Love Page 0,48
tree.” He leans his head against mine.
“Perfect…” I smile.
I don’t just mean the roaring fire. I mean him. My husband-to-be. The man I came all this way to marry. I know it isn’t possible to learn everything about someone in a matter of hours, but I can’t help but feel like Nate is the very definition of the word perfect. I’m sure he has faults. Everyone does. I have my fair share.
But in this moment, I don’t care. I’m just happy to be in his arms.
“All warmed up?” Nate squeezes me a little tighter.
“Let’s stay in front of the fire a little longer.” I look up at him and smile.
I’m warm, but I don’t want to leave his embrace. He doesn’t seem to be in a hurry either. He keeps me in the tighter embrace, and I can feel his breath on my ear. It makes me tingle. I begin to trace the top of his hands. They’re rugged and cracked in places. The hands of a working man. I imagine them on my skin. Exploring my body. I finally have to snap myself out of my momentary trance because he’s making me hotter than the fire.
“I guess we should get started.” I sigh.
“Yeah.” He exhales sharply.
I can’t help but wonder if he was lost in the same moment of tenderness that I was.
Chapter Five
Nate
I feel drawn to Catriona. I don’t know what it is about her, but I’m getting closer and closer to falling in love with her by the minute. Her intoxicating smile certainly pulls me in, but there’s so much more. She hasn’t had an easy life. Maybe that’s something I can relate to. I was blessed with a family who loves me to death, but I didn’t always appreciate that. Catriona lost all of the things she took for granted. I can’t even imagine how my life would have turned out if my family hadn’t been there to support me.
“Once all of your things arrive, we can hang some of your ornaments on the tree.” I open the box I have and start sorting through them.
“I don’t have much…” She looks down for a moment. “I didn’t even have a tree last year.”
I walk over and take her hand. “You’ll always have a tree here, and we’ll decorate it any way you want.”
“That sounds nice.” She smiles.
“Maybe we’ll go shopping for a couple of ornaments when I take you on a tour of Snow Valley.” I let go of her hand and walk back to the box. “I’ll let you pick them out.”
“Let’s get your ornaments on the tree first and see if we even have any room.” She laughs and reaches into the box.
There’s so much going on in my head right now. We’re just decorating a tree, but it’s so much more. It’s our tree. The first one I’ve shared with anyone since I moved out on my own. Amelia didn’t have much Christmas spirit. I think that was one of the reasons my mom didn’t like her very much. Every moment with Catriona feels so important and so incredibly special.
I thought I would be resistant when she showed up. I was even prepared for it to be nothing more than a business transaction to save the town, if that was what it took to make my mom happy. Now I’m wondering if I’m going to be the happiest one of us all. I’ve needed this. I just didn’t realize it.
“Is this you?” Catriona holds up an orb shaped ornament that has a picture in it.
“Yeah, that’s me as a kid.” I laugh and take it from her. “We made these in school. Second or third grade maybe?”
“You were a cute kid.” She smiles.
“Geez, what happened to me?” I walk over and hang the ornament on the tree. “I used to be so innocent.”
“Not so innocent now?” Catriona’s voice is laced with a hint of sarcasm.
“If you only knew…” I turn back toward her.
“You can’t be that bad.” She tilts her head slightly. “Especially if you’re making me sleep in the guest room.”
“Maybe I’ll let you decide where you sleep tonight.” I narrow my eyes.
“Be careful.” Her eyes reflect a hint of deviousness. “I’m not so innocent myself.”
“I can already tell you get anything you want with that beautiful smile.” I walk closer to her.
“Can I?” She takes a step back.
“Yes…” I match her step.
“Even if I lure you into a trap?” She takes another step.