The Broody Brit for Christmas (Holiday Springs #1) - M.J. Fields Page 0,69
a whisper that this time of year is Nikki’s favorite, and with wonder in his eyes, adds, “even more than Christmas,” as she fusses over the spiderwebs made of cotton they’d hung on the back wall beside the jukebox.
“Nate,” she calls over her shoulder, “let’s do the orange and white pumpkins on the bar’s front steps.”
At around seven, Faith walks in and looks around. “Did Sally come back?”
I arch a brow as I place her teacup on the bar as Nathaniel and Nikki come out from the kitchen carrying baskets of fried bar food.
“Made you dinner, Aunt Faith,” Nathaniel says as he slides into his usual spot beside her.
“You’re just eating dinner?” she gasps obnoxiously.
She knows I am strict about our schedule, and she’s been trying to get me to relax with it for years.
Nate chuckles as she looks back at me. “What would the queen think?”
“I’ll take the blame,” Nikki says as she sits next to Nate. “Will it be the tower or stockades in a public square?”
“Both,” I look at her and then at Faith, “for each of you if you continue mocking the King of Blizzards bar.”
Nikki looks across Nate and shrugs. “Looks like it’ll give us time to get to know each other better.”
“Cheers to that.” Faith raises her empty cup and looks in it, then up at me with a smirk. “Hey, bartender, you forgot something.”
Once Faith and Nathaniel head upstairs and see that Dana has it all under control, I nod for Nikki to follow me to my office.
Once inside, I take her face in my hands, but I don’t kiss her. I simply look into her smiling and unguarded eyes.
“Talk to me.”
“Kiss me first.” She grabs my shirt and pulls me closer to her.
I shake my head, no. “Talk to me.”
She sighs and rolls her stunning green eyes, but a smile graces her sexy as fuck full lips. “I adore him.” She steps back and walks around. “And I should be scared as hell because it’s like two people, one who changed my mind about rich pricks.” She looks back. “No offense.”
I walk over and sit in my chair. “None taken, I was raised by them. I get it. Had no intention of giving up my life for a handout from my family or to be some show pony for society.”
She laughs and shakes her head.
Her smile is contagious and heartwarming. “What?”
“Show pony? I’d take you more for a wild stallion.”
I push back from the desk and pat my leg. “How about you come and sit on my lap, and we’ll discuss.”
She shakes her head, yet still, the smile is in full and blinding force. “You’ve both made me realize it was never this place or Townes for that matter. I’ve spent so much of my life trying to find out where I belonged and—”
“It’s here.” I pat my lap again.
“If you hurt me—”
“Nikki, there is not one part of me that wants to hurt you.”
“It would be worse than how he did.”
“I’m not him.” I inhale deeply, trying not to flip out.
“And my God, I don’t think I could take it if Nathaniel were ever angry at me, or—”
“Nathaniel doesn’t do angry.”
She smiles. “He suggested I move into the studio.”
“Yeah, and what did you say?”
“I said I’d think about it.”
“When?”
She shrugs. “Soon?”
“Tonight.”
She laughs as she walks over. “How about no.”
“Not acceptable. Give me something, Nikki.”
She sits on my lap, and I know damn well she’s feeling my hard-on beneath that perfect arse of hers. And it’s confirmed by the wiggling of her arse against it and the sexy gleam in her exquisite eyes.
“Let me get through Halloween and then the first week of working for Beckett.”
“So, ten days.”
I lean down to take her mouth, and she leans back, “I’m going to cook dinner for you guys tomorrow after we go shopping.”
“And after the caramel apple decorating contest at the Sweet Spot,” my hand runs up her denim-clad thigh toward her sweet spot, “you can join us for trick or treating, and then come back here with me for Blizzards adult party.”
“Check, check, and check.”
“Are you happy here, Red?”
She lays her head on my shoulder. “Deliriously.”
“Is that because my hand is on your pussy?”
She giggles softly and says, “Yes, but that’s not the only reason.”
I rub her a bit harder, eliciting a moan. “Tell me, Nikki Winterfield, what is it?”
She lifts her head off my shoulder and looks me in the eyes. “I finally feel like I belong.”