Had he lit all these shops just for me?
I imagined it would normally be dark at this time of day.
Or perhaps it had been for the videos that he’d been filming for their social media.
But for now, I liked to believe it was for me. Showing off his dream for me.
At the top level he was sitting on one of the benches and my heart literally skittered to a halt. I could see the tired around his eyes, but there was a simple joy there too. Behind him was a gift wrap station with a trio of Christmas trees in full treatment with candy canes, lights, garland, and wooden ornaments that were probably hand carved.
He was leaning forward with those deliciously big hands clasped between his knees.
I quickly climbed to the next level of Wonderland. Distantly, I saw this was the food area, but right then nothing mattered but him. He was about to stand when I gestured for him to keep sitting. I linked my arms around his neck and lowered to kiss him. He slid those big hands along my hips and then wrapped them around me as he rested his head against my chest.
I felt him sigh against me and whatever reservations I had about loving him tumbled down that path and away from us.
“It’s amazing, Tate.”
“Yeah?” He tipped his head up, his green eyes glowing with pride and happiness.
“Yeah.” I lowered my mouth to his. His scent enveloped me like a familiar hug. Like home and warmth wrapped in soft, slow Sunday mornings. Then he stood and cupped my face, pouring love and all that simmering passion into me without holding back.
Just like that first kiss in the Halloween maze, it stole my breath and shocked my dormant system into life.
Instead of ramping up the kiss, he slowed it into soft brushes before he finally lifted his head. It looked like he wanted to say something, but he closed his mouth and that grin that made my stomach flip tipped his lips up.
“I want you to be the first to see the lights.”
I nodded and took his hand as he led me up to where a horse was grazing.I laughed. “I didn’t wear my riding gear.”
“Think you’ll make do.” He tucked his heavy boot into the stirrup and tossed his leg over the saddle with practiced ease.
“Damn,” I whispered. I didn’t think there could be anything sexier on this man, but him on a horse tipped it over into a whole new level.
He reached down for me and I yelped as he settled me in front of him on the saddle. My legs wide and butt settled right against his thighs. He leaned around me and patted the dark, speckled horse. “Easy, Thunder.”
I twisted in the saddle. No way was that the name of the horse.
“What?”
“Nothing. That’s a great name.”
“Thanks. I had a mare named Lightning too, when I was little.”
I leaned back in his arms with a sigh. What were the odds? They weren’t exactly the most creative of names, but after what I wrote earlier it made me shiver.
“You cold?”He wrapped his arms around my middle and picked up the reins.
“No, I’m perfect.”
“Good.” He urged the horse up the trail, past the large shield that had been up for the last few weeks. I could see armaturesand towering structures in the darkness, but there was very little light back here, leaving it pitch black. “Ready?”
I nodded. “You’re killing me here.”
He brushed his lips along my jaw. “Patience.”
He reached into his pocket then the entire field lit up. My breath caught. I couldn’t take it all in. The arch above us spelled out Haven Wonderland of Lights in bright, cool LED lights that could be seen from everywhere. Thunder started a lazy walk through the twinkling lights of the tunnel and when it opened up there were so many things to look at I forgot to breathe.
His hand splayed the width of my ribcage. “Breathe, babe.”
