Who knew a grumpy man in a butt-ugly green costume would turn me on?
“Screw you, Timber,” I said.
“All in good time, princess,” Jack stated.
I blushed, flustered by Jack’s promise, and stepped out into the bitter chill of the evening. The wintertime breeze caught in my ponytail that was swinging freely out from the woolly knitted headband I had worn. Its red fabric complemented my caramel-colored hair. The warm white parka hugged me tightly, and my knee-high boots with insulated leggings kept me toasty. I pulled mittens out of my coat pocket and put them on to keep my fingers safe from frostbite. I had everything prepared, even a tin can to collect money, and we were ready to embark on our journey through the neighborhood for a good cause.
“What the...” Faith halted in the snow with a giant smile and rosy cheeks all aglow. “Mr. Timber! Is this what I think it is?”
“Yep,” Jack answered while he wandered past me and glanced over his shoulder with a huge grin. “This is our ride for the night.”
“No way!” Faith exclaimed with a bewildered expression. “Can I get in?”
“You sure can,” Jack answered as he patted the seat beside him, and Chip jumped in. “Hop in.”
No fucking way. My mouth hung open, and I was speechless. Jack had boughtthered sleigh. A replica straight out of the movies. The sleigh ride had a control panel and everything.
I’ll be damned.
“You can’t be serious?” I voiced when I found the words. “This must’ve cost you a fortune.”
“Nah. Money means nothing when it comes to this...” Jack peered down at my daughter, who pushed every button on the sleigh’s panel. “This is priceless.”
My heartbeat palpitated something awful. To the point I thought the organ might explode. Instead, the throbbing leaped up into my throat.
Calm down, Noelle. This was only a gift to your daughter from the most insufferable man you’ve encountered. No big fucking deal. Close your goddamn mouth and be excited for Faith.
Faith beamed. “It’s cool! Isn’t it, Mommy?”
“Yes, sweetheart. The surprise is extremely thoughtful.”
Too damn nice indeed.Christ.I wish I smoked cigarettes. I’d be a goddamn chain smoker by now with Jack Timber around. He was always dropping bombshells in such a miserably sweet fashion I had no idea what he was up tonext. The way his eyes twinkled at me while he laughed at my daughter’s glee made my head spin, and I yearned to find out what this man had planned for me. Forus.
Us? What the hell am I thinking?
There was no us, only me. My daughter and me. The only us there’d ever be. Not for one second in time would Jack be any part ofus, but, Jesus, there he was.
Jack showed Faith how to work the controls for the gigantic sleigh we’d operate on the roadway. She followed his every instruction, even theno-touchbutton. Only Jack could start the engine, and he’d have to lend a hand while Faith steered with the control wheel.
“Safety first.” Jack told her with a playful wink at me. “We don’t want to get horribly mangled because there’ll be no sad faces this holiday season.”
Jack was back in true imitation fashion.
“As morbid as Mr. Timber might be, he’s right. We don’t need anyone to get hurt around Christmastime,” I expressed with a raised eyebrow and tried my best to remain serious. “Or ever.”
Jack had put Faith’s safety above all else, and I was grateful to him. He had displayed more respect for me than Logan ever had.
“Are you going to get in or continue standing there staring at me like I have four eyes and a huge forehead?” Jack joked and made room for me beside him. “Come on. I saved you a seat.”
Chip barked as he sat on his back legs with paws up on the front of the sleigh. His lovable brown eyes peered atme as he panted, and his slobber froze on the control panel. Faith made a disgusted face, and I giggled.
An eventful evening was ahead, one I didn’t want to miss even if I had to be near the only man who ever made my blood boil with fury and my heart pound in happiness.
“Okay, fine. I’m coming.” I hopped in beside Jack and pointed at him. “But you better behave.”
“Now, where’s the fun in that?” Jack leaned over and whispered in my ear, “You like it when I get naughty. Don’t you, little Elle?”
Jack grazed my inner thigh. I blushed bright red and pushed his hand away. My glare cautioned him to keep his green, hairy hands off. This wasn’t the time, and it never would be, but the snow fell with the temperature dropping. I snuggled in closer to him and even caught him smirking at me, but I didn’t move away.
