The way she says 'business' leads me to think she doesn't want me to ask any questions about it. So I keep my mouth shut. I'm eager to learn everything about her. She turns to me, eyes begging for my touch, but I don't listen to those treacherous eyes.
"I do have a best friend, Sasha, who lives in Hunter's Peak near Woodland Falls." She hesitates. "What about you, Jacob? What brought you to Hope Peak?"
I hate talking about myself, but I can't deny her my truth.
"I came here for some peace and quiet. After I left the military, I did some mercenary-type work and made a lot of money withit, but I needed a change of pace. I knew Hunter Granger from before, and he told me about this place."
"It's okay, Jacob."
"No, it's not, baby girl. I'm broken, damaged. I can't give you the life that you deserve."
"You're giving up without even trying, Jacob. I didn't peg you as a coward."
Her words hurt, but she's right. I'm letting fear pull me away from her. From what could be happiness. She takes my hand and pulls me up from the sofa bed.
"Help me move this over there."
"Why?"
"So it faces the window. I want to watch the snow fall with you."
I help her move the sofa bed, and find I can't keep from looking at her. She's everything.
"Do you want some more coffee?"
"Have any hot chocolate?" she asks.
"I think there is a mix there somewhere. I'll be right back."
I search the suite's kitchenette for packets of hot chocolate mix and find them. I make two cups of the delicious liquid and bring them to the living room. Marci seems entranced by the fall of snowflakes outside the suite's window.
She grabs the cup of hot chocolate, and a smile brightens her face.
"Thank you for this, Jacob. This is sure to lift my spirits."
"I'm sorry I was so gruff before. To tell you the truth…"
"What? You can tell me anything, Jacob."
I take her cup from her and place it on the coffee table before us. Then, I grab her delicate hand and put it between my palms. She feels a little cold, but seems to be warming up. I'd do anything to be the man who warms her up day and night for the rest of our lives.
"Baby girl, I want you so much, it physically hurts."
She pulls her hand away from me and picks up her phone. I'm not sure what's happening, but she doesn't seem angry or upset. When she stops working her phone, she connects it to the speakers in the room and starts playing a song—Dean Martin’s White Christmas.
I immediately get up, pull her to her feet and start dancing with her. Having her so close like this is a dream come true. Her hair smells like coconut, and her lips look good enough to kiss. I don't kiss her, though. I want to make this moment last forever.
So we sway to the music, holding each other tight. We dance to about five Christmas songs until I can't stand it anymore.
"Marci, I need to kiss you."
Chapter 5
Marci
The storm raging outside matches the one inside my head. This beautiful, strong man is being extremely gentle with me. I feel almost like a porcelain doll that could break at any moment. But I'm not fragile, and I want this man with all my body and heart.
Christmas songs play as we dance slowly to the nostalgic music, and I can't think of a happier moment than this. It feels almost as if we're under a spell. Maybe the magic of Christmas. I don't want to do anything that could break this moment.
