He chuckled, and the low sound wound right through my skin to warm me. “I can get six months, tops. We’ll have to reevaluate from there.”
It was better than nothing. A heck of a lot better. I reached out and held his hand, feeling slightly like a dork but too happy to care. Aiden had great hands. Large, strong, and always warm. There were callouses on the pads of his fingers, making them slightly rough. Definitely masculine.
“What are you thinking?” he asked as fat flakes fell lightly on the front window.
“About Christmas and presents,” I lied. “You’re hard to buy for.”
He cut the engine and let the snow envelop us in our own little world. “I have your present.”
I perked up. “Really?”
“Yep.” He settled back, overwhelming the seat.
“Are you going to give me a hint?” I softened my voice as the silence pounded in and turned to face him, drawing one leg up beneath me and releasing the seatbelt.
“Nope.” A smile flirted with his full mouth. In profile, he was solid angles and rugged Irish features.
Curiosity, like always, rode me hard. But I also knew that Aiden wouldn’t tell me if he didn’t want to, so there was very little chance I could pry out information from him. How could I get access to his credit card records?
“I paid cash,” he murmured lazily, still watching the snow dance on the building.
I sucked in air. His ability to read my mind was sometimes frightening. “Whatever.”
His smile widened. In a smooth motion, he twisted, grasped my hips, and lifted me over the console to land on his lap. The seat was already all the way back, but he pressed a lever, and the steering wheel rose, giving me more room. “Now we’re gonna talk about you not being where I expected to pick you up.”
I rested my back against his door and kicked out my feet over the console, wriggling a little to get comfortable on his lap.
His slight groan bubbled humor through me.
“I might’ve acted a little recklessly,” I said, wondering if it were true. Wondering if I’d do the same thing again in the same situation. “I don’t take well to being bossed around.”
“I’ve noticed,” he said. He tucked me closer and cupped my face in his wide palm.
I sighed, leaning into his touch. “I might’ve irritated you, but I wasn’t stupid or reckless. I was in safe places and fully armed.” Then I chuckled. “You know those movies where the heroine runs into the dark forest after the killer? I always root for the killer. If she’s that dumb, he deserves a win.”
Aiden laughed, his chest moving nicely against me. “Fair enough. I know you’re not stupid or reckless, and I’m sure you were aware and smart. Yet everyone needs somebody to watch their backs.” His voice lowered. “And I do adore your back.”
His phone buzzed. We made some intricate maneuvers so he could drag it out from his jacket, which was beneath my ankles. Finally, he lifted it to his ear. “Devlin.”
He changed. Went from playful and relaxed to alert and intense…in a heartbeat. “Got it. I’ll be there.” He ended the call, deftly lifted me back to my seat, and started the truck. “I have a meeting.”
“No kidding.” I quickly buckled my belt as he flipped on the windshield wipers. “What’s going on?”
He pulled out of the lot, turning the truck back toward town. “Our covers were blown in Portland, and Saber may have a line on how that happened. We’re working out of my cabin for now.” He exited the lake road and drove down the cheery middle of town, the holiday lights flashing across his lethal face. “I may be late tonight.”
I hunkered down in my seat and tried not to beam at his assumption that he’d be staying over. We were totally figuring out this dating thing.
Now. What to get him for Christmas?
I hadAiden drop me off at my oldest sister’s home. Donna lived in a cute craftsman-style house in an older part of Timber City that she’d picked up for a dream price because of her job as a realtor. I found both Donna and my mom wrapping Christmas presents for the Elk’s Christmas children’s drive, and I dove right in. While I didn’t have the precise expertise of either of them, I was more than capable of ‘putting a finger here’ as they tied intricate bows.
“How’s your Santa case going?” Donna asked absently, measuring the exact size of a green ribbon.
I shrugged, admiring her white pants outfit. Donna was what could fondly be described as a clotheshorse, and I often found myself shopping for free in her closet. She was a few inches taller than me, and our coloring was different, but I still made some good finds. Unlike Tessa, Donna took after the Italian side of our family with her thick dark hair, stunning brown eyes, and dusky skin color.
I, on the other hand, had brown curly hair, gray-green eyes, and skin that burned. I didn’t look like anybody in our family. Not really.
Donna frowned at the ribbon. “Is that even?”
