Giving Felix the compliments he needed wasn’t difficult–so why hadn’t she done it before? Probably because she wasn’t brought up to say nice things. It wasn't second nature or even habit; though she could make it so. Words were powerful things, and she’d been holding back some of the strongest ones all her life. Yes, she was taught to say “please” and “thank you,” but there were times when she could have given praise and she bridled her tongue because she was afraid of being seen as weak or silly. No more, she would take off the fear corset that held her too tight and allow mighty words of kindness to flow.
Drake set down a couple of the bags, the ones with bread, brownie mix, butter, and canned soup, on the porch. None of the items would spoil out here in the cold before Colter’s mom came home. Clove’s chest swelled with admiration. He’d noticed Colter’s mother’s threadbare coat and the frayed hem of her jeans too. Only, instead of just noticing, he’d taken action.
When he got back to where they’d guessed the sidewalk should be under all the snow, Clove felt the pressure of her recent personal vow to say the words press against her throat. She cleared it twice. “That was a nice thing to do. I’m sure she will appreciate it and, well, I wish I’d thought to help her like you did.”
Drake’s neck flushed, and he looked down at his shoes. “It’s just a few things for the pantry. No big deal.”
Clove could let it go. She’d fulfilled her vow and said nice things, but a voice inside told her it wasn’t enough and she groaned as the woman she wanted to be fought the woman she was five minutes ago. She touched his arm to draw his attention to her face. As soon as his brown eyes grabbed hers, she knew it was a mistake to look at him while she bared her soul. He could already see too deeply inside of her and she felt like she was standing naked on a frozen lake.
Why was changing herself so hard?
She gulped. “I don’t remember where we lived before I went to school. But I remember a knock at the door and Dad finding grocery bags just outside.” She turned away, embarrassed at her past and having been so hungry. “It was the first time I’d ever tasted Mac & Cheese, and I thought it was so good. It was the first night in a long time I went to bed with a full stomach.”
Felix hummed, making his chest vibrate in a soothing way. She put one arm over his back. “I don’t think they’re that bad off, but every little bit does make a difference.”
When she finally looked up at Drake, she found nothing but softness. He pulled her into his chest and wrapped his powerful arms all the way around her, the plastic bags resting against her back. His breath warmed her ear. He didn’t say anything, and she was mighty grateful for that. After a few seconds, she melted into him and let his strength fill her up and replace the shame of her past with soft acceptance.
Passing her the remaining grocery bags, he took Felix’s lead rope. “I’ll put him away and check his water if you want to head inside where it’s warm.”
She continued to stare at him. Just when he was about to give up on getting an answer, she popped up onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. His skin seared her lips with heat. He smelled like the soap in the guest bathroom and sugar and cinnamon from breakfast.
“What was that for?” he asked, looking like he wanted to know so he could do it again.
“Good fruit,” she said. He might not know what that meant, but that was okay. She patted his chest once with her glove and then went to the front door.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
Drake watched Clove walk all the way to the door, his heart hammering like a madman in his chest.
That hug? That hug was . . . Wow! He’d never felt anything like it. He’d wanted to hold her up because she looked like a stiff breeze would take her down as she faced a bit of her past to give him a compliment.
What she’d done was the very definition of strength.
So he’d done something brave and dangerous himself and reached for her, not knowing if she’d let him close or punch him in the stomach when his arms were spread out.
She’d been stiff at first and then she’d pushed aside her walls and allowed him to hold her properly.
It. Was. Awesome.
She smelled like fresh air and snow and clean laundry. Her curves fit against him in just the right way. The soft sigh she let out sounded like the coo of a dove calling out to him. It’d been all he could do not to kiss her and see if she made other sweet sounds.
Felix sidled up to him, smirking with his eyes slightly narrowed:What ya thinking about?
Drake pushed the reindeer’s face away from him. “Don’t get any ideas.” He didn’t need this guy trying to amp up his love life, too. Seemed everyone around here thought he should be married by now. He took up the lead rope and started walking.
Felix nickered.I was going to tell you the same thing.
“Glad we’re on the same page.” Two steps later, he was yanked backwards when Felix paused. Thrown off balance, he almost fell. “Hey!” he complained.
Now we’re on the same page. Felix strode forward with grace in his every footstep.
“You’re not subtle,” Drake griped as he rubbed his shoulder.
The reindeer asserted his protective feelings for Clove at the same time he wanted to make sure Drake understood that he was stronger, level headed, and not in control of him. The message was intended to intimidate, but Drake grinned. Asserting his protective side was something Dunder would have done. Dunder who led the herd and was king of the flying reindeer on the ranch. He couldn’t even be upset that Felix had an attitude because he was everything they’d been praying for in a reindeer. Maybe even a little more.
He and Clove got along a lot better today than they had before, but he purposefully hadn’t brought up taking Felix back to the ranch. The topic always brought up her defenses, and he liked her so much more without them.
Maybe that was the problem: he liked her.
