As if he could see all of this going on inside of her, Drake came for her. She was ready as his lips claimed hers and he gathered her in his embrace. She held the front of his coat because her knees had gone weak with the emotions he poured into her.
Acceptance.
Hope.
Love.
Desire.
Admiration.
Joy.
His lips were firm and giving–telling her so much about this man. He was strong and good. He was kind and yet firm. He was the type of man who would fight the entire world to defend his family and he’d taken her into that circle–may be even closer than that.
He pulled back, his eyes searching her face. “Was that okay?”
She hummed, unable to form words at the moment. She put her forehead against his chin and nodded. “It’s good.”
“Good, huh?” he pulled back, his eyes sparkling. “Just good?”
She laughed. “You’re as bad as a reindeer!” She cuddled into him. “It was wonderful.”
Otis cleared his throat from the shop’s door. “Don’t mean to interrupt, but your reindeer is–uh–I think he has an idea?” He scratched under his stocking cap and said it all like he couldn’t quite believe those words were coming out of his mouth.
Drake laughed. “I’ll bet he does.”
Clove slipped her hand in the crook of Drake’s arm and leaned into him as they walked. She’d found the man–the wrangler–she’d been searching for her whole life through. Drake had given her a gift, and she wanted time to unpack it, to examine it thoroughly, and to thank him properly, but now wasn’t that time.
She was a herd animal now–just like Felix and the reindeer wranglers. The feeling of belonging not only to the two of them but to something that was bigger than herself was incredibly curative; the medicine spreading through her body and restoring the parts of her that had been damaged for too long.
This Christmas would go down in history as the Christmas that restored her. Not only had the little girl inside of her found safety, but the joy that the little girl kept back was set free.
“You’re not going to believe this.” Otis held the door to the shop open.
Clove tipped her head back and laughed. “You’re talking to a woman who owns a flying reindeer, buddy. I’m pretty sure it won’t be a surprise.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
“Idon’t believe it.” Drake stared at Felix, who was harnessed–though he used the term lightly–to Otis’s grandfather’s dog sled. “I have to take a picture of this.”
Felix planted his front feet slightly wider, which made his shoulders look broader, lifted his chin to be level with the floor. The chin lifting also pushed his antlers up and back—a look reindeer thought was attractive. He was such a peacock—though Drake would never say such a thing out loud.
He could whisper it to Clove and get a smile out of her. Maybe a giggle if he tickled her side. He loved that sound. Her joy was like candy and he couldn’t get enough. When he’d turned to her, and found love spilling out of her like a chocolate fountain, he couldn’t hold himself back. He had to kiss her and kiss her right, or his soul would have burst out of his skin.
He needed her in a way he’d never needed anyone. More than that—he wanted her. Wanted her in every corner of his house and both her pillows on his bed. Heck, he’d even throw in another one—or seven—if she wanted them. He didn’t care about those things anymore.
“This was your idea?” Clove asked Felix with a hearty dose of doubt.
Felix nickered proudly.All mine.
Colter smiled, just as big as the reindeer’s nicker. “I helped.” He stood so tall. “He couldn’t get the reins over his antlers, so I moved them here.” He pointed.
“You did a wonderful job,” Clove praised him.
Drake’s phone rang, and Forest’s picture appeared. “Are you on the road?”
Drake rolled his eyes. “I wish. You’re not going to believe what’s happening here. I’ll send you a picture.”
