Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
RUDOLPH
I watched Brielle move around the kitchen. She moved with a fluidity that gave her a sexy quality I hadn’t completely noticed in the feed store. Her ample hips swayed as if there was music playing which drew my eyes to her ass, which almost looked as if it was begging for my hands to hold onto her.
She had let her hair down and there were the cutest little red highlights that I also hadn’t paid any attention to running through the dark black color. She bent over to pull out a pot for the milk, and I almost groaned.
Dancer and Dasher had followed us out into the kitchen and were lying on the floor between my chair at the kitchen table and the chair I assumed she would be sitting in.
I looked around the room to distract myself from continuing to stare at her ass. It was a nice farmhouse kitchen with white walls that were accented by darker wood beams and stained oak cabinetry.
“This is a nice place,” I remarked.
“Thanks.” She looked over her shoulder at me. “My father redid a lot of the house after my grandmother passed. She left it to both of us but not my mother. She was very adamant that my mother would never get this house.”
“I take it they didn’t get along?”
“That might be the understatement of the year.” She laughed and the sound was like tinkling lights on the snow. “My grandmother thought my mother was a gold digger despite the fact my father’s family really only had this farm.”
“Sometimes people can see things in others we miss.” I knew the Krinkles had a way of seeing past what others said and getting to the heart of who they were and what they wanted.
“That’s very true.” She pulled the pot off the stove and poured the milk into the two mugs sitting on the wood counter. “I can’t say for sure, but I’m almost positive she only married my stepfather because of the feed store.” She brought the cups over to the table and sat down across from me.
“Does she work at the store too?” I didn’t touch the mug.
There was more laughter. “No. My mother is more of a spend-the-money kind of person as opposed to make-it.” She blew on her drink. “When I told her I was going to college to get a degree she told me the only reason to go to college was to find a man.”
“Wow.” That was different. “Did she and your father meet in college?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Freshman year. They were in an English class together.” She explained. “They were married before Dad graduated, and I came along less than a year later.”
“Does your father still live around here?”
“Um, he passed away four years ago.” She put her mug down. “My mother met my stepdad four months later, and they got married five months after that.”
For normal people, that might sound fast, but I knew the Krinkles. I would be surprised if Joy and Felix weren’t married before Easter and they had just got engaged a few weeks ago.
“I’m sorry.” I reached over and put my hand on top of hers. “I know what it’s like to lose a parent.”
She looked up at me. “Did your father pass away too?”
“Both my parents actually.” I didn’t like talking about this, but there was a warmth to sitting beside her with her dogs sleeping against our feet.
“My parents died in a plane crash when I was nine. The family I work with kind of adopted me as one of their own.” It was why I owed the Krinkles everything.
“Oh man. I’m so sorry.” She put her other hand on top of mine. “I’m glad you at least had people there to help you. My mother told me it didn’t help to spend my time mourning. ‘Life is for living. Just like sleep, we can mourn when we are dead too.’”
“That isn’t a very helpful thing to tell someone who just lost a parent.” I felt for her.
“My mother has a certain way of viewing things.” She twisted her lips together, and I didn’t have to be CJ or his father to read her emotions right then.
“Still. I’m sorry that she wasn’t there for you the way you needed.” I squeezed her hand.
“Thank you.”
Our eyes met, and something passed through us. Maybe it was our shared background, or maybe it was the intimacy of being snowed in alone in the middle of the night. Either way, I felt myself leaning toward her. The desire to feel her body close to mine belied the heaviness of our conversation.
Dasher chose that moment to wake up and let out a quick bark. Both of us jumped apart. Brielle hit her knee on the bottom of the table.
“Damn.” She rubbed at the soft spot.
“Are you alright?” I put my hand over hers to move it out of the way so I could check for myself.
“I’m fine.” She stood. “I should warm up your hot chocolate.”
“You don’t have to.” I tried to stop her from picking up the mug. Truthfully, I hadn’t touched it.
“No, I should, and then I should head to bed.” Instead of putting the mug in the microwave, she put both of them in the sink. “They don’t send plows out this far, so it’s up to me to dig us out.”
I stood. “I can do it for you.” I didn’t like the idea of her out there in the cold on some tractor while I sat inside watching through the window.
“I’m used to it.” She gave me a quick smile. “Besides, you’re my guest.”
I went over to her. “I don’t mind helping.” I took her hands in mine. My thumb rubbed over the back of them.
“It’s okay.” She was looking down at our joined hands.
“Brielle, what’s going on?” Had I offended her?
“Nothing.” She looked back up. “I just should turn in.” She pulled her hands from mine. “I’ll get sheets for the couch so you don’t have to stay in the guest room with the new puppies.”
“That isn’t needed.” I was used to sleeping outside on occasion with one of the sick animals.
“No, I’ll get them.” She pulled away and walked out of the room.
I washed the dishes with Dasher looking right at me.
“It was an accident.” I let him know. He wasn’t happy that I made his mom upset. It wasn’t so much that I could speak to animals the same way they communicated. It was more that I understood them, and they somehow understood me.
“I can’t help it,” I explained. “She’s an attractive woman.” One, I probably should have paid more attention to all the other times I came into the feed store.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep my distance.” I finished the two mugs.
He let out another bark and walked away. I shook my head and gave a half smile. Shepherds were a good choice for Brielle. Not only were they exceptionally loyal, but very protective. Especially this batch. It made me feel better, which made no sense. I didn’t really know her, but there was something when I looked into her eyes that told me I did. That if I just gave it a chance I could know her better than anyone and vice versa. And that feeling scared the hell out of me.