Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“This hot chocolate is the best thing I’ve ever had in my life,” I can’t help but blurt out as Stetson and I walk down Candy Cane Lane.
Armed with our spiked hot cocoas and a dozen enormous scrumptious chocolate rolls, I couldn’t be happier. In fact, this might be the most perfect place in the world and it only seems to get better and better.
By the way, Candy Cane Lane is exactly what one would imagine it’d be.
Giant candy cane lampposts line the snowy path and are striped red and white, twisting like peppermint sticks. Every few seconds one of them flickers and sends sparkling glitter into the air, making this place seem even more magical than it already is.
With every step I take I feel like I’m stepping further into a childhood dream only rather than ask Santa for all my gifts, I’m ready to strip him naked and wrap myself up as one.
“It’s the best in the world,” Stetson agrees as he takes a bite of one of the chocolate rolls. It’s the second one he’s had in less than five minutes. He closes his eyes in pleasure and the look of ecstasy on his faces makes me burst out laughing.
“I have never seen anyone look that happy over food!”
He smiles sheepishly. He looks like a young boy right now, guilty, but charming.
“I have a sweet tooth,” he admits.
I smile, remembering all the donuts he ate on the buggy.
“On brand,” I return.
He gives me a shy shrug.
“I guess,” he returns, then says almost defensively, “but I’m in shape.”
“You sure are,” I agree vigorously, admiring his incredible physique. “Does your dad… I mean, Santa or Mr. Claus… does he look like you too?”
Since I just learned that Santa has a jet instead of flying around the world with his reindeer and sled anything is possible. He could potentially be a hot Santa.
His son certainly is.
He throws his head back and laughs heartily. Like he thinks my question is the funniest one in the world.
“I’m taking that’s a ‘no’?” I return.
“My dad has a belly the size of the fjord we came from!” His shoulders still shake as he laughs. “My sister and I worry about his health.”
I’m guessing a Santa with heart disease or diabetes wouldn’t be good for the brand.
“Does your dad…umm… does he go by Santa or just Mr. Claus?”
Stetson looks vastly amused.
“He goes by Nick,” he tells me. “We’re not formal.”
Of course.
“And your mom?” I ask him.
“My mom died when I was a child,” he says solemnly. “After my sister was born, she was diagnosed with cancer, and it ravaged her. She left us before my sister’s first birthday.”
“I’m so sorry,” I reply.
He’s quiet for a minute.
“It was hardest on my father,” he admits. “My sister and I didn’t know her, obviously. We just grew up with the memories.”
“Still.”
He stays quiet.
“And you have one sister?” I go on with my questions.
“Emily,” he tells me with a nod. “She works in the family business as well.”
I wonder what her role is.
Commander of the dwarves? Captain of the reindeer?
I want to ask him, but honestly, I feel like I need a second before I hear another unbelievable job description that I’ll have to wrap my head around tomorrow morning when clarity hits me like a ton of bricks. But for now, I’m going to keep living in Christmas Land.
I take another sip of the amazing hot chocolate and savor it.
We both stay quiet, the only sound between us is the crunching of the snow under our booted feet as we walk down the path.
I look around at the general splendor of this picturesque, fairytale of a village and wonder how this feels like no big deal.
Like, I’m not freaking out by any of this at all.
I’m in it. During the brief time I’ve been here something’s completely shifted.
I’m in a village that the regular population (including my best friend) would think I completely imagined, and it feels almost… normal?
“You know I didn’t believe you,” I tell him what I’m sure he’s already deduced—I blame the spiked hot chocolate.
“And now?” he asks.
“Now…” I tilt my head up and look at him through the corner of my eyes. My mind wanders.
He looks so handsome and regal—he has such an aristocratic look about him that gives him more gravitas. He can look playful then so serious to intimidating within the course of a minute.
“Charlie?” he prods.
“As unbelievable as it all sounds… I think I’m starting to believe you,” I admit as I watch a Candy Cane lamppost spurt out another burst of glitter— seriously! This just happened!
“I’m glad to hear that.” I feel like he’s fighting back a laugh.
“I mean, I have questions—a million of them.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“I won’t inundate you now,” I promise, then continue to say in the most awkward fashion on the planet. “And this is just a one-night thing, so you’ll be rid of me tomorrow...”
I hate the words I just spoke and from the way he tenses up I don’t think he appreciates them either.
“Maybe I don’t mind if you inundate me,” he stops walking and turns to face me.
He looks serious before places his cup and bag of treats on the ground, then takes mine away and puts it down as well.
The snowflakes fall around us as I look up at him expectantly.
The moment couldn’t be any more romantic. His blue gaze is slumberous as he studies my face, zeroing in on my lips which are just begging for him to give me another earth-shattering kiss.
“Can I ask you one question?” I whisper, unable to stop myself.
“You can ask me anything you want, baby,” he replies huskily.
God, I love the way he says ‘baby’. And then I tell him what I want.
“Is there any mistletoe around here?”
I don’t have to say another word.
In less than a second, he pulls me in his arms and his lips crash down on mine. He tugs on my hair and lifts my face up to his so he can devour me in a way that makes my knees go weak.
And I’m lost.
Lost in the sensual, sexual storm that is Stetson.
He claims me, his tongue moves into my mouth and tastes every part of me—in a way I almost feel like he’s tasting a piece of my soul. He makes love to my mouth like a master, exploring every part of me as his hands move down my body to cup my ass and pull me up against him.
The desire I feel for this man is not normal. I’ve slept with men before where it was only about sex—the chemistry the only thing drawing us together.
But this.
This kiss feels different. Even different than the rest.
There’s something more…
Kissing Stetson feels like coming home.
When that revelation dawns on me, I pull away. I’m the one to end the moment this time—not him. I stare up at his gorgeous face, panting with longing and need I don’t fully understand and pray with all my heart and soul that I’m not already falling in love with him.
I don’t understand it.
It doesn’t make any logical sense.
I’ve only read about insta-love in the books I edit and they’re fiction! I know it’s fake and doesn’t happen in real life.
Yet here I am suddenly wondering if such an ailment has come over me.
Grace would laugh me off the face of the earth.
Maybe not.
But she would for sure be worried and think something was wrong with me to be feeling such strong emotions for someone so fast. Feeling for someone I barely even know but somehow feel like I’ve known forever.
And especially given my history, she’d be even more protective.
And the fact I signed a clause that indicated this would most likely just be a one-night thing. What on earth am I thinking?
But this?
This.
It feels different. And I don’t even know how. Or why. But it’s different.
It is. I can feel it in my bones.
Stetson stares at me hungrily.
“You’re so sweet,” his voice is gruff and loaded with passion. “You taste like candy.”
I close my eyes and hide from that stare he’s giving me.
“Look at me,” he commands.
And I do.
Hell.
His mouth takes mine again, this time with more force and passion, like he’s a man who’s been starving forever.