Chapter 5
Holly
We left the skating rink hand in hand and walked back toward the village.
The sun was already getting low in the sky, and I was mesmerized by all the decorations.
Strings of lights crisscrossed overhead and circled every tree, post, and roof.
It was like Santa’s workshop, complete with thick sheets of snow on every surface.
The best part was Cole. He was making my dream Christmas come true.
I felt like I was in a fantasy where the last two decades melted away.
Where we were just two people having an amazing day together and knowing it would last well into the night.
I turned my head in the direction of jingling bells and stopped dead in my tracks. Two horses were plodding through the snow, pulling an oversized sled full of people.
I turned to Cole. “That would be such a cool way to see everything.”
He had a sweet little smirk on his face, showcasing that kissable dimple.
“I have a better idea. Come on.”
I didn’t even question it. I knew whatever he had in mind would romance the pants off me. I was so game. We walked back to his place and into the garage where he stopped next to a snowmobile.
“There is a fantastic view a little way from here, too far to walk,” he told me. “But we can take my sled. If you’re okay with that?” He held out a helmet and I moved closer so he could help me put it on.
“I haven’t been on a snowmobile since I was a kid. My dad used to have one.”
“I’ll go slow, since you can’t hold on properly. It’ll be worth it, though.”
I climbed onto the big machine, and he knelt on the seat behind me as he maneuvered out of his driveway and onto an unseen trail.
Once we were pointed in the right direction, he straddled the seat with me nestled in front of him.
My ass was between his thighs; I had one of his strong arms on either side of my shoulders.
He pushed the throttle, and we shot forward, the wind whipping past us and snow flying.
I closed my eyes for a moment and leaned against his chest. I considered myself a bit of a free spirit, but when was the last time I had felt this free?
After ten minutes or so, Cole slowed us to a stop and shut off the engine.
He helped me off the machine, and my mouth dropped open when I saw the view.
The sun was setting behind the mountains, casting shades of orange, pink, blue, and even purple across the snow.
The entire world around us sparkled. Forget red, green, and white.
Forget gifts and trees and store-bought decorations.
This was the Christmas magic I’d been searching for when I’d booked this trip.
“Thank you for bringing me here.” I breathed the words, still enthralled with the view.
He moved closer, and I turned to face him.
While I was staring at the sky, he’d been staring at me, and when his little dimple appeared, all I wanted was to kiss him and never stop.
I grabbed the collar of his jacket with my one good hand and pulled him down until our lips met.
I was wearing a million layers of clothing, and so was he.
As his mouth moved over mine, I realized I wanted them all gone.
But the top of a mountain in the winter wasn’t the best place for hanky-panky.
I didn’t want to spend Christmas Day explaining to an ER nurse how I got frostbite on my fun parts.
We stood in comfortable silence until the sun disappeared behind the mountain, making me shiver.
“It’s getting dark. I guess I should be getting back to the hotel.”
He pulled his arms tighter around me. “Well, to do that, we’d have to stay out in the cold, scraping snow and ice off my truck. Then drive slippery roads back to the hotel.”
“I’m sensing an ‘Or.’”
“Or we could go back to my place where it’s warm and dry. I could cook you dinner. Then instead of spending Christmas Eve alone in a hotel room, you could spend it with me.” His eyes roamed my face. “I would be a gentleman and sleep on the couch, of course.”
I wanted to touch him so bad it hurt, but between boots, snow pants, jackets, gloves, and hats, there wasn’t enough skin to make that happen. “Dinner at your place sounds perfect. We can discuss the sleeping arrangements later.”