Chapter 38
SLADE
I slowly pull my truck into her driveway. In the rearview mirror, I see Ollie’s sleepy head roll to the side, a ring of chocolate outlining his mouth.
“If you pull up to the back door. I’ll carry them in,” Sarah says, unbuckling.
After the sleigh ride, hiking through the snow to chop down the tree, and hot chocolate, these kids are spent.
I turn off the ignition, and Sarah jumps out, opening the back passenger door to get Frankie. “Let me lie her down, and I’ll be back to get him.” She throws the diaper bag over her shoulder and hurries around the front of the truck.
Sarah and I talked the whole way to the tree farm about holiday traditions.
She told candid details about her neighbors in the trailer park and how her mom organized a Christmas light decorating competition.
I told her about Krissy always searching for the saddest tree in the nursery because she felt bad that it was already cut down and would never get picked.
Sarah said this was the first time she’d ever been to a tree farm. Growing up, she and her mom decorated a silver tree strung with pink lights. I told her about my mom taking us to the grocery store to pick one out that had to have been a fire hazard since it had been sitting dry for so long.
I carefully pull Ollie from his seat. His head flops onto my shoulder, and his little arms squeeze my neck. This kid grinned ear to ear on the sleigh ride and begged to do it twice. So, we rode around the farm to ensure we could scout the perfect tree. Then he helped me saw it down.
I meet Sarah at the back door, and she stares up at me for only a second before holding out her arms. I shift Ollie to her.
“I’ll lay him on the couch and then be back to get the car seats.” She disappears into the house.
After finding the perfect tree, we rolled together a small snowman before sitting by a large fire with hot chocolate, and the kids played in the snow. We laughed when Frankie bit into a chunk of snow, her lip curling out, not expecting it to be cold.
I hear the door open and close.
“He seriously had the best time. Thank you so much for letting us—” Sarah stops beside me at the lowered tailgate. “What are you doing?”
I cut the plastic netting away with my pocket knife. “I’ll run over and grab my drill. Once the stand is on, we’ll carry it inside.” I free the trunk and clip my knife to my pocket.
Sarah would never accept a tree from me, but she and the kids are getting one anyway.
“It’ll just take a second to get the seats, then you can—”
I start down the driveway.
“Where are you going?” Her tone rises.
“I have to grab a few things. I’ll be back.”
“Slade.”
I hear her confusion, but I keep moving, knowing what she’ll say.
I get halfway down the driveway and—
Wham!
I stop, turning ever so slowly. Sarah stands, cupping another snowball in her hands. Her eyes are bright and playful, and I stare at her, wanting more of it .
“What did you just do?” I ask calmly.
She bites the corner of her lip. “You didn’t answer me. Where are you going?”
The mischief in those beautiful, different-colored eyes sends my blood soaring through my veins.
I have wanted to kiss this woman a thousand times since the other night, and I’m waiting for the perfect opportunity.
Really, I need to be damn sure she’s ready.
But she’s making it incredibly difficult for me to be patient.
“I’m getting my drill. Then you can help me make sure it’s straight on the stand.”
She rounds the snow in her hands, forming the perfect ball. “Annnndddd, why are you not taking your truck with you to do that over at your house?”
She’s on to me, and I like it.
I tuck my hands in my coat pockets. “I don’t think it will fit in my house.”
Her eyelids droop just a little, her shoulders relaxing. There’s stillness all around, except for the adrenaline building within me.
“Was this your plan all along?”
I’m not exactly sure what she’s referring to, but falling for her was definitely not part of the plan. Getting the tree for them? Absolutely.
“Careful, Sarah.” I gesture to the snowball, daring her.
Her sassy mouth creeps into a fearless smirk. Her eyes squint, contemplating the risk.
She goes for it just as I expected, pulling her arm back and releasing the snowball.
Bam!
It splatters square against my chest. I look at the broken clumps of white powder on my boots and then drag my gaze to hers.
This woman has no idea what she’s just done.
Her smile fades as the silence falls around us again. There’s nothing but the crunch of my boots as I charge up the driveway, scooping snow into my glove as I go. Her eyes grow wide, and she runs for cover .
I form the ball in my hands, and she laughs, ducking behind my truck. “I’ve never lost a snowball fight, and I don’t care that you’re a woman. I’ll take your pretty ass down.”
“Are you trying to scare me, Leo?” Her voice comes from the front end.
I inch closer. “Leo?”
“Really? The lion.” Her voice retreats.
“You can’t hide, Sarah.” I move around the side.
Her head pops up across the hood, and she beams me in the shoulder with another snowball.
“You for sure can’t hide, you big mountain lion.” She laughs, and warm rays of joy explode in my chest.
I crouch low around the front of my truck, listening for her footsteps. I peek around the front and see her darting away. I hit her in the lower back, and she squeals, making a run for it.
I straighten, and she slips around the tail of my truck. “Surrender now, Sarah.”
“Never!” she yells.
The top of her hat pops up over the hood of my truck, and my snowball crashes against the garage. The next one flies right past my head.
I crouch low, moving around the front again and reloading as I go. I peek around the corner expecting to see her, but—
“Pssst.”
I twist and—
Splat!
A giant clump of snow hits me square in the face. I fall back into the pile along the side of the driveway.
“Oh my gosh.” She laughs, but I can’t see anything. “Are you ok?”
I wipe the icy flakes from my eyes and beard and blink away the cold specks. She stands over me with her hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh .
I’d take another hundred snowballs in the face if it made her this happy.
“I’m sorry. I meant to hit your back.” She extends her hand to help me up, and I take it, yanking her down into the snow beside me.
Laughter spills from her, and I smile to the sky, knowing I definitely won in this game.
She rolls to her side and extends a handful of snow over my face. I turn to look at her, and she presses her lips together, withholding her joy.
“I’d be very careful, Sarah,” I say, watching her contemplate it.
“Oh really? Or what?” she dares.
I grip her wrist, gently lowering it as I roll over her and pin it to her side. My chest rests against hers, and she watches me closely, her eyes staring into mine.
“Or this will turn into an entirely different kind of game.”
Her eyes flick between mine. A red stocking cap covers her dark hair, but the long strands are splayed in the snow around her. She’s stunning. An angel sent to save me from my self-sabotaging ways.
“Was this your plan all along? Getting a tree for us?” It’s only a whisper, her breath moving over my lips.
I blink, wondering if she still tastes like chocolate and marshmallow.
“Slade, I can’t accept the tree. You’ve already—”
“Yes, you can,” I say softly.
Her gaze drops from mine, falling somewhere in the minimal space between us. “I can’t. . .repay you.”
“You already have.” My stomach pinches tight with the absolute truth. “This is. . .the best day I’ve had. Ever.”
Today was a gift. Just being with her and the kids.
Her gaze returns to mine, searching.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do and have never had anyone to do it with.” My lungs burn with the honesty .
She reaches up, running her fingers over the icy droplets on my beard. “Thank you for watching out for us this morning and asking us to go with you. Ollie and I won’t ever forget it.” She blinks quickly.
I lower my forehead to hers. “Sarah,” I breathe out, cupping her face with my cold fingers. I run my thumb over her parted lips.
“M-mama,” Ollie whines, and I feel Sarah exhale beneath me. “Frankie is c-c-crying.”
I roll off of her and stare at the gray sky as she stands, brushing herself off. “I’m coming, bud.”
She extends her hand, and I take it.
“I’ll be back in a few,” I say, shaking the snow off my coat and pants.
She nods, heading into the house while I gather myself back from blissful anticipation.
She peeks her head out of the door. “Do you already have lights?”
“I hope you like multicolor.”
She shakes her head, but I see her lips curl upward before she closes the door.
I shove my frozen hands into my gloves and smile as I walk across the street. Today was another risk, but it was totally worth it. I just really need to know that I’m going to get a lot more like it.