Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Sleigh Bells Ringing
The driver guided the sleigh through the moonlit forest, its runners whispering over packed snow, while silver bells on the two chestnut Clydesdales’ harnesses jingled in time with the rhythmic thud of their hooves.
Branches arched overhead like cathedral vaults, and evergreen trees strung with twinkling lights dotted the trail like sentries. It felt like riding through a dream.
Dinner at Petits Poulets had been exquisite, but Zuri had been unable to fully immerse herself. Her thoughts kept looping back to Kyree like a song stuck on repeat, and the anticipation of gliding through the wintry woods with him had been foremost in her mind.
The cold nipped at her cheeks, but snuggled up next to Kyree beneath a thick wool blanket, their bodies pressed close from shoulder to thigh, she didn’t mind it at all.
In fact, she could stay like this forever.
She let herself savor the moment—the sleigh, the moonlight, the warmth radiating from the man beside her.
Having learned her lesson this afternoon at the park, Zuri had worn sensible clothes tonight––brown wool hat, two thin layers beneath a dark red cable knit sweater, thick black leggings, two pairs of socks with her leather boots, and her favorite chocolate-brown shearling coat with a faux fur trim.
She had come prepared for an arctic tundra, but she needn’t have worried.
Kyree, who must have realized how cold she’d been earlier, had thought of everything.
He’d brought extra blankets even though the flyer had said that blankets would be provided, two hot water bottles for their laps, and even a beautiful red Pashmina scarf––his cousin’s, she imagined.
Even though she’d regretted the decision before he’d even arrived at Juniper Park, and closed her coat as soon as he’d gotten a good look, she’d only worn that short dress for Kyree.
She’d wanted to look good for him––to leave a lasting impression.
Bryan would have called her outfit impractical and made her feel like a fool, but Kyree had simply told her how beautiful she looked, and made sure she had everything she needed to be comfortable tonight.
That kind of thoughtfulness was rare, and reminded her of the way her father took care of her mom; running her a bubble bath when she’d had a stressful day, even though he’d had one, too, or never neglecting to bring home a dessert for her when he’d had dinner with a friend or client.
Zuri shifted, tucking herself deeper beneath the blanket, and stole a look at Kyree. The beanie pulled low over his ears, the cut of his jaw, and that tartan scarf wrapped around his neck made him look polished and debonair.
“This is really nice, Kyree,” she said softly, as the horses rounded a bend and a Christmas tree came into view, its branches strung with yellow lights that glowed like captured stars. “And I can’t believe you thought to bring all of this.”
He turned and smiled, his bright teeth glowing like pearls in the moonlight. “I’ve got one—well, two more––no, three more surprises for you…”
Zuri waited with as much patience as she could muster while Kyree rummaged through the red leather backpack at his feet.
“First, these.” He handed her a heavy cookie tin, painted with an adorable, festive scene of little mice dressed in tuxedos and gowns at a Christmas ball. “Go on, you can peek,” he said, while reaching for the next surprise.
She gently pried the lid open, and the immediate, intoxicating scent of butter, spice, and melted chocolate hit her.
The tin was packed with an assortment of cookies––perfect squares with holiday-colored sprinkles and icing lay next to dark rounds with soft, melted chocolate centers and chopped almonds.
There were glistening sugared pecans, dollops of red berry preserves, crystallized ginger, and more. “Kyree, these look incredible!”
He chuckled. “Trust me, they taste even better.”
Zuri had no trouble believing him. Cookies baked and decorated with this kind of perfection came from the most high-end bakeries. Had he actually ordered these and had them brought in from the city?
“Next, we have a little something to wash those down.” Kyree handed her a white, insulated travel cup, nestled another one within the folds of the blanket across his lap, and opened a matching white thermos.
Zuri groaned as the heavily scented steam wafted up her nostrils. Hot chocolate!
“Now, I know you said you like your hot chocolate Italian style,” he said, taking her mug, and carefully pouring the thick liquid into it, expertly adjusting the angle and speed of his pour as the sleigh gently rocked.
“So, I asked the chef if he could whip some up to go with his cookies.” He cautiously handed the hot chocolate to her.
The chef? Zuri thought, as he poured a mug for himself.
“Apparently, Chef Stanley first trained in Turin, and knew exactly how to do it right, or, at least I hope so… Taste it,” he coaxed, with a boyish grin.
Warmth bloomed in Zuri’s chest as she held the rim to her nose, breathing in the rich, chocolatey scent, before taking her first sip. Her eyes fluttered closed… Rich. Velvety. Absolutely perfect. This man had listened. He’d actually listened and done this for her––brought her heaven in a mug.
“Oh. My. God! Not a word of a lie, I think this might be the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had in my life!” She sipped again, letting it warm her from the inside out.
Watching her with a satisfied smirk, Kyree took his first sip, then instantly drew his head back, his eyes wide with delight. “Damn! That is good!”
“Right?”
“Okay, Ms. Zuri, I see where you’re coming from.”
“Told you.” She nudged his arm with her elbow.
“There was this amazing little Italian café in Zermatt that my brother and I loved. We had one of their hot chocolates every day before our first run.” Zuri took another indulgent sip.
“Mm, I swear I feel like I’m there right now.
” She closed her eyes and imagined walking the cobblestone streets of Switzerland with Kyree, of snuggling with him in front of a fireplace, of making love…
Her eyes fluttered open to find Kyree enjoying his chocolate as he watched the dark forest whiz by. “What about the third surprise?” she asked, trying to focus her mind on the present, and not on a fantastical, hypothetical future.
His mouth twisted playfully. “I don’t know now. It might ruin it…”
“Come on, you can’t do that to me.”
Kyree hesitated, as if still deciding, then shrugged on a grin and pulled a silver flask from his inside coat pocket. “Peppermint Schnapps.”
Zuri pressed her hand to her chest, a happy, bubbling laugh escaping her. “Oo, look at this full bottle service!” she teased, presenting her mug. “Come on, pour it in.”
Kyree laughed. “You sure? It won’t ruin the best hot chocolate you’ve ever had?”
“Peppermint in chocolate? Of course not! Come on now, Bartender, don’t be stingy.”
With a triumphant twinkle in his eyes, Kyree poured a splash of schnapps into her cup and then his. After capping the flask and returning it to his coat pocket, he reached back into the backpack, retrieved two lids, and securely screwed them onto their mugs.
“Mm, mm, mm, Kyree,” Zuri said, her fingers hovering over the cookie tin.
“A Bentley, the Rose Suite, a private chef who trained in Italy. What’s next?
Are you going to whisk me away on your private jet?
” She selected a gingersnap with grated orange peel.
“Or no, I guess it would be your private yacht, given your negative experience with flying.” She winked as she bit into the cookie.
The shift in Kyree was subtle but unmistakable. His body tensed, the easy warmth in his eyes dimming.
A pang shot through her chest. “Kyree, did I say something wrong? I was just joking, you know.”
“I know, but…” His chest rose and fell on a deep breath as he reached for a soft, round thumbprint cookie with raspberry preserves. “I just need to come clean with you, Zuri.”
Come clean? They’d only known each other for three days, and he already has to confess something? She swallowed hard as panic began to rise in her belly.
“The Bentley isn’t mine, Zuri,” he said, his voice steady and strong. “It belongs to my cousin.”
“Okaaay…” She closed the tin and set it on the seat beside her.
“And I didn’t pay for the suite either––I couldn’t afford an hourly rate in that room.”
What? Is he some kind of con man? “Kyree, what exactly are you saying?”
Kyree sighed. “I’m saying the car, the hotel, the private chef––none of that is mine. I don’t come from that world… Your world.”
She was struck by his words. “What do you mean my world?”
“Come on, you have to know you’re out of my league. Private school and vacations to Switzerland… My family was lucky if we made it to the Jersey Shore once a year. I didn’t grow up with money.”
“And you wanted me to think you have money so I’d like you?”
“No, I…” He took a bite of the cookie. “Look,” he said as he chewed.
“I grew up in the hood. My parents sacrificed to make sure we had food on the table and the lights stayed on. They had to choose between braces for their kids or keeping my mom’s car running so she could get to work.
I’m the first person in my family to go to college, and I don’t want to be the last. Dequan plays ball, and I know he’ll be set with an athletic scholarship, but I don’t want Aaliyah to have to work herself ragged like I did to make Princeton possible.
I don’t want her or my parents to have to deal with student loans when she finishes. ”
Zuri’s heart melted like snow. She wanted to tell him that she understood––that he didn’t need to explain––but instead she listened, giving him the space to get everything off his chest.