Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Aubrey
“Wait, so this was the first time you’ve spoken to the mysterious grump, and that’s how it ends? A decorating contest? Do you hear how crazy that sounds?” Pip, my best friend from elementary school, asked before laughing so hard that her wine sloshed over the sides of her glass.
I rolled my eyes and handed her a napkin. Two glasses in and Pip was feeling good. I wish I were that easy of a date. Then maybe I’d actually get one.
Your hot neighbor…hello…
Hello nothing. A competition was hardly a date.
I sunk a chip into French onion dip and popped it into my mouth, the flavors exploding on my tongue, tangy and salty.
One of my favorite snacks, especially with drinks and my best girl, Pip.
I loved food and cooking, but my favorite was eating out and exploring local hidden gems. I ran a successful food blog and finding new hot spots was the best part.
“Yes, it sounds crazy, but it’s easy for me. I already decorated a ton. I’ll update some of them, maybe add a few inflatables, and it’s in the bag. I got this, girl.” I nodded my head towards her.
Pip wiped up her wine, put her glass down, and fetched a chip from the bowl, scooping up some dip. She chewed thoughtfully before answering. “You make a good point. But how crazy did you think he’ll get?”
“How crazy can you get?”
Her eyes grew big, the blue beauties piercing.
My best friend was gorgeous inside and out and she found a man who worshipped her.
Hopefully, I’d find mine soon. “Aubs, there’s a show you need to watch.
I can’t remember the name, but people decorate their houses for Christmas in insane ways.
I’ve seen Santa’s sleigh with reindeer and Santa figurines on the roof and they’re life size.
Inflatables bigger than your house. Life size nutcrackers that honestly look super scary at night. Tell me you’ve seen this show.”
“Nope, can’t say I have.” I sipped on my wine. “Guess I need to up my game.”
“Let me find it.” Pip picked up her phone and tapped on the screen. As she searched on her phone, my mind drifted to sexy Nash. His handsome face hadn’t left my thoughts since the day we met.
He has yet to put any decorations up, but I’d been watching, sneaking peeks out of my windows.
Like a girl with an obsessive crush, I drove myself crazy, constantly thinking about him. I even used my vibrator to the thought of his face, his woodsy pine scent mixed with mint, and his sexy dark beard, causing friction burn on the insides of my thighs.
When I moved to the street, I already knew about Nash Hines. Appleridge was a small town and people talked. But it was high time I moved out of my parents’ house, and besides, I kept to myself and didn’t plan on bothering him.
That was until he walked over to my yard and invited himself into my life.
“How will a grumpy scrooge decorate better than me?” I muttered, before grabbing a handful of chips.
Pip laughed. “I heard that. I thought you said he wasn’t as grumpy as you thought?”
I shrugged but failed to hide the smile on my lips. “How much do I really know about him?”
“Maybe he’s a grump to everyone else and not you.”
“He told me he’s quiet.”
Pip gave me a swoony look. “Oh girl. A moody, quiet mountain man? Yes, please!”
I tossed a chip at her head and we both laughed. “You have your mountain man.”
“Mmhmm, but he’s definitely not the quiet type.” Her eyes shone with love.
“Exactly what you need.”
“Here’s the show! Hoarding for the Holidays on HGTV.” She jumped up from her stool and picked up her glass and the bottle of wine. “Grab the chips. We’ve got a show to watch.”
Two hours later, we were full of chips, dip, French Bread pizza, lots of wine, and plenty of Christmas decoration ideas.
I kissed Pip goodbye when her boyfriend, John, arrived to take her home shortly after eight. My head spun with a thousand different ideas for the lawn so and I cleaned up the kitchen, hoping the distraction would help me sort my thoughts out.
Yet by the time I shut off the water and started the dishwasher, I didn’t feel any better. And I think it had a lot more to do with a certain neighbor across the street than with decorations.
I could deny it all I wanted.
But underneath his grumpy exterior, a warm, Christmas loving heart beat, and I wanted to claim it for myself.
After falling into a restless sleep, a loud noise woke me just after sunrise. I sat up in my bed, clutching my chest, as I looked around the semi-dark room. What the hell was that?
I heard the noise again and I scrambled from my bed, rushing over to my window. A plow truck backed down the street, the beeping sound shrill in my ears.
I blinked twice and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
What? A plow truck? But it wasn’t snowing…
A movement caught the side of my eye. I turned my head to find Nash, shoveling fake snow in his driveway and onto his lawn.
Fake snow? Really?
We were due for snow later this week. Why not just wait?
But then he started forming snowballs, stacking them into snowmen before starting on an igloo.
An igloo.
Okay, what the hell?
Was I dreaming and still watching the show with Pip?
I rubbed my eyes again, but no I definitely wasn’t sleeping. He really was making snowmen and an igloo.
A mix of desire and annoyance pulsated through me. My hands balled into fists at my side, and I grumbled. “Who can compete with fake snow? It’ll never melt!”
I backed away from the window. The urge to kiss him wrapped around the need to win. Did he have to be so damn hot? It was annoying.
Grabbing my robe from the bottom of my bed, I slipped it on, along with a clean pair of socks. Then I padded downstairs, threw on my jacket and boots, and yanked my door open, marching outside.
“Seriously? Fake snow? And who gets a delivery at five in the morning?”
“Well, good morning to you too, Aubrey. Did I wake you? I’m sorry.
It was the only last-minute slot they had, and I needed to start my decorating.
” He set down the shovel and walked over to me, the visible skin on his cheeks red from the cold.
His beard looked darker and fuller than before, and my wild thoughts took off like a rocket.
“With fake snow?”
“It’s the best. I can give you a bucket if you’d like.”
“Wow, I feel so special. A whole bucket just for me?” I couldn’t help but tease. How could he turn me on and annoy me so much at the same time?
Nash chuckled. “You set off the beast in me.” His eyes darkened.
“Did I? Well, how is the beast going to make it up to me? Being woken up isn’t nice.”
“Do you like steak?”
“Who doesn’t?”
“Let me cook you dinner. My buddy gets great cuts from his father, a local butcher.”
“I run a food blog. Did you know that?”
“Maybe. Look, I don’t know what’s happening, but I feel a strong need to impress you.”
A zing ran through my entire body.
“So, if I tell you I like to garden, you’re going to start a beautiful indoor greenhouse or something?”
“Very funny. But I draw the line at plants. We don’t get along.”
“Good. I need to be better than you than something.”
“Dinner. My place. Tonight. Now go get some sleep. I’ll drop your bucket by later.”
But I didn’t go back to sleep.
At least not until I had several orgasms, all while thinking of him.