Chapter 11
ELEVEN
Blair
Five Years Later…
“Mary said they’re starting in half an hour,” I tell Cole as he comes into the bedroom where I’m digging through my suitcase.
“I’ll be ready. How are you doing? Not too tired?” he asks, resting his hand on my baby bump.
I wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m okay. The nap helped.”
Cole and I are in Silver Bell Hollow for the holidays. We’ve been spending every other Christmas here for the last five years, and Cole’s family has quickly become mine. I talk to Mary and Christopher more than I talk to my own parents.
The first time I came to Naughty List Ranch, I was so nervous. The town looked like the set for a Hallmark movie and reminded me a lot of Wolf Valley. That helped put me at ease… until we pulled up to the ranch.
Mary and Christopher were essentially Cole’s parents. I’d never met anyone’s parents before, and I wanted to make a good impression. His foster brothers were all in town, too, and it felt like being thrown in the deep end.
Luckily for me, everyone was so lovely and welcoming.
“Just think,” Cole says. “This time next year, we’ll be parents.”
“It’s wild, huh?”
He nods, smiling softly at me. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay home tonight?”
We’ve spent the last few days doing all the holiday things around town.
We hit up the Winter Market, went down to the Grange Hall for the Jingle & Jive Dance, and Cole and I walked in the Mistletoe Mile Charity Race.
That last one is what did me in today, and I had to come back to the ranch and lie down for a bit.
“I’m fine. Really. Besides, we can’t miss the Christmas Eve Bonfire!”
“We can,” Cole says. “If you’re too tired.”
“I’m good. If I get tired, I’ll come back inside and rest,” I promise. “Now, hurry up and get ready.”
I shoo him toward the bathroom, and he drops a quick kiss on my lips before he does as I ordered.
We’re staying at the main house with Mary and Christopher. Cole was worried about my walking along the path to the other bunkhouses and insisted on it for this visit.
My phone beeps as I hear the shower turn on, and I smile when I see the girls’ group chat.
All the wives of Naughty List Ranch have a text group where we catch up.
It’s been wonderful to have that connection with them, although still a little strange.
I went from having no friends to having Larsen, and now I have a whole group.
Angel: On our way!
Callie: Can’t wait to see you girls!
Ginger: I know! It’s been too long.
I type "see you soon" before changing my clothes and finishing getting ready for the bonfire.
When the bathroom door opens and my husband steps out in a cloud of steam with a towel hanging low on his hips, my whole body grows weak.
“Fuck me,” I moan.
Cole grins. “Yes, ma’am,” he says, heading my way.
“The bonfire!” I object. “We have to get ready. I don’t want to be late.”
“I could be quick.”
“I know you can.” I laugh.
“I’ll make it good for you,” he whispers huskily.
I swallow hard. “I know. You always do.”
He kisses down my neck, and I melt against him.
“Well, maybe…” I relent, right as the front door slams shut.
I jump, and Cole groans as he lets me go.
“Later,” I pant.
He nods, his eyes dark and filled with wicked promises.
Digging through his suitcase for his clothes, he dresses as I try to get my wild hormones under control.
Cole and I got married in June, six months after we first started dating. He claims he would have married me that Christmas, and I believe him. It was me who needed a bit more time.
He moved me in with him by Valentine’s Day and was planning our wedding by April. There were times when I thought I was crazy for jumping in with both feet, but Cole has never let me down. Not once. I know he never will.
“All set?” Cole asks.
I smile. “All set.”
He takes my hand and we head downstairs, where the party is already in full swing. People pull up to the house, while more mill around, spreading their flannel blankets by the big fire pit.
“Where’s our blanket?” I ask Cole.
He shakes his head. “I bought us chairs. Need my girl to be comfortable.”
I fall in love with Cole a little more every day. He shows me all the time how important I am to him. He’s always thinking about me, always taking care of me, and anticipates my needs before I do.
“This way.” Cole squeezes my hand and leads me to a pair of luxury camping chairs.
I raise an eyebrow at my husband.
He grins. “Only the best for my Princess.”
He helps me into my chair, and I groan as I sink into the thick cushions. Cole pushes on the armrest and back of the chair, and my feet rise as the footrest pops out.
“You really do think of everything,” I moan in appreciation.
Cole laughs. “Stay here. I’ll go get you a hot chocolate.”
“Thank you!” I call as he disappears to get me a drink.
“Hey!” Angel says, appearing in front of me.
I sit up, pushing to my feet so I can hug her. “Hey, yourself! How have you been?”
“Good. Really good,” she says with a soft smile, her eyes finding her husband, Grady, across the yard. “Look at you! You’re glowing.”
“I don’t know about that,” I snort. “It’s probably just sweat.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “It’s you. Pregnancy suits you.”
“Blair,” Ginger says, smiling as she joins us.
She wraps her arms around me, and I smile wider when I see her husband, Dallas, standing right behind her.
They always seem to be together, and I wonder whether Mary and Christopher taught the boys that when they were growing up.
All the men here seem to worship their wives, and I wonder if we’re just lucky or if it was something in the water around here.
“Have you seen Callie yet?” Ginger asks.
I shake my head. “Not yet. I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”
As if we summoned her, Callie and Nate head down the path toward us, their son, Danny, by their side.
“Here you go,” Cole says, passing me my hot chocolate.
“Thanks.”
I take a sip and relax as Cole wraps his arm around my waist, taking some of my weight. He looks so happy here, surrounded by family. I’ve asked if he wants to move to Montana, to Silver Bell Hollow, but he always says no. We’ve made a home for ourselves in Wolf Valley, and that’s where we’ll stay.
Cole ushers me back into my chair, and we spend the next hour and a half catching up with everyone before my eyes start to feel heavy. As if he can sense it, Cole stands and holds his hand out to me.
“Time for bed.”
“We could stay a little longer,” I argue.
He shakes his head. “You need your rest. Come on. We’ll see everyone tomorrow morning.”
“Fine,” I groan.
He laughs as he takes my hand and pulls me to my feet.
“Night, guys!” I say, waving to everyone.
A chorus of “nights” and “Merry Christmas” answers me.
I lean against Cole as he leads me inside and up to our room.
“I should take a shower,” I say through a yawn. “I smell like a campfire.”
“Come on. I’ll help you.”
“Mmm,” I hum, wiggling my eyebrows at him.
“Later,” he says, dropping a kiss on my nose.
I raise my arms, and he tugs my sweater over my head. I let him undress me, knowing he loves it.
“Love you,” I mumble, my eyes growing heavier as he turns on the shower.
“I know. I love you, too. More than anything.”
I lean against him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“Come on. Time to get you clean. Then maybe I’ll give you an early Christmas present.”
I perk up, and he laughs as we step into the shower.
“What kind of present?” I ask, hoping for a hint.
“A really, really good one.”
Then his lips land on mine, and I forget about the rest of the world as I get lost in my husband.
Yes, I think, as my husband caresses my body, it’s going to be a very merry Christmas indeed.