Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Addie finally calmed down enough to sleep and then slept in until almost ten. Her sleep schedule was completely out of whack. The rest of her felt out of whack too, especially her heart.
She and Price somehow made it through the day, being courteous and keeping their distance as best they could.
She shouldn’t have felt guilty for slapping him and yelling at him, but somehow she did.
It only made her angrier. She shouldn’t be the one feeling any guilt in this situation. Still, it pricked at her.
The day was spent working out at the Colevilles’ indoor gym, and then lunch at the main house with Easton, Cassie, Presley, Millie, and Jared.
Presley was delightful and helped distract from the tension between her and Price.
The adults all seemed to notice it, but not ‘Princess Presley’ as her dad and Price called her.
Presley called Price her ‘sir knight’. Price was far too cute with Presley.
Addie tried not to notice and let it soften her heart.
After lunch, they went on a horseback ride.
She loved it. She’d never been on a horse before and Cassie claimed she was a ‘natural’.
She didn’t know about that, but the views of the gorgeous ranch, pine trees, and mountains from the horse’s back were delightful.
She was almost able to ignore Price. If only he didn’t always seem to be looking at her.
They had a snowball fight with Easton, Cassie, and Presley in the snow forts Easton and Presley had made out front of their cabin. It was a lot of fun, and Addie let her guard down and laughed with Price like she hadn’t since before the bomb that took out her house and her heart.
Dinner with everybody was loud and fun. Sheriff Clint, his wife Lilly, and their adorable baby Cooper came.
Millie informed them the rest of the crew, except for Miles and Eva, would be there tomorrow night.
Millie could hardly wait for them to be part of their Christmas Eve celebrations.
Addie appreciated how welcoming the entire family was, especially Mama Millie.
She wished she could be at home and especially wished she didn’t have to be worried about how to keep her distance from Price, but this was an ideal Christmas situation and family.
She felt like she was in a Thomas Kincaid Christmas painting.
After dinner, they played board games and had cocoa and cookies.
Price kept giving her these searing looks that made her stomach flip over with hope that something was happening between them before she reminded herself that nothing could happen between them.
He was her bodyguard, not her boyfriend.
She said a silent prayer that Aiden could replace him after Christmas.
Only a couple more days. Maybe a Christmas miracle would happen and Aiden or the police would catch whoever had bombed her house and she could go back home.
To what home? She had no home on Cape Cod any longer.
Sheesh. That was depressing. She hadn’t thought much about all she’d lost, work, or what Gillian or anyone else was thinking.
The police said they’d inform her work and respond to texts she received that she was out of cell service for the holidays.
Sheriff Clint and Lilly took Cooper and headed home. It was obviously hard for Mama Millie to kiss the adorable little one goodbye. Easton, Cassie, and Presley said their goodbyes shortly after. Jared told them he’d follow Price and Addie to their cabin.
Addie gave Millie a hug, grateful for the loving and welcoming lady.
“I’m just thrilled that you and that handsome boyfriend of yours can be with us for this most special of holidays,” Millie said.
“Millie.” Addie shook her head and pulled back, her cheeks hot. She shot a quick glance at Price. He was giving her a beseeching look with those too-alluring dark eyes. “He’s not my boyfriend. He’s my bodyguard.”
“Oh, ha!” Millie grinned. “Do you know how many times I’ve watched bodyguards become boyfriends?” She winked and lowered her voice, leaning closer. “You can’t possibly be missing those killer looks he’s giving you with those dark eyes of his.”
Addie wasn’t missing those looks, but she had to get out of here before Millie said anything else. “Thank you again for dinner. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She rushed out the door, trying to slide into her coat with her gloves already on. Price caught her coat and helped her into it. His hands brushed her arms, and she was in so much trouble.
“Thanks,” she managed.
“Sure thing,” he said, his dark eyes inviting her to give him a chance.
She couldn’t.
They walked quietly home. Addie loved this magical winter wonderland and busied herself staring at the snow-covered trees, the quiet snowflakes falling down, the sting of cold on her cheeks.
Walking into the warm cabin, they thanked Jared and then Price shut the door. Addie hurried toward the stairs as Price deadbolted the door and set the alarm. Price didn’t stop her, and she was able to escape, get ready for bed, say her prayers, and lay down.
Sadly, she couldn’t sleep. Too stirred up by the anger and frustrations and worries. She was homeless and in extreme danger, but the only thing she could think about was all the longing looks Price kept sending her way with those ‘killer dark eyes’. Dang him.
Sliding out of bed, she rushed out of the master bedroom door and ran smack into Price.
“Whoa.” His arms slid around her lower back as he steadied her. “You all right?”
Addie was more than ‘all right’ in his arms, but she wasn’t ‘all right’, not at all. She wanted to lean into the strength of his chest and arms, inhale his sea salt and cedar scent and then arch up and kiss him …
“No!” she yelled, shocking her and him. “I am not all right. You have to stop.”
“Stop?” He arched an eyebrow.
Addie stepped back and his arms dropped to his side. “Stop giving me all these longing looks. Stop being so kind and great to be around. Stop making me want to kiss you and be with you.”
His eyes widened. “Addie,” he murmured, stepping back in.
He didn’t touch her, but his proximity and the heat from his body and his delicious scent all clouded her mind.
It reminded her of those first two encounters when they had eaten banana pudding but she had left after a few minutes.
He’d jumped in front of her and hadn’t touched her, but his presence had seemed to surround her.
“You want to kiss me?” he whispered.
“Yes!” The word ripped from her without her permission.
She’d forgotten how quickly Price could move. One second they were close but not actually touching. It wasn’t even a fraction of a second later he had his arms around her, lifting her up close to him, and his mouth was devouring hers.
Addie had never felt or experienced anything like this kiss. Price poured all the longing she’d seen in his eyes into this desperate frenzy of a kiss. She was completely lost in him, his touch, and his marvelous lips. She had never felt so needed, so desired, so loved.
The kiss took on a life of its own, and Addie knew she never wanted to leave Price’s arms or have his mouth release hers. He captivated her, body and soul. He was hungry for her and wanted her to stay close for the rest of their lives.
Finally, he slowed the kisses down and pulled back just a fraction. He rested his forehead against hers and cupped her face with his large palms. “Addie … I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
His words yanked her from the bliss of his all-encompassing and ravenous kiss to the stark reality of what was happening.
Price was her bodyguard and should never have kissed her.
This was actually the first time he’d kissed her.
The other times, she’d instigated and he’d responded magnificently, but this kiss had been a new level of joy and commitment.
Then he dared to apologize?
“No,” she gritted out, yanking away from him and running into the wall behind her. “Don’t you dare apologize to me. How could you? Kissing me like that, then saying you’re sorry? No!”
Addie whirled and ran into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. How could he? She paced the room, trying to calm down and trying to forget how incredible that kiss had been.
For him to say he was sorry… For what? Kissing her or everything else that had happened? Either way, it made her furious. Probably more furious if he was apologizing for kissing her but truly he had no right to kiss her. Things weren’t right between them, and she didn’t trust him.
Finally, she sank to her knees and prayed and prayed, trying to turn it all over to her Savior.
She was sick of all the anger stirring inside her.
She needed to figure out a way to forgive Price so she could let the anger go, but dating or kissing again wasn’t possible.
There was no way she could let him in and trust him again.
Not after the lies and betrayal of thinking he was interested when he was being paid to protect her.
Touching her mouth, she let out a groan of longing.
Never kissing Price again? That was one of the worst punishments she could imagine.