Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
All of Addie’s walls seemed firmly in place on Christmas Day. Price had almost kissed her last night. He longed to hold and kiss her but didn’t know that the privilege would ever be his again. He’d messed up and had no clue how to make things right between them.
Christmas Day was enjoyable, and the Coleville family made them feel welcomed.
Even though it was a leisurely day, with the exception of Presley ripping through her presents, the time seemed to rush by.
Before long it was just him and Addie in the cabin again.
She didn’t give him another chance to be alone but hurried up to bed.
The next morning, he knew their time together was trickling away.
A new operative would be sent their way soon, as per her request, or maybe the police or Ollie would figure out who the perp was.
Everything had been quiet, and he assumed everyone was focused on their own holiday, but now it felt like a pressing urgency was going to pull him and Addie apart.
Not that they were together like he’d like to be, but at least they were in close physical proximity.
If he got reassigned before he could fully explain to her and somehow gain her trust again, would he ever have a chance with her? He feared the answer was no.
She came out of her room as he was doing loops up the stairs and around the loft.
Before he could say anything, she asked, “Can we go use the Colevilles’ gym?
” She pointed to the snow falling outside.
“I assume walking or running might be miserable and I ate so many of those cookies and hand-dipped chocolates yesterday. Dang Mama Millie can bake.”
“And cook.” He smiled. “Almost as good as banana pudding.”
Her blue eyes got impossibly deep. He wanted to get lost in their depths. “Almost,” she whispered.
He edged toward her. Was this their moment?
“Give me one minute.” She whirled and raced back into the master suite.
Price let out a disappointed breath. Would he ever get his moment? He’d messed everything up, that he could acknowledge. Would she forgive him if she knew he was a failure at relationships and had never wanted to hurt her but had listened to her sister instead of his own instincts?
A few minutes later, they hurried to the gym through the falling snow.
Easton, Walker, and Rhett were there. The weight room was a little crowded with all five of them, but he couldn’t complain about being closer to Addie and any stolen time with her.
Why did he feel like each minute might be their last?
Aiden hadn’t called to tell them Price’s replacement was on his way.
The detectives hadn’t called telling him they’d found the perp, but there was a ticking clock in his head.
Easton and Rhett taunted each other throughout their weightlifting session, while Walker was more quiet. Addie seemed to find it all funny. Price was pushing a lot of weight on chest press with the angst going through him… and maybe showing off for Addie a little bit.
“Whoa,” Rhett exclaimed after he helped him out as his spotter. “I think you’re twice as tough as Easton. Do you want to go the rounds with him?” He tilted his head to the sparring ring.
Price would love to spar, but it hardly seemed a fair fight—soldier versus cowboy.
“Yes!” Easton cheered before he could respond. “Finally, a match worthy of my skills and strength.”
“I’d be happy to fight, but I have a lot more … experience,” Price said.
Price looked to Addie. She was staring at him with wide eyes. Did she want to watch him fight or would it disgust her?
“Don’t count on it,” Easton bragged. “I was trained by Papa Jared and could take down the likes of Aiden Porter.”
Price’s brows shot up and he looked to Rhett and Walker. “Does he have any idea how Aiden Porter fights?”
“Not in person, but we’ve watched videos. Easton’s full of a lot of hot air, but he has been well trained and has held his own with some special ops guys,” Rhett said. “We’ll stop the match if you thump him too bad.” He winked. “We don’t want Mama or Cassie coming after us.”
Walker nodded his agreement.
Price would stop before it got out of hand. He walked over to Addie. “I know you’ve experienced violence,” he said for only her to hear. “Will it trigger anything if I spar with him?”
“Has to get the lady’s approval,” Easton crowed, already taking his shirt off, grabbing the wrap, and shoving it at Walker. “Can you wrap my hands, bro?”
Price ignored him. He was focused on Addie.
“Will it be brutal? Like an MMA fight?” She worried her lip.
“No.” Price shook his head. “I’ll go easy on him.”
“Ha!” Easton interjected. “You’ll have to comfort your man tonight with lots of kisses, Addie. I’m going to destroy him.”
Addie didn’t protest that Price wasn’t ‘her man’. She smiled at Easton and then said in an undertone to Price, “Let’s see if you can hit him hard enough to stop his mouth.”
Walker and Rhett both busted up at that. Easton feigned injury. “Ah, that’s low, Addie. Everybody loves my mouth, especially Cassie.”
They all laughed.
“All right then.” Price’s excitement grew. Addie wanted to watch him fight. Would it soften her? A guy could hope, but using a mouthy bull rider for a punching bag might have the opposite effect.
Either way, he couldn’t wait to throw down and work out some pent-up frustration. Pulling his shirt off, he set it on a nearby bench. He straightened and looked to Addie. Her mouth was slightly open as her gaze trailed over his chest.
Easton strode up and chuckled at Addie. “Sheesh, Addie, have you never seen your specimen without his shirt on?”
“No,” she admitted in a quiet whisper.
“You can get your fill of checking him out while I use his body for a punching bag,” Easton told her, grinning widely. He clapped Price on the shoulder. “Do you have any other hobbies besides weightlifting, my friend?”
Price smiled at that. “One or two.”
“Pretty muscle doesn’t win fights,” Easton declared, winking at Addie.
“He gets my vote,” Addie said.
Easton hooted.
Price’s pulse took off. Forget sparring. If he’d known all he had to do to impress Addie was take his shirt off, he would’ve done it in the freezing cold.
Leading him away, Easton continued to taunt as he wrapped his hands.
“Don’t worry,” Easton said in an undertone. “I’ll give you a chance to look good before I finish you. Who knows? Maybe getting thumped will make her want to nurse you back to health.”
Price laughed. This wouldn’t be a fair fight, but it would be a lot of fun.
Even with the distraction of getting ready to spar and the hope of Addie being interested in him, that ticking clock in his head remained.