Heart of Christmas (Curiosity Bay #4)

12. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

MacGregor

Every part of my body tingled with excitement and a craving for her I hadn’t felt since that night. I hadn’t imagined it.

Our connection.

Our bond.

Everything from that night had been real, and as I held her in my arms, kissing her, I knew it had never been a figment of my imagination.

A little moan escaped her lips as my kisses increased with a fiery need and my hands roamed along her spine.

Audrey’s hand pushed along my neck, her nails tracing my skin, before her hand curled around to anchor me in place.

She didn’t want our kisses to end either.

The warmth of her lips made my entire body want every inch of her this second.

A high-pitched beep made her jump back, and I caught her before she hit the counter. Her eyes blinked open, and she scowled.

“Darn electricity,” she said, laughing and running her finger along her lips, our chemistry only intensifying.

“I could think of more choice words right now,” I teased, looking into her beautiful eyes. The flush of her cheeks warmed even more from our shared desires. “But I think I could do that forever.”

The lights blinked off and then on again as my confession lingered in the air between us.

She kept her eyes on me and nodded. “Me too.”

There was something about Audrey that just wholly unhinged me. All she had to do was look at me, and my heart pounded in my chest.

“Would you mind turning my Christmas tree lights back on? You have to step on that little red button they’re plugged into,” she said softly.

I noticed her chest rising and falling with each breath as if she were still trying to understand what had just happened.

Audrey flashed her gorgeous smile, and my heart skipped a beat as she stood in the kitchen, folding her arms over her chest.

“Absolutely,” I said, nodding and trying to follow her lead.

“Have you decorated your place yet?” she asked. “I remember you telling me how it’s such a big deal with your family. All the traditions and stuff.”

It was crazy to think Audrey and I had covered so much ground talking that night, but I suppose that was why we felt so comfortable sleeping together. It felt like there would be endless tomorrows.

I nodded, walked over to her Christmas tree, and found the plug with the button to step on. Her tree lit up, and I spun around to see her studying me, not the tree.

“I have the tree up but didn’t do much else. My brother is supposed to water it, but who knows if he’ll remember.” I scratched the scruff on my chin and nodded. “I’m surprised you remember me talking about my family and their obsession with Christmas.”

“Well, don’t they pay to light up the entire town and put up the town’s Christmas tree?” She giggled. “That’s kind of hard to forget. I mean, that’s dedication.”

“True.” I nodded, knowing my mom was probably counting the days until I returned to help with all the volunteer opportunities she signed her family up for. Whether making meals to deliver to seniors or collecting tags from the giving tree, my mom knew it took a village, especially during the holidays.

It just so happened her village happened to be her husband and sons.

A smile touched my lips as I thought about my family. I’d been one of the lucky ones and was grateful for it.

Seeing the love in Audrey’s dad’s eyes for his daughter told me she was also lucky. The wedding with Mae and Tyler had been full of strong familial bonds that were unbreakable. I’d felt that the night of Mae and Tyler’s wedding. That ceremony and reception celebrated them both. I knew Tyler’s home life hadn’t been that great, but I was happy to see he’d found the Evanses because everything Audrey had told me all those years ago appeared true.

“I have a confession,” she said, catching my eyes with hers.

“What’s that?”

“I was so disappointed this morning when I realized you’d left.” She took a drink of her latte.

Her words took me by surprise, and I smiled. “Are you sure it’s not the leftover wine talking?”

Audrey chuckled and rolled her eyes. “The first thing I did this morning was to open my drapes to see if your car was in the driveway.”

“So, you don’t regret giving this idiot shelter?”

Audrey smiled coyly. “You’re not an idiot. No regrets yet.” She shrugged. “Besides, it’s the holidays. We’re supposed to be giving.” She winked and turned around. “I’m hopping in the shower. I want to walk to town and enjoy the snowfall. Who knows how long I’ll have to wait until we get this much again.”

“Want any company?”

She stopped and turned around with huge eyes, and I realized she thought I meant in the shower.

I started laughing and shook my head. “I mean going to town. Not in the shower. What kind of mind do you have?”

“A very active one.” She narrowed her eyes on me, and I felt the thrill of being around Audrey again.

Who knew where that kiss might have led had the power not come back on?

But it did, and here we were.

“I’ll be out in a few minutes. Try not to get into any trouble.”

I grinned and glanced outside. “I’ll do my best.”

Audrey wandered down the hallway, and I let out a deep breath. The idea that the woman I’d fallen for so many years ago and hadn’t been able to shake for over a decade was in the shower tangled me in a way I hadn’t ever felt. The kiss between us had been unbelievable, all the chemistry and electricity zipping through us like before.

I shook my head and let out a happy groan. At least we weren’t mortal enemies at the moment. I looked around the room and calmed myself. Audrey’s family room was a cozy haven filled with Christmas spirit. Maybe that was why she’d had a change of heart. How could you be angry when Santa stared at you from six different directions?

The subtle scent of pine from her Christmas tree mingled with the lingering scent of the fireplace. It reminded me of my home back in Wyoming, where I used my log fireplace for heat almost daily.

Audrey had so carefully decorated this room that taking it in made me feel closer to her. She’d draped garland along the mantel and hung a few stockings. The glass ornaments twinkled on her tree. It was impossible not to feel the Christmas spirit in her house.

But with the snow falling outside and the holiday décor piled high inside, I still couldn’t shake that I’d be going home to Wyoming alone.

I didn’t know what I was hoping when I arrived at Tyler’s wedding, but I think some ridiculous part of me thought she might not have cared about that night we’d spent together. That maybe that was how she operated, and she’d see me at the wedding and think I might be a fun alternative for the weekend.

But the other part of me, the realistic one, knew there had been a reason she’d blocked me all those years ago.

I shook my head and sat on the couch with a thud. Despite the cheerful décor surrounding me, I couldn’t lie to myself and pretend I wanted to leave Marigold Island. Giddiness flooded me when I saw the ferry had been canceled until this evening. It felt like I’d won the time lottery.

Not that I could convince her of anything in a few more hours, but it was something.

I shifted on the couch and raised my hands behind my head, locking my fingers together as I thought about Audrey.

Unfortunately, my mind drifted to her taking a shower. I wasn’t going to go there.

It was challenging to allow myself to forget about Audrey naked a few rooms away. I thought about the gifts I’d hidden back at home and wondered if Jasper would like his new chew toy or if my brothers would like the new engraved belts I ordered. I wondered if my tree would be crunchy because my brother forgot to water it or…

I closed my eyes and groaned. It was no use. The more I tried to think about anything and everything but Audrey, the more persistent the thoughts became. My mind was playing a trick on me, taunting me with someone and something I couldn’t have.

I’d blown it years ago and had been so caught up in my ego and the thought that she’d left me that I never stopped to think about what things looked like from her perspective.

Waking up in an empty hotel room with no sign of the guy and a wad of cash left on the dresser wasn’t a good look.

The pit in my stomach deepened as I thought about it. It was such a ridiculous mess that impacted the rest of our lives.

It just went to show what a kind woman Audrey was. Even after all that, she saw that I was in a bit of a pickle and invited me into her home so I didn’t freeze to death.

I knew many women who would have disconnected the car battery when I wasn’t looking. But that wasn’t Audrey, and it never had been.

The images of Audrey from that night hit me hard, and my entire body responded despite my best intentions.

Hopefully, the brisk air and snow would zap me out of the merry-go-round of impossible fantasies.

“Okay. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” Audrey’s voice surprised me as she bounced into the family room. Her dark hair had been pulled into a loose braid under her red and white knit cap that matched a red sweater she wore over her jeans. Audrey looked sensational, but a wry frown slipped onto her expression. “Why are you so flushed-looking?”

I laughed and shook my head. “I’m not flushed. I’m probably just hot sitting in front of the fireplace.”

“The flames have almost died out,” she said with her lips turning into a grin.

I took a sip of my drink, which was almost cold. “It’s just the hot drink.”

“Okay, buddy.” She turned around and headed to the kitchen. “Whatever you say.”

Chuckling, I stood and walked over to her as she slipped her phone into her back pocket. “What do you think made me flush?”

“I’ve got a few ideas.” She took a step closer, and her eyes landed on my lips.

My pulse raced as I thought about kissing her again.

But as quickly as her eyes fell to my mouth, she turned around and headed out of the kitchen. “Do you have any gloves?”

I followed her down the hall. “No. I didn’t expect it to snow here.”

“Weren’t you in the Boy Scouts? Did you not learn anything?” she joked, opening her closet and handing me a spare pair of men’s gloves.

I frowned at the navy gloves, and she giggled. “They’re my brother’s gloves.”

I laughed and slipped them on. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t have to.”

I put on my coat, zipped it up, and followed her outside, knowing it would be my last day with Audrey Evans, and I would make it the best.