Winter Falls (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 21

twenty-one

He must have been so deep in thought when I first came into the pantry. I wanted to ask him if everything was OK, but I didn't. That emotion I felt for him earlier, shame, sadness, and a sense of concern. I couldn't pin it as feeling sorry for him, because I didn't. It was something else.

As if I was feeling his pain and I wanted to take it away from him.

He’d suffered enough, and I even went deeper into believing he had sacrificed too much when he was young. Although I didn't understand it back then, I certainly did now.

I stepped into the room, our eyes locked. He didn't say anything, but turned to face me, one hand still resting on the shelf. I walked over to him, reached up and placed my hands on either side of his face, I couldn't have been more surprised by my action. He on the other hand he didn’t seem to be and subtly leaned into my palm.

We were quiet. I looked up into his eyes, and tears welled in mine. What was it about this man that moved me so deeply?

I rose up on my toes and pulled his head down. I kissed him on the cheek, my lips soft against his skin now prickly with late afternoon stubble.

The sound that came from him was almost one of pain. I wanted to draw out all of his pain, and leave him empty of it. Amos melted into me; maybe for once he could be free of it. It might last, or it might not, but right here and right now I could do this for him.

I didn't remember what he was like before the accident. Only that it had changed him.

His arms snaked around my waist and he turned his head. Our breath mingled, and we still never said a word. Just looked at each other, and I wished for him to gain some sort of comfort from me. I slid my hands behind his neck and clasped my fingers together.

He yanked me tight to him, flush against his chest, and my body instantly molded to his. It was my turn to let out a shaky sigh.

Then his mouth was on mine, gentle at first as if tasting, testing, exploring, nudging my lips apart, and when I responded, he took my breath away with the sudden intensity of his passion.

He swept me into his powerful arms, mine gripping his shoulders. I breathed him in, his scent, woodsy and wild, filled me and our kiss deepened. Our mouths fused. When his tongue found mine, instantly I was afire. Desire barreled through me and I held onto him to keep from crumpling to the floor.

I'd never been kissed with such wild abandon before and I wanted more. This man…this man that had once been an enigma from my childhood, brought me to life all these years later and woke a fire in me I never knew existed.

I clung to him, wanting to crawl inside him and stay there forever.

Amos was incredulous at this turn of events. Holly was in his arms, clinging to him, kissing him back and he held her tight. Once she was in his arms, he knew he’d never realized just how much he needed her to be and wasn't about to let her go.

Her response spurred him on, all thought faded, and her body pressed to his felt so absolutely right. She fit into him, like a key in a lock. The sensation of her pressed to him roused more emotion than he’d felt in so long. He hung to it, not wanting to lose it.

Blood rushed through his veins and settled low in his hips. He ran his hand down her spine and splayed his fingers over the small of her back, pressing her closer to him. His need for her was growing to a fever pitch.

But this wasn't the right place or the right time.

He slowly lightened his kiss on her, but not his hold, keeping her tight.

Somebody could come in here at any time and then there would be questions, none of which he could answer. Their lips played gently, lightly caressing, which slowly eased them from the power of the kiss.

She was breathing hard, as was he, and when their gaze met he saw in hers a rawness, honesty, and he knew something had changed between them.

The sound of children's voices and the barking of a dog made them jump apart. She must be worried about the same thing he was. Being discovered. She ran her fingers through her hair, taming it from the tangle of his fingers. He couldn't pull his gaze from her, nor could he form words.

After a brief hesitation, he was about to reach out to her, but she took the nearest thing off the shelf and walked out of the pantry, leaving him standing there feeling useless and empty.

He forgot what he’d come in for and then remembered, coffee. He grabbed a can and took it out into the kitchen. Holly was gone. And he realized that they'd not said a word to each other.

The group of children descended on the kitchen, likely looking for food, so he went to the cupboard to see what snacks there were.

Mrs. Carter did not fail him. It was full of chips, pretzels, popcorn, store-bought cookies, and before taking them from the cupboard, he turned to the kids. They screeched to a halt.

"You're the guy that drove the horses, aren't you?" one little girl asked.

"That was me. Do you like horses?"

"I love horses," she told him, and he imagined her as a fine equestrian in a few years.

"Later on we have to put the horses to bed." Their eyes all opened wide. "And if your parents say it's okay, if you'd like to come and help feed them, that would be fine with me."

"You have to put them to bed? Like we get put to bed?" a little boy asked.

"We sure do, we have to make sure they have everything they need for the night and that their stalls are clean and cozy," he explained, enjoying himself.

"Do they have to brush their teeth?" the little girl asked.

Amos laughed, a big belly laugh. All the children laughed along with him. Just as he was about to explain, two women came in looking a bit frantic.

"There you are. You mustn't wander around the house." She looked at me and mouthed sorry .

Mom looked a bit angry and he was quick to assure her things were fine.

"Mommy, he said if you said I could, he would take me to the barn later to put the horses to bed. Can I? Oh, please, please," the girl begged her mother.

"Only if Mr. Winter says it's fine. Mandy, you have to listen to him when you're in the barn. No fooling around out there."

"Your mother is right, Mandy. No fooling around in the barn." He pointed to the snacks. "I was just going to put some out if it's fine with you moms."

"I really do hate to ask this, but you mentioned earlier about the kitchen and the food. I'd like to make a little something for the kids, sandwiches, and what all," the other mom asked. "I'm Karen, by the way."

"Nice to meet you, Karen, Mandy and the rest of your kids." He looked at Mandy's mom.

"Jenny," she said.

"Yes, help yourself. Just dig around until you find what you need. There's a pantry in the back," he said and hitched his thumb behind him. "And big freezers. They're full of all sorts of things, and feel free to take anything out you'd like to use.”

"I bet this wasn't on your bingo card for today, was it?" Karen said with a smile.

"No, it wasn't. But I've learned that you have to roll with it, go with the flow because you never know what's coming around the next bend. Now if you’ll excuse me, I wanna get this bad boy brewing." He carried the coffee and urn to the sink, leaving the moms to take care of their kids.

As he filled up the percolator and poured coffee in the basket, the sound of their voices filled the house, and made it seem much less empty.

The best place for the coffee percolator was on the counter at the end of the kitchen with ceiling height windows that had a gorgeous view. Right now, it was a wall of snow.

It would be out of the way of the kids, but accessible for anyone else who wanted a jolt. He plugged it in, and in no time, it was hissing and bubbling, and the aroma of coffee filled the kitchen.

He smiled, hearing all the voices and laughter coming from the great room and the sound of children's feet as they ran around in the front hall, Ellie's puppy barks and deep woofs from Jack. It had been quiet for far too long, with only him most of the time and lately Asher, and the happy sounds of other people was a welcome change.

Would the house ever be full again once this blizzard was over?