Sweet Christmas Kisses (84 page)

“No, thanks. I’m done.” It was time to end his self-destructive pattern with Harper. This time he wasn’t going to give up. At least not without a fight.

Cole paid the bartender, then raced back to the suite. He didn't bother to knock, yet when he entered, he found Harper’s suitcase by the door, but no sight of her. After quickly checking the bedroom and the bathroom, he went into the living room and saw that the French doors were slightly ajar. It was then that he saw Harper out on the balcony. She had her back to him and didn't seem to hear him approach.

He slipped off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders. “You must be freezing.”

She shrugged. “I hadn’t noticed.”

“Come on.” He took hold of her hand. “We need to talk.”

She looked up at him, her eyes devoid of emotion. “About what? I said all I needed to say.”

“Well, I haven’t, and I’m not about to out here in the cold. So let’s go inside.”

Once they were seated on the couch, he went on to explain, “You were wrong about me. About everything. You’ve always been the only one for me. Why the heck do you think I dated so many women? Hoping to get over you, that’s why. But it didn't work. I’ve always wished I would have done things differently when we were kids, but I didn’t, and I can’t go back in time and change that. However, I can do things differently now. That girl in the bar was just a girl in the bar. I didn’t hit on her, I swear to you. Want to know what I was saying to her when you spotted me sitting next to her? I was telling her how much I wanted you to be my girlfriend.”

He studied Harper’s face, still unable to get a read on her emotions. “I’ve been waiting ten years for this chance with you. Do you really think I would blow it?” He took her cold hands between his warm ones. “I promise I’ll never lie to you or give you a reason to doubt me again.”

This time when she looked at him, a flicker of hope registered in her eyes.

“I mean it, Harper. I'll fight for you, for us, no matter how long it takes.” Sensing her resistance was lowering, he pulled her into his arms. “I never stopped wanting you,” he whispered against her cheek.

She stared at him with her eyes open wide. “Really?”

“Really.”

“I hate to think of all the time we’ve wasted,” she said softly.

He brushed his lips against hers and said, “That’s in the past. From now on, we’re not going to waste a second.” Then he kissed her deeply and passionately. When their lips parted, he asked, “Ready to go back to the dance?”

She smiled shyly, but there was a twinkle in her eyes he hadn’t seen before. “Not really. I’d rather just stay here and spend the evening alone with you.”

He grinned. “That’s exactly what I hoped you would say.”

“Good. Then come on. We have lots to make up for.” She took his hand and led him toward the bedroom.

Apparently, tonight he wasn’t going to have to sleep on the sofa bed. And that made Cole a very happy guy.

****

Harper sat on the edge of the bed humming “Jingle Bells” as she laced up her favorite calfskin combat boots.

“You’re in a good mood this morning.” Cole came out of the bathroom, smelling of men’s cologne. The aroma was earthy and spicy and utterly delicious.

Watching him button up his shirt, she couldn’t help but admire his muscular biceps and six-pack abs. “Why wouldn’t I be? Last night was amazing.”

He walked up to her and kissed the side of her neck. “You’re amazing. So much so that I think you might have broken me of my bachelor ways.”

She raised a brow at him. “Is that so?”

Cole placed his hands on her knees and looked straight into her eyes. “Yep. I’m afraid I’m a one-woman man now.”

She leaned toward him. “Are you sure you won’t get bored?”

A wide smile lit his handsome face. “With you? Never. That’s not possible.”

Her heart sang with delight. “Good. Because I’m not about to let you go.”

He pulled her up onto her feet, then wrapped his arms around her waist. “Anything you’d like to do before we head back to Brookfield?”

She held a finger to her chin as she thought. “I’d like to go see those ice sculptures that I missed out on the other night when I fell asleep during the sleigh ride.”

Cole grinned. “I think I can arrange that.”

Harper finished packing, then set her suitcase in the hall beside Cole’s duffel bag. She took one last look around the suite to make sure neither of them had forgotten anything. Once satisfied they hadn’t, she grabbed her purse off the seat of the wingback chair and slipped the strap over her shoulder.

Cole was standing in front of the French doors, watching the skiers come down the mountain. He turned to look at her as she came up behind him. “I’m ready when you are.”

“I’m all set. Let’s check out,” Harper replied gaily. But there was something about his tight-set jaw that made her grip his upper arm and ask, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, of course. I was just thinking how quickly these few days went by and wishing we could’ve spent more time here.”

She squeezed his arm. “We’ll come back.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.” His gaze raked boldly over her.

She knew he was thinking of last night, and that filled her with happiness. Her mouth covered his, and she kissed him hungrily to show him she meant it when she said they’d come back.

It wasn’t until she returned the keys at the front desk that her chest tightened, and she too felt a pang of sadness at leaving. When she’d asked Cole to take Jeffrey’s place, she never in a million years imagined the trip would turn out the way it had. She’d hoped for a nice Christmas. That was all. Instead, she had the best Christmas of her life. Except now it was over, and they were headed back to Brookfield, and that annoying warning voice was starting to rear its ugly head. Could this time with Cole have been too good to be true? Would he revert back to his old ways once they were home?

Harper knew she had to stop with these doubts, or she would drive herself crazy. There was no way to predict the future. She had to enjoy each day, and right now, things with Cole were about as good as they could be.

She slid her hand in his, and as they walked out to the car, a light, puffy snow began to fall. It shouldn’t make driving difficult, but the tree branches coated in snow would make the ride back a beautiful one.

The park with the ice sculptures was only about five minutes away. Once Cole pulled his Volvo through the entrance, they were surrounded by a magical wonderland. There were sculptures of Santa and Mrs. Clause, of course, a variety of Disney characters, angels with huge wings that shimmered like crystals, and a massive Grinch that had to be at least ten feet tall.

Harper oohed and aahed like a child. She was glad now that she’d fallen asleep in the sleigh so she could view this magnificent artwork alone with Cole. And he seemed to get a kick out of her reactions, because she’d never heard him laugh so hard before.

After they’d driven through the entire maze of characters, Cole pulled off to the side of the road and put the car in Park. “You never cease to amaze me,” he said, taking her in his arms. “You’re the smartest, most talented woman I’ve ever known. Yet there’s this childlike quality to you that you show without embarrassment. I love it. And I love you.”

Her heart thundered. “What did you say?” She’d heard him clearly the first time, but she wanted to hear those three delicious words again.

“I love you, Harper Malone. I’ve never said that to anyone before. And I don’t plan on saying it to anyone in the future. Except to you.”

“Good. You’d better not. Because I love you, Cole Underwood.”

He kissed her gently and held her against him. They sat like that for a long time. Not talking—there was no need for words. The only sound was the low hum of the engine and the steady, dull
thump, thump, thump
of the windshield wipers Cole had left on to remove the snow.

When a car pulled up behind them and they realized it was a police car, they giggled like a couple of high school kids who were about to get caught parking. Cole lowered the window for the officer, whose face turned red when he saw they were a far cry from sixteen or seventeen years old.

“Sorry to have bothered you folks.”

Cole smiled. “No problem. We were just about to leave anyway.”

“Well, merry Christmas.” The officer waved as he walked back to his cruiser.

“It is indeed,” Cole replied before putting the window back up.

****

Harper was surprised to see Ashley’s car in her driveway when they arrived at the house. They’d gotten back much later than she’d expected, having stopped for lunch after leaving the park. It was after three o’clock, and she thought Ashley would have brought Riley back in the morning. She hoped everything was okay.

Cole patted her leg, and as if he’d read her mind said, “Don’t worry. I’m sure Riley’s fine.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right. There could be lots of reasons why Ashley is still here.” But Harper’s words didn’t assure Cole she really believed that, because he was out of the car before she was. The two of them raced up the driveway and plowed into the house.

On the couch in the living room, between Ashley and her seven-year-old son, Brian, lay Riley, chewing a bone.

“Are you two still fighting?” Ashley asked, looking from Cole to Harper. “The way you guys barreled in here nearly gave me a heart attack.

“We, um…” Harper searched for words, not wanting to sound like a nervous Nelly.

“I just hope you were able to enjoy some of the trip and that Christmas wasn’t a disaster.” Ashley’s gaze was directed at Cole.

“Best Christmas ever.” He flashed his sister a dazzling smile.

“Really?” She lifted her brows at him, then looked over at Harper. “And how was yours?”

“Fabulous.” Harper sent her a wide smile too. “I think we might have started a new tradition—Christmas at Green Mountain Lodge. Only from now on, we’ll stay longer than a few days. We’ll make it more like a week.”

“Absolutely.” Cole draped his arm casually across her shoulders.

Wrinkles furrowed Ashley’s forehead. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you two were a couple.”

“And you’d be correct.” A smoldering flame lit Cole’s dark eyes to a deep golden amber.

Ashley slapped the arm of the couch. “I knew it. I knew if you guys spent some time alone together, you’d work things out. I never had any doubt you belonged together.” Riley licked the side of her face, then rolled over onto his side, resting his big head in Brian’s lap. “Looks like he’s excited too.” She laughed.

“And fickle,” Cole added. “Looks like he forgot his owner.”

Harper scowled at him. “A son never forgets his mother,” she quipped.

“Now you’re really going overboard with that dog.”

Ashley got off the couch and took hold of Brian’s hand. “Come on, time to go home. Once these two get going, there’s no stopping them. They can bicker for hours.”

“But, Mama, I don’t want to leave Riley,” the young boy moaned as he hugged the dog’s neck.

“That’s why we’re still here. I told Brian he could play with Riley until you got home. They’ve been inseparable.” Ashley ruffled her son’s hair.

Cole smirked at Harper. “Maybe you should let my nephew take Riley home. Looks like the dog’s forgotten you anyway.”

“Can I, Mama, can I?” Brian tugged at her hand.

Ashley shot Cole a dirty look. “Don’t tease my son. That’s mean.”

“Whaaat?” Cole laughed. “I was just playing around. Besides, Harper and I can always have another son.”

Now it was Harper’s turn to say, “Whaaat? You mean get another dog? No dog could ever take Riley’s place.”

“I know that. I meant have a
son
.”

“Whoa!” Ashley threw her hands up in the air. “Things are getting a little out of control here. Can we please have a wedding first?” She chuckled.

“Absolutely,” Harper and Cole said in unison.

Riley dove off the couch as if he knew all the excitement occurred because of him and trotted over to Harper, his tail thumping against her leg.

“Ha, I knew there was no way you’d ever forget me, boy.” She leaned over and kissed Riley’s head.

Cole’s eyes twinkled devilishly. “Well, I’m not opposed to having two kids. The more the merrier.”

Harper’s heart swelled with joy, and she wrapped her arms around him, sandwiching the dog between them. “Let’s take things one step at a time, shall we?”

THE END

Bestselling author Raine English began her career as a journalist, but writing romance novels was her passion. Her stories have won many awards, including finalling in the Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® and winning the Daphne du Maurier Award. Along with small-town sweet contemporary romance, she enjoys writing paranormal and Gothic historical novels and novellas. She lives in New England with her family and two dogs. Visit her website at
www.RaineEnglish.com
 for information on all her releases.

Aileen Fish