Just as my mouth parts, ready to give in and welcome Noelle in for a taste, she pulls back.
“On second thought, you’re right. I think hooking up is a terrible idea.” A groan escapes me as she withdraws her hand from my cock, and climbs off me. She moves back to her side of the bed, propping up her ankle, before shutting off the light. “Good night, cowboy.”
I’m left staring into the dark, half convinced I must have imagined that. The woman just made me almost whimper like a damn dog begging for its favorite bone.
That’s when it hits me, sitting in the silence, how close I came to giving in. There’s no denying that Noelle has occupied my every waking thought since she got here. Fuck, she’s plagued my dreams too. Trouble is, she’s given no indication she plans to stay beyond the day after Christmas. To her, this is just a vacation, an escape from her usual routine. I’m merely a noveltyshe doesn’t have in the city, and within a few days she’s prepared to pack her suitcase and leave without a second glance.
She’s unforgettable, and giving in would mean losing myself to her completely. It would cost me someone else who’s important to me, but this time, I’m not sure I’d survive it.
It should be as simple as restraining myself. The problem is Noelle is addictive as hell, and I’m running out of willpower to resist claiming every inch of her when she begs for every dirty thing I want to teach her.
A Little Jealousy Might Do Him Good
TWO DAYS LATER
Shep has been an attentive caregiver for the past couple of days. He’s made sure I take painkillers at regular intervals, kept my leg elevated, and cooked all of our meals. Luckily, my ankle has healed quickly, and as of this morning I was able to walk on it without hurting.
The downside of being holed up for two extra days is that Shep’s kept his word about not kissing me—let alone doing anything else. It wouldn’t be so challenging if we weren’t together practically all day and night. He’s let me tag along to visit the animals and hang out in his woodshop.
The only time we’ve been apart was this afternoon when he was putting the last touches on the rocking chair while I responded to a flood of emails. I decided to tackle as many as I could so Gemma wouldn’t be overwhelmed when she returns from vacation after the holidays. Not to my surprise there were multiple emails from CoreFuel Labs, the health and wellnessadvertiser that’s been giving us grief about taking time off from posting new podcast episodes.
Between the bad weather and my ankle, I haven’t had a chance to edit the prerecorded episodes I planned to post through the end of the year. I explained the situation and let them know my next video will go up a couple of days after Christmas. It was a difficult decision to make considering I’m a chronic people pleaser and don’t like letting anyone down, especially where business is concerned. But in this instance, I had to prioritize myself, and that meant making the most of my time with Shep.
The mountain road was finally plowed this morning, and with the weather cleared up, he surprised me by taking me into town.
“What do you think of Pine Haven?” Shep asks from the driver’s seat.
It’s dark as we drive, Main Street glowing under strings of twinkling white lights draped from the lampposts. Every shop window is dressed for the season with holiday murals, and each door has a wreath with red velvet bows. In the middle of the town square, a towering pine tree is decorated with rope garland, hand-painted wooden horseshoes, cowboy boots, and deer, and topped with a matching star. It’s nearly the size of the one in Rockefeller Center—an impressive feat for a small town in Arizona.
I press my nose against the glass to get a better look. “It’s so pretty. The Western theme for the tree is so fitting, and those ornaments are stunning.”
“The city council picked the theme, but I made them,” Shep tells me.
I spin to face him, my mouth falling open in surprise. It’s no secret he’s a master woodworker, but I didn’t anticipate him investing his talent into a project for a holiday he’s not fond of.
“You madeallthose?” I motion to the tree now in the rearview mirror. “There has to be at least fifty.”
His eyes remain fixed on the road ahead. “Actually, there’s a hundred and twenty. The mayor wanted forty of each for some reason.”
“Wow.” I let out a low whistle. “You must keep busy with your woodworking business.”
He shakes his head. “Nah, I mostly make things for folks in town, free of charge.”
Shep owns the local honky-tonk, but I assume the margins are low in such a small town. I’m sure he could make more selling his furniture, so why skip out on a big payday?
“My parents were close with the mayor and the city council, so it’s a good way to give back to the community in their honor,” he explains, running his fingers along his mustache. “For me, woodworking isn’t about the money—it’s about doing work I love, and it’s even better when it’s for someone who appreciates it.”
I’m floored by his generosity. He keeps to himself on the mountain, hiding behind an indifferent front, yet underneath, he’s a man who serves others unconditionally. I think back over the past few days. Not once has he hinted that I owe him for letting me stay. If anything, he’s gone out of his way to look after me because he genuinely cares. Even at his grumpiest, he’s never been outright cruel or criticized me for the mistakes that led me to his cabin.
At the edge of town, we pull into a full parking lot next to a large barn. Cedar hitching posts line the porch, and neon cactus and boots hang above a metal sign that saysHigh Noon. There’s even a Christmas tree at the entrance strung with colorful lights, silver tinsel, and the same wooden ornaments as the tree in town, but on a smaller scale.
“You make those too?” I tease.
“I was strong-armed into that project,” Shep mutters. “Casey’s wife was set on having a tree out front even though I reminded her that people come for the drinks and live music, not holiday displays.”
“Hate to break it to you, but she’s right, cowboy.” I lean over, giving his arm a nudge. “It’s nice to see it, especially for those far from home and yearning for Christmas cheer.”
I was hoping we’d get to town before the shops closed so I could find a few decorations for the cabin, but Shep was busy in his workshop finishing Casey’s rocking chair.
