I chuckle, admiring his persistence, though still set on declining his offer.
I open my mouth to say so, but my gaze lands on Casey, who is juggling drinks for a group of giggling women in short skirts and heeled boots. He stops mid-pour when he sees me with my new friend, shaking his head as if warning me how Shep will react when he returns.
He shouldn’t be concerned. Shep’s made it clear that our kiss and the dry-humping incident were both one-offs. So it shouldn’t matter if I dance with another man, right?
Even I know that’s bullshit. He might restrain himself, but he’d still get possessive if another man made a move, especially if I encouraged it. A playful smirk spreads across my face as the thought sets my gears spinning, plotting to finally break his resolve.
I turn to the guy still waiting. “On second thought, I think I will take you up on that dance.”
What’s the harm in making my grumpy cowboy jealous?
I thought he would have given in to the undeniable chemistry between us after that first night we shared a bed—but he hasn’t. I’m not sure if it’s because of our age difference, my impending departure or our opposite personalities. He’s stubborn as a mule, and it’ll take nothing short of a shove in the right direction to make him stop denying the fire burning between us.
Casey frantically signals for me to join him at the bar, but I wave him off. I’m not about to let him derail my mission. Maybe if he gets flustered enough, he’ll fetch Shep for me.
“Good choice, sweet thing,” the stranger says.
It’s really not, but I couldn’t be more ecstatic about it.
As he puts his hand on my lower waist and guides me to the dance floor, I catch a glimpse of Casey rushing toward the hallway leading to what I assume is Shep’s office.
It won’t be long now.
All I Want For Christmas Is His Two Front Teeth
I’m reviewing a new whiskey supplier proposal when my door flies open and Casey barrels in.
“Boss, you might want to co—”
“I put the rocking chair in your office,” I say without looking up. “Once the baby arrives, I’ll stop by and engrave the name on the headrest.” I pause, flipping to the next page of the document I’m reviewing. “Let Noelle know I’ll be right out. I’m just finishing up.”
I don’t plan on stopping by High Noon again until after the new year. I’ve got far more pressing matters demanding my attention. Christmas is only three days away, and Noelle’s flight back to New York is soon after, leaving little time for a holiday miracle. She’s been a good sport about staying in a cabin without decorations or twinkling lights, but I’ll be damned if she doesn’t get the Christmas she’s been wishing for. I push aside thethought that by this time next week, she’ll be gone for good. All I can do is give her fond memories to take with her.
I blow out an exasperated sigh when I notice Casey is still standing in the doorway.
“What is it?” I glance up to find him staring at me with wide eyes.
“You might want to get back out on the floor to check on yourfriend,” he suggests with a smug smile.
I shove my chair back and stand, tension coiling in my shoulders. “What’s wrong? Is Noelle hurt?” I curse myself for not making her come back here with me.
Casey rubs the back of his neck, giving his head a small shake. “It’s nothing like that, man.”
I narrow my eyes. “Then what the hell is going on? Where is she?”
“On the dance floor,” he says nonchalantly.
I grit my teeth, unable to hide the suspicion creeping in. “With who?”
“A handsome fella from town asked her to dance.”
Of course, someone asked her. The woman’s a fucking vision.
“And you didn’t step in?” My tone edges toward panic as I move across the room. “What happened to keeping an eye on her?”
“We got busy, and I was helping the bar staff while Noelle watched the band from the side near the stage. But y’all are just friends, so her dancing with another man ain’t a big deal, right?” He hooks his thumbs in his belt loops and rocks back on his heels, shooting me a smirk.
When he asked me who Noelle was earlier, it caught me off guard. I didn’t miss the hurt flicker in her eyes when I said she was a friend. What I feel for her is far more complicated, and I wasn’t sure how to explain it to someone else when I can’t even put it into words myself. I’ve spent all my energy resisting themagnetic draw toward her and haven’t confronted the reality of how much I want her.
