Page 148 of Thaw My Heart

“We haven’t talked much about the future except that you don’t want to marry me,” I smirk, and her eyes fall to the bed. “But I can give you a home. A place where you feel safe, if that’s all you’ll allow me.”

“That’s a very big gift, Cowboy,” she softly smiles with glassy eyes, placing a hand on my chest. “The best gift I’ve ever received.”

“Good,” I smile.

She pauses, biting her bottom lip. “But maybe someday I could allow you more. If you still want it,” she adds, as if she thinks my feelings for her would ever change.

“I’ll be waiting,” I confirm.

It’s officially Christmas Eve, and the ranch is covered in a thick blanket of snow. It’s been five days since the accident, and everyone is healing up quite well. Kit has a swirl of scars running from his forearm to his shoulder, almost resembling the flames that he survived. Most of which, the doctor thinks will fade except the one on his forearm, which got the worst of it. But at least he’s not in any pain. At least none he complains about.

Every time I look at it, I’m reminded of how much he cares about me. Of just how much he would sacrifice for me. I never thought I’d find someone who loved me so much.

We find ourselves getting ready for the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Aspen Hollow. An event I never thought Kit would want to attend, considering that he hated Christmas—and for a good reason—but he insisted that everyone was going, and so we should too.

But I feel like he’s up to something.

My hair is half-up in a gold ribbon, with boot-cut jeans paired with my blue cowboy boots and a cute vintage sweater to match.

Kit walks out of the room wearing jeans, a blue flannel jacket with a navy hoodie underneath, and the ballcap that I bought for him. His “cowboy hat” that still makes me smile.

He holds out a small bag towards me, with a big smile on his face.

“What’s this?”

He pushes it towards me. “Early Christmas present.”

“And you can’t wait just one more day?”

He glances at the gift bag, shaking his head. Anticipation highlights the pretty blue of his eyes, sparkling in the cool afternoon light streaming in through the window.

With a sigh, I take the bag, opening it up to find a light blue ballcap tucked underneath sparkly tissue paper. The words Cowgirl to His Cowboy are embroidered in navy. Happy tears fill my eyes before I know what’s happening.

“Oh shit. You hate it.” Devastation crosses his face.

“No!” I wipe away tears. “No, I just… I didn’t know receiving a hat would be so emotional.” Fuck, I’m sobbing. “I love it. It’s perfect.” I pull it on my head, not even caring that it messes up my ribbon look. “How does it look?”

He smirks, wiping away stray tears from my cheek. “Like I need you on your knees.”

Heat rushes to my thighs. “My knees?”

He smirks, pulling me into the bedroom. I’m happily choking on it before my next breath.

Half of Main Street is closed off, as well as a few side streets, and the main square is full of people wearing festive colors, Santa hats, and reindeer horns as they gather around the massive Christmas tree. There are carts selling sweet treats, hot cocoa, handmade gifts made by the locals, a small band playing jazzy Christmas music, and there’s even a booth set up to take pictures with Santa.

It’s all together everything that would normally set Kit on edge, and yet, he’s holding my hand steady, with a confident smile on his handsome face. Striding through the festive madness with an unflinching gaze. I can’t help but stare at him in wonder.

“What?” he asks.

“How are you not panicking about all of this?” As great as things are between us, his past trauma didn’t just disappear. His hate for Christmas didn’t just dissolve. “I mean, I know all of this makes you uncomfortable. You don’t have to pretend with me.”

“I’m not pretending,” he defends with a soft smile. “Truly,” he adds after I give him a disbelieving look. “Look, after the past couple of weeks, Sadie, this doesn’t feel that scary.”

Well, he does have a point.

There was the cow theft. Markus. The main barn going up in flames. Our overnight hospital stay. Yup, there’s been way too much horror in our lives lately. Being surrounded by a Christmas wonderland is a nice change of pace.

“Besides, with you standing next to me, it’s not the worst thing in the world,” he smiles, squeezing my hand.