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“That’s completely unsafe,” Tyson says as he steps inside, locking the door behind him. “Please keep your door locked. You never know when there’s a madman on the loose.”
I roll my eyes. “Is it you? Are you the madman?”
He crosses the room and sweeps me into a hug. “Maybe I am.”
He kisses me, starting at my forehead and moving to my cheek, then my jaw, and below my ear, then my neck, and finally my lips. I lean into him, pressing my body against his until every inch of us is tangled together.
“I brought you something.” He pulls his arm from behind his back and holds out a slender box tied in a Robin’s egg blue ribbon.
I tug gently on his beard, pulling him down for one more kiss before I take the box from his hand. “You didn’t need to bring me anything, Tyson.”
“I wanted to.” He smiles, waiting for me to unwrap the gift.
I slide the ribbon from the end of the box and I lift the lid. “Tyson!” I gasp.
It’s a delicate silver bracelet, each link inset with a tiny jewel in a rainbow of colors. He watches my face, studying my reaction.
“It’s stunning, and way, way too much. Thank you.” I run my finger over the jewels.
“May I?” He lifts the bracelet from the box and loops it around my wrist, clipping it into place. “It suits you.”
I hold my wrist up to catch the light and watch the gems sparkle. “It does.”
I leap into his arms and kiss him all over his face. He holds me up, hands cupping my bottom, and laughs. “If you keep that up, we’re going to be late.”
“I don’t think you’ll mind,” I say, nibbling at his lower lip.
He carries me toward the door. “I wouldn’t. But I do want to take you out. Grab your coat. You’ll want gloves and a hat, too.”
When he sets me down, I pull on the required winter gear and follow him out, lacing my fingers through his. He opens the passenger door of the magnificent eggplant colored Bentley and I slide in, the leather seat soft as butter beneath me. The car purrs as he starts it, the engine revving with the sound of power, much like the deep rumble of his voice.
“So, where are we going?” I ask, turning to face him.
He smiles crookedly, not taking his eyes off the road. “Wait and see. It’s not far.”
Ten minutes later we pull into a parking lot. Tyson gets out and comes around to my side to open my door, offering me his arm as I climb out from the low car. It’s a park, a winter wonderland in the snow.
“Oh, I don’t think I’ve been here before.” I follow him, my arm looped through his, and we take a path into the woods, beneath the frozen canopy. I’m reminded of the idyllic park scene I watched out my apartment window. The children at play and the domestic life they represented.
“It’s just up here,” he says. The path lets out into an open field, pristine in its white blanket of fresh snow. A shiny, candy-apple red sleigh with two beautiful giant black horses harnessed at its front sits at the top of the hill. A man dressed in heavy winter layers sits at the front of the sleigh, leather reins in hand.
The sleigh driver lifts his hand in a greeting as we approach. “Good afternoon, Mr. Reynolds, Miss Anders.”
“Hello, Jacques. Hope you weren’t waiting long.” Tyson holds out his hand and helps me into the sleigh. The seat is cushioned, and there’s a pile of blankets lying on the opposite seat. Tyson sits down beside me, lifting one of the blankets and draping it over our laps.
“Not at all. Just got the girls here settled. They’re rested and can’t wait to go.” Jacques turns back toward us. “A warm drink for you, and a snack for the journey.” He hands Tyson a thermos with two cups and a silver tin.
“Ready?” Tyson looks into my eyes. I nod. “We’re ready, Jacques.”
Jacques clucks his tongue, and the sleigh lurches as the horses start forward, pulling the sleigh effortlessly across the snow with their massive bodies. We glide over the hill, the wind blowing in my face, and I cuddle up against Tyson to stay warm. The hill ends at a large frozen lake, its pristine icy surface reflecting the mid-afternoon sun. The horses tow us on a circuit around the lake, requiring no instruction from Jacques. They’ve obviously done this before. Tyson unscrews the cap from Jacque’s thermos and pours out two cups of dark steaming liquid. I catch the delicious aroma of chocolate as Ty hands the steaming cup to me.
“Just needs a shot of espresso.” I take a sip of the sweet drink, my head nestled against Tyson’s shoulder. He loops his arm around my waist and pulls me in closer.
“You’ll get your coffee,” he says with a grin. “Enjoy your carbs first.”
I tilt my head up for a kiss. His lips are warm and sweet with the lingering flavor of hot chocolate against mine.
“Close your eyes, now.” He watches until I do. “Don’t open them until I say so.”
