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“And I’m sorry, too,” Pearl quietly said as Cash wrapped an arm around her waist. “I was reminded of some things by Cassidy and Cash. I spoke too harshly to you, and I should’ve put some effort into getting all of the facts first.”
Weston’s shoulders rose as he took a deep breath. “He’s a good kid, and you’re a good mom,” he said in return, accepting her apology within the spaces of his words.
A tinkling bell snapped everyone’s focus sideways, as Nancy waved her arms. “Attention!” she shouted. “We are about an hour away from having lunch ready. Who's ready to join us for the annual Kids Christmas Rodeo?”
I swung my gaze to Weston. “A what?” I gasped, and he chuckled. Cheers once again erupted around us, and people immediately started vacating the little lake.
He pulled the last couple donuts from the fryer, plopped them down on a plate, and turned everything off. Spinning around to face me, he smiled. “Now’s our chance.” His hand shot forward, snaking between my fingers as the crowd continued to excitedly wander out of the little valley we were in.
“Chance for what?” I asked, completely confused. A kids’ rodeo? Our chance? Where were we going?
“To sneak off,” he replied, dragging me in the opposite direction of the crowd.
Quietly, he pulled me into the tree line at the far side of the crystal lake, no more sounds of blades slicing across the ice. The sound of voices faded along with everyone else. He pushed my back up against a trunk, the bark prickling against my skin beneath my soft wool coat.
Leaning against one hand, he peered around the thick wood and waited. My eyes scanned his frame, the wild rag tucked neatly against his brawny neck. The veins in his hands pronounced against his skin, disappearing beneath his Carhartt coat that only made his broad shoulders look more intimidating.
His body heat enveloped me as he instinctively stepped against my figure. I smiled, my heart thumping wildly as we patiently waited. It was exciting. A horse ride was waiting for me, and a couple hours alone with Weston. That’s all I wanted, just a little time with him. And to have his hands touch me once more. Oh, and his lips set beneath that rather attractive mustache to be against my mouth. That was all that I wanted.
Reaching forward, I tucked my fingers around his front pockets and gently tugged him toward me. He rocked with my movement and looked away from the very quiet world behind me. A world I couldn’t see at the moment.
Looking down, his turquoise eyes sparkled, locking onto mine. A soft, crooked smile filled his face. How was it possible that I loved him even more now than I did five seconds ago? My Weston.
Tipping onto my toes, I grabbed the front of his coat and found his lips with mine. Closing my eyes, he placed a hand around my waist and kissed me back. Soft and passionate, our mouths moved together. His tongue trickled along the seam, and I parted it slightly, giving him enough room to slip inside.
He kept it brief, the forest around us finally returning to the usual sounds of nature in the winter, and he slowly pulled away. But hovered. I could feel the edge of his lips still brushing against mine. “Weston…,” I breathlessly said, his name falling from my tongue like honey.
“My darling Tenley,” he growled, his voice sounding raspy like sweet whiskey.
His hands found the back of my thighs and he hoisted me off of the ground. I wrapped my legs around his waist and dove back into his mouth. Hungry for him, for everything else he had to offer.
My back arched, his fingers trailing along my legs.
And someone cleared their throat.
I closed my eyes as Weston groaned, pulling his tongue out of my mouth. “What do you want, Cassidy?” he said, and we both looked to the right.
His brows lifted as I blinked, shocked.
Not Cassidy.
“Butch,” Weston said, gently setting me back down on my feet.
“Hey, uh, can we chat for a second?” Butch asked, running a hand over the back of his neck.
“What’s up?” he asked as I leaned back against the trunk.
Butch’s eyes flickered to mine and then returned to Weston. “Look, I’m sorry I told them. I’m sorry about everything. You were simply trying to make sure I didn’t do something extraordinarily dumb.” He shuffled his feet, kicking at the snow.
“All good. I thought we fixed all this?” Weston questioned, and Butch nodded.
“Yes, technically we did. But I kind of want to talk to you about something that um… Can we just talk for a minute?” He looked so sheepish, and his cheeks burned red as his gaze swung briefly to mine.
I knew that look and took the hint. “I’m going to go grab another donut,” I quickly said, smiling and kissed Weston’s cheek. This wasn’t a conversation that I needed or really wanted to be a part of. Whatever they were about to discuss probably concerned fifteen-year-old boy stuff that I didn’t understand.
Quickly skirting around the tree, I made my way back around the now deserted ice and toward the table that only had three donuts left. I wasn’t really wanting a donut, but it was an excuse, and I simply pulled myself up onto the table and waited.
It was peaceful out here, calm. The breeze ruffled through the pine needles and tall aspen trees that no longer had leaves. The snow was crisp, though trampled beneath dozens and dozens of feet. And it struck me.
