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Then, after we had the home cooked meal, baked those Christmas cookies, and decorated the tree, I’d throw on a sappy Christmas romance movie. Where we’d snuggle.
We would do a lot of snuggling.
Turning off the road, I whipped on up the driveway and threw my truck into park. Grabbing her cup of hot cocoa, I practically waltzed up to the door, excited. Raising my fist, ready to knock, when it flew open and Tenley came dashing out of the door. She nearly barreled into me, but I managed to step aside as she sprinted past.
“Let’s go before Grammy gets out of the bathroom!” she quickly shouted, running toward the truck.
“Tenley, you’re going to—” I started, as her feet flew out from under her and she crashed onto her bum. The light dusting of snow around her puffed, trickling back to the icy surface below.
I sucked in a laugh as she sprawled out flat against the ground, groaning.
“You okay?” I managed to choke out, trying not to chuckle.
“Why do I trip around you so much?” She narrowed her gaze, tipping her head back to look at me.
Bright, mossy-green eyes watched me amused and annoyed. Beautifully painted rosy cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and I couldn’t help the smile from filling my face.
Her lips twitched, watching me. Caught in a moment of tranquil peace, and my heart slammed against my ribs. She gently pushed herself up, the silence slowly filled with giggling.
“Seriously, Tenley. Are you alright?” I asked, walking her way and tenderly helping her from the ground. Her cold fingers brushed against my calloused palm, sending shivers whispering up my spine.
She nodded. “Just one more thing that happened that you’re not allowed to tell anyone about. Okay, cowboy?”
I chuckled, extending my other hand with the hot cocoa as she finished brushing snow off of her black leggings.
She had on a massively oversized Christmas sweater. It was bright red with a pine tree that sparkled with stitched on ornaments. Honestly, I was never one for the holidays much, but Tenley’s love for it was quickly changing things.
“What’s this?” she asked, hesitantly taking the cup from my hand. I sauntered the last couple steps to the passenger side door on my matte black truck and tugged it open.
Lifting the mug to her lips, I watched as she let sweet, warm liquid trickle down her throat and her eyes lit up. “Peppermint hot chocolate? Because it’s Christmas?” She gasped.
I simply smiled as she took another long swig, moaning with glee. She pulled herself up into the truck, mindlessly humming to herself. Giddy.
Not to pat myself on the back, but well done, Weston. Starting things off right, ready to head to the ranch. That was absolutely empty. All alone. To do more sappy romantic things. That made her happy. Which made me happy.
Smiling, I walked around the front of the truck, hoisted myself in, and began the drive back to the ranch.
Tenley danced her fuzzy socks back and forth, slung up on my dash. She’d finished her hot chocolate a few miles back, so I offered her my untouched cup. Which she didn’t hesitate to take. Everything was as it should be. Calm and relaxed.
Except there was a space between us that I desperately wanted to fill, and I wasn’t sure how to broach that subject. It wasn’t like I hadn’t reached over and placed my hand on her leg before, this just somehow felt different.
Last time, it had been a touch of reassurance. This time was definitely more romantic. But, I mean, her parents called me her boyfriend, which was confirmation that we were courting. So I should be allowed to just reach over and touch her leg, right?
But I didn’t want to cross a line that she might have, which would subsequently ruin our second chance at a first date. One I’d spent a lot of time on making sure it would go perfectly.
“So, what’s the plan? You’re not taking me to the ranch to almost kill me again?” she asked, and wiggled her eyebrows.
“There’s a two time max on that, darling,” I replied with a wink, and she giggled.
“That explains why the third time was at the vet clinic.”
“That one counts as a half, since the bullet only grazed you.”
“So, when is it your turn to have two and a half times happen?” She grinned.
I tipped my head, and took a deep breath. Just touch her. Swallowing, I gathered some courage and plunked my hand on her leg. She didn’t move or go to shove me off, so I smiled and replied. “I think the moose situation counts for one, and the fact that I charged that bear for you counts as a second right? Then I dove into that icy lake after you, so there’s my half.”
She rolled her eyes. “I see how it is, I don’t get anything to myself,” she grumbled, crossing her arms.
