Page 12 of Merry with a Ranger

“What’s that?”

Letting him tuck me unto his side, I clung to him as we traversed the final stairs to the ground floor. He pushed open the door to the outside without setting off alarms, though somehow with him, I wasn’t surprised.

“I’m taking you to the Christmas markets. And after that abysmal damn dinner, I’m buying you ice cream.” He yanked off his jacket and tucked it around me, covering me in the scent of him, and hauled me outside.

CHAPTER 5

NASH

I was buying her ice cream. I didn’t care if it was penguin weather outside. The temperate air of Love Beach turned icy as the wind picked up off the ocean and swept in like Santa Claus decided to bring the ice caps along for the ride this silly season.

With a day left to go before Christmas Eve hit—damn, I lost track of days hauling my ass across the country, then finding Bonnie—the entire population of the small town was out at the beachside night markets. No wonder the resort emptied of its floating population for the evening.

Vendors sold everything from gingerbread spiced lattes that scented the salty, sticky air with cloves and ginger and cinnamon. Giant Yorkshire puddings were offered by another shop. Hand blown, glass ornaments swung gently from all angels of a wooden hut, despite the wind, their tinkle audible where they dangled on long ribbons. Glowing neon reindeer, waving Santas, and other assorted Christmas light paraphernalia covered every inch of sand and boardwalk as far as I could see.

Bonnie walked beside me, her hand wrapped around mine as she licked a vanilla—of all things—ice cream like it was the best treat she’d ever had.

I eyed her, willing myself not to get hard or grow too envious of the attention she gave a melting cone that was my idea to get her in the first place, and finally put words into action. “When was the last time you ordered dessert?”

Her eyes slid sideways, and I knew the answer to that before she said a word. “Daddy doesn’t really allow it. Not unless it’s one of those little biscuits that comes with coffee.”

“Mhmm.” The sound I made in the back of my throat came out rude, but Grant Lawson wasn’t the respectful man I remembered from my youth.

Back then, I’d been afraid of him. I needed his approval to date his daughter, and I wanted to be worthy of them both. Now, he seemed to be afraid of me. The tables had turned. For some stupid reason, I preferred the status quo the other way around.

“Don’t be like that.” She finished the damn ice cream and licked her fingers, subjecting me to a fresh form of torture. “He does the best he can.”

“How’s that?” I didn’t look sideways at her, and managed to keep my hand loose around hers.

Bonnie halted for a second but when I didn’t stop with her she hurried to catch up, her pinkie still getting a suction clean in her mouth. “He’s trying. You know, with Mom?—”

I growled, frightening several market goers who gave us a wide berth as I spun on my heel, yanked the fingers out of her mouth and drew her close. “You can stop the bullshit about your mother. Yes, I get she’s traumatized. It’s horrible, Bonnie. But I’ve seen it enough to know that doesn’t ‘just happen’, okay? Stop lying to me, and tell me what happened to you. Or don’t. But don’t expect me to believe the bullshit you’ve been spinning to the rest of the world and getting by on for the last ten years.”I didn’t step back, and I didn’t give her space, knowing I pushed her way too hard.

Bonnie nodded, holding my gaze. “Okay. That seems fair.”

The fuck?

“It does?” I let out a measured breath. “Bonnie…”

She held up a hand. “You gave me a choice. I’m taking the latter, for now. Maybe later, when we aren’t…here, alright?” Her voice dropped an octave, begging me not to push her in public.

“Am I that much of an asshole you think I’ll do that to you?” My mouth softened, and all I wanted to do was kiss her until the sun rose on Christmas morning.

Not practical, but then, closet romantics like me rarely were.

“No, I don’t think that. Come on. I want to see the tree.” She pointed shyly along the boardwalk to where a large tree was surrounded by glowing sheep, angels and what looked like dangling stars that wobbled only a little precariously in the high winds.

“You haven’t been out to look at any of this?” I squeezed her hand gently. “Not prying. I genuinely want to know what you’ve done and haven’t.” And I was prying. But in the sweetest, least assholic way I could think to do.

“Nope.” That was all the answer she’d give me, towing me along behind her as she wove her way through the small crowd that seemed to grow with the late hour, rather than disperse.

“Alright.” I shrugged, following her until she burst out into a clear area beside the giant tree that seemed to go on forever, even to a guy my height. “Hey.” I wound my arms around her from behind, nuzzling into her hair. “We need a signal for every time something happens to you that you like and that’s a first, okay?”

She laughed softly, scratching her nails lightly over the back of my hands. “What if I don’t like it?”

I bit back a groan as her nails dug in a little, and I imagined her doing that to my back. “Then you gotta tell me so I learn you, okay? That’s what trust builds on.”

“I think we already have a bit of that.” She breathed in, and pressed her body back into mine. “This. Now.”

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