Page 2 of Christmas Captive

I know I should hate this about him, but something about that grumpy look on his face makes my heart warm. I’m not sure what it is. No one wants to be around a grump, but there’s more to him. I can see it. That and he’s tall and wide, and looks like he could probably haul my big ass up and over his shoulders if he wanted to.

Why does my clit throb when that vision comes to mind?

What am I thinking?I shake my head like an Etch-A-Sketch and glance toward Wyatt, who’s still pushing the engagement ring toward me.

Why is he doing this, why did he wait for me to run away before he decided he wanted me, and why do I wish my boss would keep this whole growly man thing up until all my problems were solved?

Kade steps between us and lands his hand on my back, guiding me away before glancing back toward Wyatt. “She’s working. Do this on your own time.”

Relief washes over me as the distance between Wyatt and I grows again. That should be my sign. The one I need to release myself from his grip, but I doubt it will be.

“Don’t tell me you’re falling for that shit,” Kade groans, still holding onto me. His hand is big and reassuring. Is this what true comfort feels like?

Not at all, girl! Do better! God!

The man wants me to get back to work, not hold me while I cry, even if that would help a lot right now.

“What?”

“Look, it’s none of my business, but I overheard that guy talking, and you’re better than that.” He clears his throat. “Plus, it’s interrupting your productivity.”

I’m pretty sure that was validation wrapped in some kind of frustrated sandwich, but I roll my eyes and blow him off. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He shakes his head. “I know you deserve someone who isn’t trying to leave you whenever he gets overwhelmed. I know you deserve a man who acts like a fucking man.”

More warmth. More validation.My clit twitches.

What’s wrong with me? Kade is probably twice my age,my boss, and he might be the angriest Christmas tree farm owner on planet Earth. I don’t need to crush on him like some hormonal teenager. I need to work on myself and move past needing a man altogether. Maybe I need to have a rational conversation with Wyatt.

No, that’s not it!

I need to swear off men, attend a recovery retreat, and live alone in the woods forever, writing poetry about the trees and the way the wind blows against the tin roof of my shack.

“Thanks for the advice,” I snark, stepping back into the barn, “but I’ve got this.”

“Don’t give him excuses. A mistake is forgetting milk on the way home. This guy is fucking with your heart. You let him and he’ll keep doing it.” Kade’s gaze shifts downward, then up again, meeting mine with a soft understanding I’m not sure I’ve ever felt before, and all at once it’s there again.

Validation.Pure, heated, genuine, ratifying validation,and every word sitting like a platter of fresh fruit, desperate to be devoured… and I do.With my eyes on the thick, inked-up giant in front of me, I devour every single word.

Someone call my therapist, because I need help.

Chapter Two

Kade

“Calm down, man.” My brother Charlie pulls back the cord, starting the chainsaw before cutting off the last few branches on a row of trees we’ve just brought into the barn. We’re mainly a u-pick farm, though we do cut and freshen a few pines to keep up front for those that don’t like the hike out into the woods.

He slices off the final branch and tosses the saw down onto the ground. “She’s an employee and you’re her boss. This looks bad if you take too much interest.”

I pull a six-foot Fraser fir up from the cut pile. “I’m not taking too much interest. I’m keeping my employees invested in their work. This asshole came and bothered her on shift.”

“And she stopped talking when you told her to and went back to work.” He glances toward me. “Plus, he left, right?”

I grind my teeth against one another. I regret telling him anything. “That’s not the point.”

“What is the point then, brother?” Charlie snaps a look at me with narrowed brows. “You’re on edge all the fuckin’ time. You’re barking at customers. I mean, hell, this whole eclipse thing has us on the map this year. We’ve got people coming in from all over the world for this, and with that extra attention, there are a lot more cameras everywhere. I’ve already seen someone posting a video online of you arguing with a customerover five bucks.” He tosses the tree in the bailer and grabs another. “What’s going on?”

“That woman who posted the video was trying to scam me. I don’t put up with scammers.”

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