Page 69 of Second Chance Christmas

Aspen, dressed in black jeans, an equally black sweater and polished black boots looked the perfect part of a hero. The scarf she’d knitted him in high school knotted around his neck.

A fireman hero and just for her with how his eyes hadn’t left hers since she opened the door.

Her ridiculously good-looking fireman bowed at the waist with a flourish of his gloved hand and pointed to something behind him. Long strands of hair slipped over his forehead with his grand gesturing.

She stepped outside and into his arms as he turned them to face the driveway.

Aspen beamed at her before bending and placing a tender kiss on her with a fierceness she couldn’t ever get enough of.

She moaned as his lips crashed into hers and he growled a heated response. His large hands drew her closer and when they both finally came up for air she took his hands in hers, pulling him inside. They were alone again and if this was her last few hours in Dixen, she wanted to spend it with him. Ok, so she changed her mind. So someone sue her.

He strangled a laugh, not moving. “Baby, I have a better idea.”

He moved to the side and guided her down the front stairs that led off the porch.

The snow had stopped at some point in the evening and moonbeams broke through the clouds to lend a dreamy glow to the night.

“Aspen, I’m speechless! It’s beautiful.”

She felt the second her brain shut off and her heart took over. It was beyond beautiful. Stunning and done all for her?

But the pesky question ofwhycrept in.

She knew why. He wanted her to stay and was pulling out all the stops.

She stepped from Aspen’s side, drinking everything in as fast as they could. Silver chrome decorated the sides of a white horse-drawn sleigh tethered to the most beautiful and majestic Clydesdale she’d ever seen. Not even the ones on those old beer commercials came close to what stood in front of her this very second. Hadn’t she dreamed of a fairytale romance? Then why did she feel so unworthy of Aspen’s wonderful gesture? Why was she so scared of what it meant? Shouldn’t she want this happiness?

It boiled down to trust. Eight years was a long time to lose contact with someone. Wasn’t it? She didn’t know anymore. Not with how fast her heart beat just standing next to Aspen.

Lewis had really fucked with her mind and heart.

She turned, tears glittering in her eyes. She probably looked like a sap but she didn’t care. Scared or not she loved it. Loved him. Whether she wanted to admit it aloud or not.

Take that, Lewis. The hurt and the pain of her broken trust faded the longer she stared into Aspen’s warm eyes.

“Aspen. I thought Julie was coming, but I think I know what happened.” Yes, she saw it now. Siblings had each other’s backs.

She understood that and wasn’t mad at Julie for pulling a fast one on her. She’d do the same for any of her brothers and sisters.

“Shall we?” Aspen walked up behind her and held out his hand. “The town festivities await, milady, and we must not be late.”

“No, we must not.” She giggled at how they sounded, loving every second of the play.

He pulled her back against his front and wound an arm around her waist. Pulling her into him she could feel the massive bulge against her ass.

She sucked in a lungful of air. “Aspen.”

Aspen moved aside a swath of hair and pressed warm lips to her now exposed neck. “Let’s get you into the slay and then you can ask all the questions you want.Ifyou can.”

She peered over her shoulder at him with a smirk. “If, huh? And what’s that supposed to mean?”

He only offered that cock-sure grin of his in answer.

She stepped up into the sleigh and Aspen quickly rounded the back before slipping in beside her. He reached over the back of the plush, red velvet seat and before she knew what he was doing had her wrapped in a massive blanket that covered them both and then some and snuggled her close to his side.

“I never thought a man would think of everything, but you haven’t missed a beat.” She found his hand under the blanket and wound their fingers together. “Where did you get a sleigh at this hour?”

He tapped the reins slightly and off they went. Only a slight swoosh and the crunch of hooves in snow cut into the peaceful silence. No cars, no horns...they were alone and she loved it.

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