Page 36 of This December

“We’ve talked about this before.” Cole grabbed something from the nightstand then headed for the door.

“Nuh-uh. I would’ve remembered,” I called as I chased after him.

“Do you really think now is the time to have this conversation? I mean your family is literally sitting on the doorstep. Let’s talk about it later.”

“Cole.” I stopped in the middle of his kitchen and tried not to have a mental breakdown. “I’m not, I can’t… This is crazy! I know nothing about you—because you won’t tell me anything. And here I am thinking I’m going to run away from my career and potential livelihood to chase after a man who can’t even tell me the tiniest detail about himself. What am I doing? What arewedoing?”

“Uh, it sounds to me like you just realized you told a guy you’re falling for him and are panicking.” He laughed and muttered under his breath, “and I thought I had relationship hangups.” Taking in my less than impressed expression, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Any chance this can wait since your parents and nieces and nephews are currently freezing on our front step?”

“Just…just promise me that we’ll talk about this later? Please?”

“Of course.” Cole crossed back into the kitchen and gave a sweet, soft kiss. “And I also promise that you have nothing to worry about. I’m in, December. I’m so in, I’ve invited your family to invade our home. How much more in can I get?”

“I’ll count it once you let me in here,” I murmured before tapping his temple.

“Deal. Coz you’re already in here.” He stepped back and tapped the center of his chest.

And I melted. This man.

The doorbell trilled through the house again.

“Shit. My family!” I cried as I ran down the hallway to the front door.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.” Cole laughed.

I undid the lock and pulled the door open.

“Finally!” Ollie pushed past me and stomped into the house.

“Hey!” I cried. “Nice to see you too.”

“We just saw you yesterday, Aunt December.” Ethan, Belle’s oldest son at seven, scowled. “I wanna go sledding.”

“Okay. Everyone, get into your sledding gear.” My dad clapped his hands. “Coats, hats, gloves. Big kids, help your little sisters and brothers. Hi, honey.” He gave me a quick side hug before pushing past me into the house to help the kids get ready.

It hadn’t occurred to me they wouldn’t already be wearing their heavy coats and gloves. Now Ireallyfelt bad leaving them on the front porch.

A point my mom had no problem driving home. “Next time make it an actual quickie, would you, sweetie? It’s cold outside.”

Needless to say, my face was flaming as I helped the littles get ready to sled.

Chapter 12

Hours later, the kids were exhausted. We’d sledded. Built snowmen. Had a snowball fight. Cole took them all on the snowmobile. It’d been so much fun but also so exhausting. I needed a break.

So when Mom offered to put together hot chocolate and a snack for the kids, I ran away to the mudroom to “straighten up.”

Really, all I wanted to do was collapse and catch my breath without a cute kid trying to tackle me into submission.

The door clicked shut behind me, and I slumped onto the comfy couch in the corner.

“Scoot.”

I jumped at Cole’s soft-spoken command. Apparently he’d had the same thought and had followed me into the mudroom. Stealthy bastard. I hadn’t even realized he was behind me.

“You ready to talk?” Cole asked with a serious expression after he settled next to me on the sofa.

“I, uh, yeah. Sure.” I blinked at him expectantly.

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