Page 22 of Auctioned to the Mountain Man

Grandma Lola is smiling like a fool, whispering something to Grandpa Eddie. Jazzy’s deep in conversation with Mom, pointing at the jewelry store. And for once, I’m not even that annoyed. Maybe I will buy Alida Kingston a ring after all.

“I feel like taking you back to the cabin and claiming you for my own.”

“I don’t belong to anyone.” Alida doesn’t break eye contact. It’s why I can see the twinkle in those baby blues that dares me—begs me—to challenge her on this. To make her happy.

I cup her cheek, bringing my lips a feather’s width from hers. Our breaths mingle as I say, “You’ll always be your own woman, Alida Kingston. It’s one of the many things I admire about you. But that doesn’t mean I can’t claim you.”

“And how would you claim me?” she asks, feigning innocence.

“With my hard cock, sweetheart.”

“Maybe I want—” Her phone rings, and she pulls back. “It’s Kayleigh. I have to take this.”

“I’ll wait for you over there,” I say, nodding toward my family though I don’t move.

“Kayleigh, hey!” I catch a quick glimpse of a FaceTime call as Alida maneuvers around a nearby Christmas tree, one of many decorating the main strip. “I’m actually off this Christmas. Can you believe it?”

I should respect her privacy and join my family, but a snippet of conversation roots me in place a little while longer.

“Where are you?” Kayleigh’s voice echoes.

“I’m out Christmas shopping.”

“With who?”

“With a friend.”

“You don’t have any friends.”

“I do too!” I can’t help but grin at her tone.

“Name one.”

“I have friends, Kayleigh. How’s your ski trip?”

“Hey, that guy looks familiar. Who is he?”

Shit. I didn’t realize Alida circled the tree, likely catching me in the frame.

“Oh, I ran into Fox. You remember him? So, funny story.”

I mouth a sorry and hurry back to my family to give her some privacy. But I’d be lying if I said I regretted getting caught. I promised not to tell Kayleigh about any of this, but I didn’t promise to be invisible.

“You two are so stinkin’ adorable,” Jazzy gushes, her attention on her kids playing in the toddler’s snow park. Seriously, this town has everything for Christmas. “Hurry up and marry her already so Lily and Ethan have some cousins, would ya?”

“No need to rush him, dear,” Grandma Lola says.

“We waited three weeks,” Grandpa Eddie calls her out.

“See?” Jazzy says. “I’ve never seen you smile this much. I honestly thought you didn’t know how.”

“Haha.”

“Are you two coming to Midnight Mass tonight?” Mom asks.

“No, we won’t be there.” I spare my family and don’t say that Alida and I will be finding our own religion while everyone is out of the cabin.

CHAPTER

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