Page 27 of The Santa of the Mountain

“Are we there yet?”I ask, huffing as I stand akimbo.

The gray skies have been replaced by a cloudless blue one, so the blanket of white snow is blinding. I haven’t had the chance to look around because I’m constantly squinting.

But if I’m honest, I wouldn’t be looking around if it wasn’t. Not with Cole in front of me. Thoselegs. Thatass. I never considered myself a butt woman, but lordy, does Cole have a fine one.

“Almost,” he says, glancing at me over my back as I continue to try and catch my breath. “Want me to carry you the rest of the way?”

“You’re already carrying a sled. You don’t need to lug me around.”

“Wouldn’t be a problem,” he says, and I believe him. You could load him up like a pack mule and he’d ask for more. The man’s more of a workhorse than an actual workhorse.

“I’ll manage,” I say, still not managing to catch my breath.

I’m not sure how long we’ve been walking. Half an hour maybe. But one thing’s for certain: I need to work on my cardio in the new year.

“Come here,” he says, turning all the way around. I try to meet him but he closes the gap before I take more than a couple of steps.

He reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a thermos. “Prepared for everything,” I mutter to myself, but Cole hears it and laughs.

“Hold this,” he says, giving me the cap before reaching back into his coat and producing a mug. “Trade you,” he says and I take the mug and he takes the cap before pouring hot liquid into the mug.

“Is this…” I whisper to myself.

“Hot chocolate,” he says.

“When did you find time to make this?”

“A mountain man never reveals all his secrets.”

I laugh. “Okay. But do you have some marshmallows to go with it?”

He smiles at me, capping the thermos before slipping it back into his coat and then—okay, what the hell?

“Whoare you?” I gape at him as he drops a handful of marshmallows into my mug. “Mary Poppins?” I grab his coat, giving it a little shake, wondering what else might fall out.

“Santa works. At least for one more day.”

This man is something else. I take a sip and dear lord it is good. “This is better than Windy Brews or the Inn’s hot chocolate.”

“Glad you like it.”

“I’m glad you finally decided to share. When were you going to whip that out?”

“When the time was right.”

I savor the warmth. The sweetness. And the way Cole’s staring at me again.

“If you pull out some whipped cream…”

“Fresh out, I’m afraid.”

“The man is mortal.”

He grunts. “I’ll make sure I have some for next time.”

I swallow, trying to focus on the sweetness as something sour roils in my stomach.Next time. Will there be a next time? I don’t want to think about leaving this town or Cole, but I know my time here is limited. I can’t live in this fantasy world forever. But I can’t help myself from dreaming. “I’m holding you to it.”

And for a moment, I think he’s going to reach out and touch me. Cup my cheek. Brush some hair away.Something. But instead, he makes a throaty sound and then turns around. “Five more minutes,” he says. “Mountain man’s honor.”

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