Page 20 of Snow Harm, No Foul

“How are you doing with the event at the Frosty Mug? I haven’t had an update in a week, and we’re only one away.”

It’s an effort to keep a straight face. “It’s going good.”

His expression flattens. “Anything else? Maybe something more specific?”

“My folder is at home.” Where I wish I was.

For the past three weeks, I’ve hidden in my home office and planned an entire Christmas event for the town without the help of the owner of the venue. Calls have been made, and orders have been placed without prior approval.

In all fairness, Niko’s had the chance to tell me if he disagreed with something. He’ssointerested in the event, after all.

I’ve ensured that every contact I’ve spoken to has kept him in the loop, and I’ve yet to hear him complain about any of my decisions. I’m taking that as approval. If he thought I was doing something wrong or wasn’t comfortable with a choice I’ve made, I’d have expected one of the several emails he’s sent me since . . .that night. . . to include a gruff, demanded change.

God, that night.

Three weeks after he quite literally fucked the daylights out of me, and I haven’t forgotten a single detail. Not the feel of his calloused, rough hands on my skin, the soft, testing pressure of our first kiss, or the ache between my legs that I had to soak away the next morning. The pain was a first for me, but with the size of his cock, it wasn’t all that surprising.

Although, it was bad enough that I thought I was going to be stuck in the tub for days.

Then there was the mess he’d left on my skin. Not only was I covered in love bites and bright red handprints on my ass, but I had to scrub my skin raw just to get the dried cum off my thighs. I gave up trying to cover the hickeys with makeup the week after they appeared.

Good lord, I wish I hadn’t left the way I did. After the sex we had, I was too emotional. The intimacy was giving me all the wrong ideas, and when he suggested work . . . it hurt me to the point I had to run.

His spicy cinnamon scent lingered on my clothes and neck for days. I couldn’t bring myself to throw what was left of my blouse into the washing machine, so I draped it over my armchair and haven’t touched it since.

The shirt he dressed me in before I left the bar is in my bed. It’s pathetic, but I’ve kept it there because it makes me feel likehe’s with me. Just without all of the grunts and searing stares that led me into his arms.

I miss him.

One day together and Imissthe man. It’s crazy, maybe even a little naïve. The last few nights have been rougher than usual with my new stomach bug, but even before it hit out of nowhere, I was having trouble sleeping. And when I’m asleep, he’s there in my dreams.

It’s easier not to sleep at all.

“Ivy? Are you still ill?”

I choke on nothing and wipe at my eyes, thankful I didn’t have the energy to put makeup on this morning.

“Sorry, Grayson. What did you say?”

He takes a step into my cubicle and furrows his brows in suspicion. “I asked if you needed the folder to give me an update or if you were well enough up to date on your own to give me something to go off of.”

“Oh, of course. Yes, I know about the project. It’s mine, after all. It would be pretty pathetic if I didn’t know everything off the top of my head, right?” I ask, attempting to make a joke but failing terribly.

Grayson doesn’t laugh. “So? Tell me something.”

“Yes, right. Okay. Well, I know we spoke last week about the fact that in the past, the event hasn’t really drawn interest from the young adult crowd, so I actually reached out to a tattoo studio that’s owned by one of my old classmates, and he’s agreed to come run a pop-up. Tattoos would be discounted for a few hours, and he’ll create a few custom designs that fit the whole Christmas vibe people can easily choose from.”

“What’s the name of the studio?”

“Into The Shade.”

“I’ve heard of it. And you’re right. It will draw the younger crowd. What about the kids?”

His praise makes me sit a bit straighter, proud of my work.

“I read in last year’s plans that there were sleigh rides, and I think that’s still a really great idea. It’s not something that I think will ever really go out of style. So, we’re going ahead with that again this year.

“I’ve also added a snowman-building competition, with the prizes being donated from a few of the businesses in town. There are some gift cards, a day pass for the rink, and I did reach out to a couple of places a bit further from us and found a contact for Steele Ranch. The owners have agreed to not only lend us a few of their horses for the sleigh rides, but they’re offering a few certificates for free riding lessons,” I tell him, stretching my legs out beneath my desk. “There will be hot chocolate stands and an area to make maple taffy, along with a few food trucks.”

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