Page 34 of Beauden & Yelena

While laughing, she playfully snatches her phone back. “Don’t do that. It’s an iPhone X. It works. That’s all that matters. Just take the picture, sir.” She’s still laughing. After lifting her glass globe and one of the tiny Christmas trees for the inside, she tilts her head to the side then smiles. She looks so damn pretty; I take three pictures.

By the time of the tree lighting, she has a thousand bags filled with preserves, candles, homemade soaps, a leather bag, homemade jerky, and two snow globes. Hers looks professional. It could be sold in a store. Mine, on the other hand, needs to be in the trash. That shit looks ugly but she insists on keeping it.

The crowd has already formed around the tree but my parents have chairs in the reserved spots. Because my family does a lot for the town, we were given the reserved spots as benefactors.

My mom smirks when she spots Yelena’s bags. “Looks like someone beat me shopping.”

Yelena beams. “I couldn’t help myself. I got every flavor of the preserves.”

“Listen, Miller’s Pointe is a little piece of heaven on earth. If you were here, you would have all of this daily,” my mom says with a wink.

Good looking out, Momma.

“Sit here next to me,” she says and pats the chair. “Beau, go get her a hot chocolate. Your father is getting me one,” she tells me.

Yelena sits and I head to the Cocoa Express truck. Hot chocolate while watching the lighting of the tree is another tradition we have been doing since Breaudie and I were kids. They sell kid-friendly and adult hot chocolates. My dad is definitely getting my mom the one with Kahlua. While I’m standing in line, I glance back and see Yelena and my mom going through their bags and smiling.

She definitely belongs here with me and my family.

“I ordered for everyone,” my pops announces, causing me to turn around. He’s standing beside me holding two drink holders stuffed with cups. As I grab one of them, he says, “I got everybody’s usual and the same for the ladies.”

“Bet. You know I hate standing in lines.”

“But I see you doing it for her,” he says smugly then pats my shoulder with his free hand. “Looks like both my sons might have found their calm,” he adds as we watch Breaudie walk up to our seats with his girl.

We make it back just in time. The moment the drinks have been handed out, the mayor and his wife step to the podium situated next to the giant tree. They get the biggest balsam fir they can find and the tree is typically fifty feet. After the traditional Christmas speech, the mayor grabs the large extension cord then plugs it in. Oohs and ahhs are exclaimed when the tree lights up.

“Beautiful,” Yelena utters as she takes several pictures. Her pretty ass face is beaming.

Not as beautiful as you.

ChapterThirteen

What in the hell am I going to do?

Every voice in my head is screaming; they have been screaming since we left Jubilee. I loved everything about it: the small-town vibe, the natural products for sale, the snow globe making, and even the time with his family. I especially loved experiencing it all with him. I’ve enjoyed all the time I’ve spent with him.

My life, my job, and my parents are all in Orlando. How can I leave that behind? How can I uproot myself for a man I’ve only known for a week? But he’s a good man: warm, caring, attentive, strong, manly, and sexy as hell. Plus, I’ve had the best sex of my life this week.

My god! He owns my body. But is good sex a reason to stay? Great sex? Is it just the sex? Ugh! Of course not. It’s everything. He’s everything. There’s an undeniable connection between us and I can’t just brush it off. I’ve never felt so drawn to and at home with any man like this before. His half smile has the power to make me swoon. A full one cripples me. Beauden is everything I had no idea I needed.

“You’re staying the night with me.” His penetrating baritone jars me from my erratic thoughts.

“What?”

“Since I don’t know where your head is, I need you with me tonight.”

“Okay,” I say without hesitation. My mind and heart are confused but my body isn’t. Even if he only holds me, I’ll be satisfied. Wrapped up in his arms is one of my new favorite places to be. “Let me drop my stuff and grab a bag.”

“I would prefer if you grabbed them all but I’m not going to push you.”

“I appreciate that because I am thinking about it. About everything. I’m a processor; that’s how I’ve made every decision in my life and it works for me. I have to think every single detail through. So, even if I’m not saying anything, I am listening and processing.”

“As long as your process keeps your pretty ass here with me, I’m cool with it,” he says, then flashes his half smile.

Damn!He’s making my processing even harder.

“While I do, can you turn off some of the Beauden charm?” I joke and his eyes draw together.

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