Page 24 of Second Chances with St. Nick

“She’s hot!” the kid hollered, his friends nudging him, egging him on.

“Yes, she is,”Nick said quietly. His voice dripped with desire as his mouth drew close to my ear.

“And I’ve got some serious unwrapping to do before the day is out.”

The End.

12

NUTCRACKERS AND NEW BEGINNINGS

Isprinkled icing sugar across the still warm cookies, tapping my palm against the metal sifter. Soaring notes from Nick’s violin reached my ears through the kitchen door. I’d left him in the sitting room to play for Cissy and Harry’s first dance.

We’d transformed the whole house into the winter wonderland my cousin wanted, and as I watched Nick play under the sparkle of fairy lights, my heart overflowed. I actually teared up.

He looked so beautiful—was so talented. And he’d watched me, too, with that special glow in his eyes. As the moisture threatened to spill over my lashes I had to leave. Better to get away before my makeup ran and I looked like a panda for the rest of the day.

I refilled the sifter before giving the cookies another pass. As I worked, the door creaked behind me. The sound of conversation and laughter increased, then faded again.

A sweet smell of cinnamon and pine reached me, and I smiled.

“I didn’t think I’d find you here, wrist deep in baking.” Nick’s husky baritone swept over me.

I let out a breath. “What do you mean?”

I picked up the nutcracker on the counter and placed a hazelnut between its jaws. I wanted to sprinkle some of its shards over the cookies. With a grimace I squeezed the handles together.

Nick stepped up behind me. “Aren’t you the bridesmaid? I thought your job was to fuss over your cousin all day.”

I gave the hazelnut a second squeeze, and a tiny grunt escaped my lips.

Nick’s chuckle wrapped around me, and he curled his arms around my waist. “Can I help you with that?”

I didn’t like to admit defeat, but as I looked down at his corded, inked forearms, I wasn’t about to refuse. He’d rolled up his shirt sleeves earlier. No smart wedding suit for my Nick. He was unapologetically himself, and I loved him for it.

I held my hands up like I’d surrendered to a bank robber, and he took the nutcracker from me before applying enough pressure with just one hand to crack the hazelnut like an egg.

“Thank you,” I said, remembering Nick’s powerful hands as he’d held me in place against his fridge only last night. I bit at my bottom lip.

“You’re welcome. Someone has to clear your kitchen chores and get you back to the party. Cissy will notice you’re not there.”

I chuckled, handing him another nut to crack for me. “Are you kidding? Have you not seen how completely in love she and Harry are? I’d be lucky to get a word in between their kisses.”

He cracked the nut then put it down on the counter along with the nutcracker. Within a heartbeat he brought his lips to my neck—his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. “Seems like they have the right idea. Maybe we should join them.”

My belly flipped in a full somersault, and I turned around in his arms to face him. “G-get married? I... I… we only just…”

Nick’s hazel eyes flashed, and his now familiar throaty laugh filled the air between us. He shook his head. “Don’t panic. I was thinking more of the kissing, but… if you like being back in Pine Springs and don’t mind the snow, I wouldn’t mind talking about it somewhere down the line. I can’t imagine anyone else I’d rather hang out with for the rest of my days.”

I swallowed hard, my breath rolling faster through my chest. His smile bowed even higher, and he brought his mouth to mine.

As we kissed, he circled my waist again, and I slid my hands over his chest, threading them around his neck. The feeling of the two of us together steadied my giddy heart. Nick couldn’t imagine hanging out with anyone else for the rest of his days and I felt the same about being in his arms. Why did I ever stay away so long?

Savoring his lips, I sent a quick prayer of thanks to St. Medard, patron saint of blizzards. His timely intervention on Christmas Eve changed my life. If every snowstorm led to this kind of happiness, I’d gladly sign up for an extended stay at the North Pole.

Nick dragged one thumb down my arm, sending a shiver through my body. He’d done the same yesterday—again and again. After Nick and I left the hospital, I called Mom and explained why I wasn’t home on Christmas morning. She started off the call getting herself into a tizzy, but the moment I mentioned Nick, she relaxed. With her approval, he took me to see his place in the mountains. We’d spent the rest of Christmas day eating doughnuts, drinking hot chocolate in front of the fire, and getting to know each other a whole lot better.

We’d talked late into the night. I agreed to stay in town a little longer. In fact, I wasn’t sure I’d ever go back to California. As much as I loved the heat, with Nick in my life, there was more than enough sizzle in Pine Springs to keep me happy.

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