Page 4 of The Curvy Girl's Christmas Cowboy
“Second grade teacher.” I grin, immediately flashing on a thoroughly inappropriate fantasy having to do with her wearing a tight black skirt and no panties. “I have my ways, darlin’. You didn’t think I’d lose track of you, did you?”
She mumbles something I can’t make out under her breath. “Saturday would be better. There’s a large barn at the campgrounds near the lake they use for events sometimes. We could put it on our list and I’ll try to narrow down a few more options before the weekend.”
“I’m sure I can find a few possibilities too, now that I know what I volunteered for.” I chuckle. “Maybe we can grab a bite after?”
It feels like an hour before she responds with a sigh, and an unconvincing, “Perhaps.”
“Great. So I’ll pick you up at ten at your place?”
“Ten on Saturday. Meet me at City Hall.” She confirms, and I crack up as she types the date into her calendar. She doesn’t trust me enough to pick her up at her apartment? She still doesn’t believe I screwed around on her, does she? “You know you are the very last person on the planet I expected to see today.”
“You say it like it’s a bad thing.”
She silently quirks a brow and levels me with her beautiful chocolate brown stare.
“You never know. You might be in for a surprise, Peach.”
Chapter four
Peach
I shoot the breeze with Joshua Lincoln who’s replacing a damaged section of the floor at City Hall. I wasn’t expecting to find anyone working here today, but it’s freezing and I was so grateful he let me inside while I wait for Storm.
Josh listens patiently as I fill him in on the plans for the hoe down and watch him work. He said he’d keep an eye out for any possible locations. He’s good-looking, with a muscular build, black hair, blue eyes and a nice smile. We’ve known each other since elementary school, but for some reason, I’ve never been attracted to him.
“The entire floor needs to be refinished. But it’s been sanded so many times—He sighs. “We should probably replace all of it.” He rises from the floor and inspects his handiwork.
“Well, the section you replaced looks a hundred percent better than it did before.”
“Think so?” He grins at me and I nod. “You know if you need help with anything Peach, I’d be more than happy to assist. I have most weekends off. We could take a drive and scope out locations—”
“Not necessary.” I spin around as Storm walks across the hall with a swagger like he owns the place. “Peach and I have it under control.” He possessively comes to my side a little too close for comfort. “You ready? Your chariot awaits.” He gives me a heart stopping smile. And there he stands, looking every bit the rugged cowboy with his windswept blonde hair and those soulful brown eyes. My heart skips a beat as I take him in. I was so full of nerves last night, I barely slept. Despite everything, my attraction to him is undeniable.
I zip up my puffy jacket with the furry hood and thank Joshua for offering to help and for letting me wait inside with him.
The moment I step into Storm’s pickup, a wave of nostalgia washes over me. The familiar scent of worn leather mixed with his smokey wood and fresh rain scent wrap around me like an old, comfortable blanket.
“I’m surprised you’ve kept this truck.”
“She still purrs like a kitten. Why would I trade her in for something new and fancy?” His deep chuckle rocks through me. “What can I say, it’s love and I’ll never let her go.” He checks my seatbelt to see if it’s locked, and grabs a blanket from the back and drapes it over my thighs, reminding me there was a time when I felt so safe around him. Storm’s always been protective. “Are you warm enough?”
I nod, temporarily getting lost in his gaze. “I’m good.”
“Then it’s on to the lake.”He starts the engine and pulls away from the curb. “Keep your fingers crossed. We might get lucky.”
“We spend almost every holiday out there at my parents’ lake house,” I confess. “I can’t count the number of times I’ve whizzed right by those old campgrounds and for some reason, I never stop to explore.”
“Then we’ll make up for lost time today.”
Turns out, the barn by the lake is our only option. We hoped we could swing by a few other venues but came up empty handed. Apparently, it’s too late in the season to find anything suitable available, no matter how much we’re willing to pay.
As we drive through the winding backroads of Montana, the realization that Storm and I are alone out in the middle of nowhere hits me. Now my stomach is in knots. Although we haven’t spoken about our sudden break up, the tension between us is palpable. I let my gaze drift to the Beartooth Mountains in the distance and try to enjoy the snowy December landscape painted in shades of blueish gray. Thick blankets of snow cover the ground, and every tree branch droops under the weight of icy crystals.
While the truck rolls along the familiar roads, I sneak a look at Storm. His rugged, handsome profile is impossible to resist. He was the kicker on our high school’s football team, and even though we weren’t technically going steady, I never missed watching him play. His strong hands grip the steering wheel, and I close my eyes, remembering how they felt on my skin. But those memories are tinged with hurt.
The thing is, I was crazy about him. We used to hang out with the same group in school. He was best friends with Greg Harmon, and I hung out with Greg’s sister Tiana, so we were friends long before we ever went on a date.
Storm’s betrayal seemed so out of character; I didn’t believe it at first. But he’s always been popular with the ladies, women practically throw themselves at him—and we were younger. Maybe he wasn’t ready for a commitment. I was so pissed off at my roommate for going to bed with him, I slept in a hotel the night she told me. Then I had to borrow money from my parents so I could find another apartment and live on my own until I found someone to share the rent.
