Page 73 of Promise Yule Be Mine
KODY
Icouldn’t believe the whirlwind of the last few days. How everything had gone down and more importantly how everything had worked out.
Yes, Jenna’s suggestion was wild at best, but like she said, we didn’t have to commit to anything just yet. We simply had to spend time with one another without the pressure of my promise to Jenna or Nova’s faithfulness to his best friend. We could just be us, and it was liberating.
However, since we weren’t going to announce any updates on the wedding we had to keep ourselves on the DL, at least as far as Christmas Falls was concerned. Spending time with our wedding planner might not have been suspicious but if my supposed bride was never with us it could get people talking and after everything we’d been through, that was the last thing we needed. So after a day spent at the Milton Falls Christmas Tree Farm Light Maze and Frosty’s for cocktails I decided enough was enough and made alternate arrangements.
“So, where are we going today?” Nova asked from the passenger seat.
He was facing the back, his hand between the two seats, feeding Cookie and Milk some of the treats I’d bought from the Arts and Crafts Fair.
“It’s a surprise,” I said and kept driving.
I drove through town, through the suburbs all the way out onto the interstate and into Springfield by memory alone. I didn’t want to spoil the surprise so the GPS had stayed off the whole drive. Even when I got lost trying to find the bed and breakfast.
“What is that?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“What does it look like?” I smiled.
“I know what it is. What I meant is what are we doing here?”
I turned off the engine and turned to face him.
“I thought it was high time we spent some alone time away from prying eyes, so for the next three days we are staying here and doing whatever we damn well please.”
Nova’s eyes went wide and his smile deepened. “That’s very sweet of you, Kody. But I don’t have any clothes with me.”
“Not to worry. Jenna packed a bag for you and snuck it out into the car.”
“Really?” His grin reached from ear to ear.
“Unless you don’t like it? We can always just go back.”
He shook his head. “Of course I like it. I’m just…no one’s ever surprised me like this. I…I like it.”
I reached for his thigh and gave it a squeeze, feeling both warm and light because I was finally able to do so, knowing he wanted me the same way I wanted him.
“In that case, I’m sure I can make a habit of it.”
He didn’t respond. Just smiled and leaned in to kiss me. That was enough for me to make a mental note to come up with more and more things to surprise him with, both in the next couple of weeks and, God willing, for the rest of our lives.
But first things first…
“What do you say? Should we check in?”
He nodded and we exited the car, unclipped the dogs from the back seat and walked inside. The woman at reception took my name and in a matter of seconds gave us our key and took us to our room.
“I’m surprised it’s ready already,” Nova said as we walked down the hallway.
“I paid for early check-in and late check-out so we can have all the time we want.”
“Here you go,” the receptionist opened the door. “The bathroom is right over there and you’ll find our doggie welcome package on the coffee table. Anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”
She closed the door behind her and left us to our own devices. Which started with testing just how comfortable the bed was.
Then we opened the welcome package for the dogs, which included a dental stick for each, a stuffed toy perfect for shredding and cuddling, a ball and a Christmas-themed bag oftreats in the shape of gingerbread men, Christmas trees and holly.
“I feel like lunch,” Nova said after we’d unpacked and changed clothes.
