Page 54 of Knot what I want for Christmas
“Do you want to come in?” I ask them. The thought of being in this confined space with all three alphas sends my heart into a stuttering mess and my panties into an even bigger one. But, it doesn’t feel fair to resign them to the cabin in this storm. I’m obviously only considering their welfare.
“We’re off to check the cattle,” Clay says.
“Check the cattle!” I screech. “You’re going out in this!”
“Got to. The cattle are our responsibility and we can’t risk them getting lost in a snow drift or suffocated up against a fence. We need to check they’ve got enough to eat and the water supply hasn’t frozen over.”
I look out toward the snow whirling outside the window. I can’t imagine anyone making it through that. They’d be lost in a snowdrift.
“Will your truck even make it through?” I say.
“Truck, possibly not. The horses will, though,” Nash says.
“You’re taking the horses out in this?”
“The storm’s easing. It’s much more settled out there now. Perfect window of opportunity to go check on the cattle,” Nash tells me.
And then I don’t know what possesses me. Maybe it’s my horny brain, or the big fright I just got, or the fact that I can’t bear to think of the horses and the cattle out in the snow, but I say, “I could come with you. I could help.”
The three alphas stare back at me in shock.
“How… how could you help?” Nash says, sounding puzzled.
“I’m a vet. I know about sick animals. And I imagine you’re going to need all the help you can get.”
“We’re not taking you out in a snow storm, Hollie,” Clay says.
“Why not,” I scowl at him, “Because I’m a girl or because I’m an omega?”
“Because you’re precious and I don’t want you getting hurt or sick or injured.”
My mouth falls open in surprise and I gape at him. Did he really just say that? Did he just confess he has feelings for me?
“I’m … I’m precious?”
“To Annie,” he clarifies, not quite able to meet my eye, “she’d never forgive me if I let something happen to you.”
Of course. I’m seriously dumb. That’s the reason.
“AndI’llnever forgive you,” I snap, “if you leave me here worrying about the lot of you, all on my own, at Christmas time.”
“It’s still a no.”
I stamp my foot in frustration. “Can everyone stop treating me like I’m made of glass! My mom died, that’s all, you don’t need to tiptoe around me, refusing to freaking kiss me or knot me or whatever me, because you’re scared I might fall apart. And I’m an omega, not a porcelain princess. I’ve been looking out for myself for an awful long time. I am tougher than I look. I’ve wrestled misbehaving Great Danes and sedated boa constrictors.”
Tucker visibly shudders. “I freaking hate snakes,” he mutters.
“I held my mom’s hand when she was sick, I nursed her when she was ill, I even organized her funeral all by myself. I’m not scared of a little snow storm. So let me come!”
Clay considers me, stroking his fingers over his stubbled chin.
“Let her come,” Tuckers says, clearly won over by my argument.
“But have you ever ridden in thick snow before?” Nash says, clearly not liking the idea either.
I want to stick my tongue out at him and tell him I’ve ridden in plenty of snowstorms before, but obviously that would be one big fat lie, so I shake my head reluctantly instead.
“She can ride with me,” Tucker says. “On my horse.”
