Page 39 of Knot what I want for Christmas
“Like I said, it’s not something we talk about.” She scoops cream from the top of her hot chocolate and licks it off the spoon. “Anyway, the only downside of living in a small town like Silver Creek,” Annie says, “and the reason I moved away in the first place, is the serious lack of men.”
I wonder if that’s strictly true – after all, there’s three eligible, available Alphas back at Big Sky Ranch, and Annie herself seems to have found herself one hot barman. “So what’s going to happen when the Christmas break ends?” I ask her, thinking of said hot barman. “You’re going back to Lamford and you’re leaving Travis behind?”
“I’m not sure,” she says. “At first I thought it was just a festive fling, but I really like him.” She turns her cell phone on the table,hits a button, and her screen fills with messages, all from Travis, the barman.
“He’s really keen,” I say.
“I’m really keen. I think we might try the long-distance thing. Or maybe…”
“Maybe?” I say.
“I was thinking of moving back,” she tells me.
“Really?”
I’ve always known that Annie loved her home, but I also thought she had bigger ideas and bigger ambitions. Once she moved away, I thought that would be it for her. Seems I was wrong.
“Yeah,” she continues, “and not just because of Travis. I miss this place, I miss this town, I miss the fresh air, the countryside, I miss the horses, I miss my mom and dad. Sometimes,” she says, “I even miss Clay,” she rolls her eyes, “although those times are few and far between.”
“You really do hate your big brother, don’t you?” I tease.
“No,” she says. “I don’t hate him.”
I raise an eyebrow at her.
“Seriously, Hollie. He annoys the heck out of me. But that’s all big brothers, isn’t it? He’s a good guy, really. He’d make a really good partner for an Omega one day,” she says, giving me a look.
“You’re not insinuating …”
“I saw the way you looked at him when he was cutting down that tree yesterday.”
“Any woman would have looked at him that way.”
“You’re a pervert, Hollie Bright,” she tells me.
“You’re the one requesting I crochet you mini dicks,” I remind her.
“True.” She tips back her mug and finishes the last of her hot chocolate, a big dollop of cream ending up on the end of her nose. I decide I’m not going to tell her about it.
She spins her cell phone back toward herself and peers at the time. “Do you want another one?” she says, pointing at our mugs. “Dad should be here any minute, but we could probably convince him to join us.”
I peer out at the window where it’s now snowing heavily, lovely big clumps of white dust falling from the gray clouds that hang in the sky above the town. A few trucks and vehicles rumble along the main street, their headlights shining, their wipers swishing. I’m on the lookout for Mr. J. Instead, I spy Clay Jackson in his truck. I expect him to drive right by us. Instead, he swings his truck into a space and then he’s hopping out, knocking his hat onto his head as he does.
“Talking of the devil,” I say, pointing her brother out to Annie.
“Oh,” Annie moans. “I bet Mom’s sent him to get us instead of Dad.”
“You just said–”
“I know, I know. But I’m going to get a lecture,” she tells me.
Clay spots us through the window, waves, and his little sister beckons him inside. He hesitates for a moment, his gaze finding mine, and then he’s pushing on the diner door and striding inside. There’s something about the man – his large frame, his good looks, his confident swagger – that has everybody in the diner turning to glance his way.
“Howdy,” he mutters, tipping his hat at everyone, and then joining us at the table. “You ready to go, ladies?” he asks.
“Actually,” Annie says, “we were going to have another of these.” She motions at the hot chocolate. “Maybe you’d like to join us?” He looks a little surprised at that suggestion. “It’s Christmas, after all,” Annie reminds him.
“Okay,” he grunts.
