Page 12 of The Taste of Charity
“Chilly?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No. It’s just breezy tonight.”
“Yeah. I should have found a closed carriage but I thought it might be nice to enjoy the beautiful night. There might not be too many of them left. Fall is rapidly starting to race into Winter. Pretty soon, we’ll be grumbling about snow and ice and the horrible traffic.”
“Snow is magical. Especially on Christmas Eve. It brings such a soft blur to the hectic nature of the city. It softens the city’s hard edges. Gives you a clean slate for the holidays and the new year.”
“I like how you think, princess. Most people look at things and see a glass half-full. And they haven’t gone through half the horrors that you have. No matter what, your faith and happiness just shine out into the world, giving hope to everyone around you. I wish I was a better man because I sure as hell don’t deserve someone as good as you. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to try and keep you, princess. I think it’s only fair that I warn you so you can get used to the idea. You’re it for me.”
I shift in the seat and try to turn away but he doesn’t let me, ducking his head so that he can see right into my eyes. “You can’t get away from me. You can keep trying but I’m a stubborn cuss and this is the first time that I’m glad of that. A lesser man might let you push him away. I’m not that man.”
“Jameson, don’t spoil things. I just want to have a nice night with you.”
He nods his head slowly. “For now we’ll play it this way. But I’m not going away.”
“Fine.” Her full lips pinch and she stares at the horse like it’s the most fascinating thing on the planet. “What’s his name?”
His lips twitch and he presses them together. “Guess.”
I grumble but study him and then I grin. “Is it Barnaby?”
“Good lord, no!” Appalled, he grimaces and then turns to the horse. “I’m sorry, man. I’m not sure where she got that one.”
“Humph! Well then…what is it?”
“Casper?” he chuckles and I can’t stop the grin tugging at my lips.
“Casper? Like the ghost? That Casper?”
“Yep!”
“I hope it’s because he’s a white horse because otherwise I can’t figure out why someone would call a beautiful, noble animal something so asinine.”
“He actually likes to disappear. Apparently he’s really good at opening locks on gates and fences.”
“Hmmm.” I eye him happily. “That at least seems like a legitimate reason!”
The carriage pulls up in front of a little food truck with mexican chiles all over it. Chiles with faces!
“What the heck is this?” I ask when he hands me down out of the seat.
“This is my favorite place to eat in town. They don’t have their own store front and you have to follow them to find out where they’re going to be situated for at least a few days.”
“A food truck? Is it mexican? Because if it is, I love tacos.”
“It is. So let’s get in line and find something really good to munch for dinner.”
We both study the menu but I’m also studying her. She nibbles at her lip and it makes my dick jump to attention.
“Do I need to pick something for you or are you good?”
“I want two of the chilean tacos. The ones with ham and chiles on it.”
“Okay. You go grab us a table while there’s any empty. They fill up fast.”
“Okay.” I leave him at the counter and find an empty table. Sitting down, I tug at my sweater again and then wince when he stands over top of me.
“Why do you keep pulling at that poor sweater? What’s it ever done to you?”
