Page 20 of Gifted

Chapter Eleven

~ Noah ~

The blizzard seemed to petering out, though it was still snowing hard today. Once we’d finally dressed and pulled on our outerwear, Poppy and I ventured out onto the streets of the town where we were stranded.

The hotel and train station were toward the edge of the settlement, but the Christmas market was more to the center of the place. Which wasn’t far. Surprisingly, there were quite a few people out and about, no one letting the storm get in the way of their final holiday preparations.

Gaily strung strands of bright-colored lights were strung along buildings, and we saw lit-up trees in a few windows. It struck me how similar Christmas was here to what I experienced in the US. Of course, there were some differences that I’d learned about while we’d visited with our tour guide. As he’d guided the kids and other chaperones around and I’d shopped for trinkets for my family, I’d talked to one of the shopkeepers about Scottish traditions.

Hopefully, one of the shops had Christmas crackers and the bakery would have black buns, which I had been told was a pastry covered fruitcake of sorts. It sounded intriguing and like something fun to enjoy with Poppy.

“Oh, they have carolers!” she exclaimed as we got to the square. Only foot-traffic was allowed there, and a group of singers stood in the center of it, belting out a song I didn’t recognize.

“Are you sure it’s a carol they’re singing?” I teased.

She shoulder bumped into me, her hand never leaving mine. “Yes, I’m sure.”

As if to prove her right, they transitioned into Silent Night.

“What do you want to do first?” I asked.

“Food. I’m starving. This morning left me hungry.” Letting go of my hand before I could follow the train of her statement, she hurried toward a stand where someone had set up for coffee and hand pie sales. My hand slid around her waist when I caught up in two steps.

“Stay close, little lamb. I don’t want to lose you again. Once was enough for a lifetime.”

“Are you going to come with me into every shop?” she asked after I’d gotten us two coffees and small meat and potato pies. She moaned, taking a bite of hers, making me fight the need to drag her back to our room.

“I was so hungry,” she murmured around her breakfast.

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. “Me, too. It’s cold as hell out here. Let’s get our shopping done then get back to the hotel to warm up.” I pointed to the business at the edge of the square, slightly outside it and not really part of the Christmas village setup. “The grocery is over there. Do you want to go to the bookstore while I pick up some food for us?”

She nodded eagerly. Hating the idea of leaving her alone, but knowing she wanted to browse, I led her over to the bookshop then brushed my lips over hers. “Don’t leave here without me, okay?”

She gazed up at me.

“Okay, I promise. Daddy,” she added quietly.

I tugged her close with my hand wrapped behind her neck, beneath her silky fall of hair. My lips brushed her temple with a kiss before they went to her ear. “Don’t make me hard out here, little lamb. I’ll have to put you in the corner when we get back to our room.”

Her breath shuddered, and I felt her shift. She ran her tongue over her lips, but I wasn’t sure she realized she did it. Did that turn her on, the idea of me punishing her? Earlier, she’d been breathless when she’d thought I meant to spank her. Did she want that? Someone to take her in hand while they cared for her and owned her body?

“I’ll be good,” she whispered, her bright-blue eyes full of trust and happiness as she gazed up at me. There was something else there, something I couldn’t quite identify. Guileless anticipation, perhaps.

“Too late for that.” I turned her around and swatted her behind as I urged her into the store. “Go shop. I’ll meet you here in a little bit.”

Standing there like an overprotective, love-sick fool, I watched until she walked inside the place, then I headed over to the grocery.

It was small, much like a big-city corner store meant for getting essentials from a limited selection of each type of item. Thinking about what we might eat today and tomorrow, what would be convenient, not need refrigeration and not be total junk food, I threaded through the aisles. Fruit, individual sized drinks, oatcakes and chutney, and peanut-caramel Tracker bars. Not the best in the world, but it would get us by.

Near the counter to check out they had a display from the local bakery. A black bun! Win! I grabbed that, as well as a package of scones that looked as if they might have cheese in them. All in all, it was enough to get us through until the day after Christmas.

Satisfied, I left the little grocery only to sidetrack to another shop between there and the bookstore. Tomorrow was Christmas, and that meant getting Poppy a gift.

My phone rang just as I was about to enter the store. I knew the ringtone. This would take a few minutes. I stepped under the shelter of an awning and answered.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Are you back in the States?” he asked. “Your mom wants to know when you’re getting in.”

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