Page 10 of The Scrooge of the Mountain

But I don’t want to be friends. That would never be enough for me. I want all of Eva. I want her to be mine. I want her to be… my wife?

Jesus. This is not like me. I’ve never met a woman in my life who’s ever had this kind of effect on me. I hardly dated anyone, so the urge to make Eva my wife is crazy.

But what’s crazier is that I don’t even care about the Christmas music blasting my eardrums. I don’t mind seeing all the tinsel and garland and bright lights all around me. All I care about is spending more time with Eva.

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to extend my time with her. I’d drink eggnog. I’d sing Christmas carols. I’d dress up as Saint Nick so long as she’s the first in line to sit on my lap.

“Who. Are. You?”

Your soulmate, Eva. Fucking yours. That’s who I am.

“And what are you doing in my cabin?”

“The cabin I built?” I breathe.

“You built this?”

I take another step because I need to be closer. I need to see if she smells as good as she looks. Feels as soft as she seems. And for the first time, she doesn’t take a step back or act like she’s going to throw something else at me. She holds her ground as her eyes narrow on mine.

“I did. Along with the rest of the cabins for Juliet’s matchmaking service. I’m Nick.”

I’m less than a foot away from her now as I extend my hand.

She looks at it. “I’m not falling for that,” she says.

“You think it’s some trick? That I’m hoping your pillow slips and I see you naked again?”

For the first time since we’ve met, she lets a smile slip. It’s brief but it hits me square in my chest. I’ll do whatever it takes to see it again.

“Yes,” she says.

“Well, it’s not a trick. I want to shake your hand.” Touch you. I lean in and whisper, “But you’re not completely wrong.”

She lets out a raspy sigh as I pull back, the rest of her beginning to redden.

“I’m going to get dressed,” she says, stepping backward.

Shame that she didn’t turn around.

“And then you’re going to explain to me why you’re inside the cabin I rented. If this is the kind of service you provide…” She shakes her head before stepping back into the bedroom and shutting the door in my face.

She has no idea the kind of service I want to provide.

Breakfast in bed.

All-inclusive.

Full. Fucking. Service.

Chapter4

Eva

Ho-ho-holy crap.

The man behind the door I’m currently leaning against is like none I’ve ever met. Everything about him is bigger—his height, broad shoulders, limbs, and his…ahem.Beard.

I was never fond of beards until I saw his. Even as I flung a candy cane at him, all I wanted to do was stroke it. Give it a little tug like a kid on Santa’s lap. What I wouldn’t give to braid sprigs of holly in it or weave it with some tinsel or silver bells. He’d be Father Christmas in the flesh by the time I got through with him.

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