Snowed Over (A Christmas Novella) (12 page)

“I had to. What if he ends up being my new daddy?” She rolled her eyes. “Plus, I was counting on him to share.”

“I like your thinking. It never occurred to me to give food for Christmas, but now I think it’s brilliant.” He went to his backpack and brought back a small package wrapped in newspaper.

“This isn’t wrapped nearly as nice as yours, but it’s the thought that counts.” He offered her the gift.

“I didn’t give you the chocolates to make you feel guilty. Plus I’m making you share them. Who is this supposed to be for?” She eyed the gift.

“I bought it for my mom, but she won’t mind. As soon as I’m home, she’ll be so happy, she will care less. Here, open it.”
 

Katie accepted the small, heavy package. “Is this wrapped in the school newspaper?”

He shrugged and smiled in a way that made her happy all over. “I’m going green.” He sat back down with only the box of chocolates between them.

Katie tore at the paper. “I feel terrible opening your mom’s gift.”

“Would you feel better if I said it was Trina’s?” He tilted his head at her quizzically.

“No! Well, maybe. She sounds horrible. Sorry. I guess that’s the wine talking.”

“If it takes a couple glasses of wine to get you to speak your mind, I’ll keep it coming.”

“No. I wouldn’t want another girl’s present. That would be weird.” She wanted something he picked out especially for her.

“Then it’s a good thing I didn’t get her one.”

She unwrapped the gift and discovered a scented candle. “This is great. I love candles! I bet your mom does too!” she teased, and took a sniff. “Oh that smells great. Just like Christmas.”

“It’s cinnamon. My mom loves it. I get her one every year.”

“Thank you, and thank you to your mom.”

“You’re welcome. Are you gonna light it?”

“Absolutely.” She grabbed the matches from the fireplace mantle, lit the candle, and soon a cinnamon scent wafted throughout the room. Combined with the fire and the fresh pine boughs, the air smelled pretty darn nice.

“I hear that chocolate goes great with red wine.” She stretched her legs out onto the coffee table, happier than she’d been in a long time.

“Doesn’t sound like a bad combination. Let me try it.” Alex took a bite of truffle and then a sip of wine. He moaned. “Yeah, it’s good stuff.”

Katie tried it too. The creamy ganache melted in her mouth and the smooth wine added a combination of flavors she couldn’t describe. “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

Beautiful strains of Christmas music floated from her laptop as they ate truffles and sipped wine. Her candle flickered, the fire crackled. Everything was perfect, except that she couldn’t get Alex’s situation out of her mind. “I’m sorry things are so bad with you and Trina,” she said.

“It’s my own fault. I should have made it clear from the beginning. I’ll get things straightened out and can start living my life again. It’s been so long since I’ve been near a girl, I’m afraid I forgot how.”

“Oh, I doubt that.” Based on his earlier kiss, she’d say he knew exactly what he was doing. “Weren’t there girls at school?”

 
“In Madison? No. I have always been faithful to Trina. That is, up until this afternoon in the shed. I’m sorry about that.” He peeked at her with an impish smile. He didn’t look sorry.

“It’s okay.” She dipped her head. “It was nice.” She bit her lip. She shouldn’t have said that. She reached for a truffle to fill her mouth with something and stop saying stupid things.

Alex’s hand covered hers. He gazed at her with something more than casual interest. She gulped, wanting him, but knowing she shouldn’t.

He leaned across the box of chocolates and kissed her. He tasted of red wine and sweetness, a combination she would never forget and would always associate with Christmas.

“I know it’s not official yet, but in my mind, I’m single. All that’s left is the formality of telling the rest of the world.”

Katie nodded. She did understand, but still felt she was crossing a line she shouldn’t. But she didn’t care. Alex was here, the most handsome guy she’d ever met. He smelled like the outdoors and a campfire. He tasted like a miracle.

“If you don’t mind, I’m going to kiss you again.” He brushed her cheek with the pad of his thumb.

“I don’t mind,” she whispered, unable to say anything more coherent.

Alex moved the chocolates and eased her into his arms. He kissed her with such tenderness and hunger she thought she’d burst.
 

He wrapped his arms around her like satin ribbon on a priceless gift and gently caressed her back. He curled a hand under her hair and tickled the nape of her neck, all the while kissing her mindless. She sighed in his mouth and felt him smile.

“You taste so good,” he breathed in her ear.

“Like garlic and onion?” she asked.

“No, not that I’d mind, as I happen to love garlic and onion. You taste like dessert. Sweet and tangy and decadent.” He captured her mouth again and Katie lost track of time.

Chapter 13

A loud rumbling disturbed Katie’s slumber. She hated mornings, and she hated waking up early, especially when enjoying such a great dream. Her head ached from too much wine, and her mouth tasted fuzzy and gross. She reached up to scratch her nose. Cold air chilled her face. She tucked her hand back under the covers and snuggled into the comfort of soft covers and a warm, firm body next to her.

Katie’s eyes popped open.
 

Alex lay facing her, one arm under his pillow, the other over her waist. His face, relaxed and gorgeous, sent her heart into somersaults. She took a moment and enjoyed the view of his tousled hair and perfectly shaped mouth. During the day, she tried not to stare at him in case he caught her, but like this—ah. The way that man kissed! She smiled, remembering their marathon make-out session, and wiggled her toes.

She heard a noise. It sounded like a car door slamming. Oh my god! Were they getting rescued? She sat up and Alex’s arm slid onto her bare legs. Was it the owners? She glanced around at the empty bottles, chocolate wrappers, and dishes from their Christmas Eve party. Instead of stockings over the fire, stray clothes were draped and drying over chairs. They’d sort of trashed the place.

“Alex. Somebody’s here.” She nudged him.
 

He stirred. “What?”

Someone knocked on the cabin door. She startled.

“Wake up!” She shook Alex again. Suddenly, the door opened and a young guy entered. He wore a knit hat, a thick coat and no gloves.

“Hello? Anybody here?” His eyes scanned the cabin and immediately landed on Katie, the pull-out bed, and Alex’s back. “Oh.” He averted his eyes. “I’m sorry to intrude. I’m trying to find my…”

“Jason?” Alex rolled over and sat up, immediately awake.

The young guy broke into a huge grin. “Alex! You son of a bitch!” He stomped the snow off his boots and crossed the room. Alex, wearing nothing more than plaid boxers, met Jason halfway. They exchanged a bear hug and pounded each other on the back.

Katie stared at Alex’s long legs, lean waist and muscled chest. She couldn’t believe she’d snuggled against him all night. She smoothed her t-shirt and wished she hadn’t slipped off her sweat pants last night when she got too warm. Alex’s body radiated heat like a furnace. What would his brother think of her?

“Why am I not surprised it’s you that showed up?” Alex asked. Both men grinned, and Katie saw the brotherly resemblance.

“New tires, a snow plow and the biggest blizzard in years, how could it not be me? Plus, watching mom bite her nails and try not to cry put a damper on the holidays. You really screwed up Christmas.”

“Sorry about that.” Alex scratched his head, mussing his hair more. “Oh shoot. I’m sorry. Katie, this is my brother, Jason. I told you he loves to play in the snow.”
 

 
“Hi,” she said, embarrassed to be found in bed his brother. Her head throbbed, and she knew she looked like hell. She certainly felt like it.

“Hi,” he said.
 

She noticed that Jason fought back a grin as he took in the disarray of the room. It looked like they did a lot more than they should have.
 

Jason turned to his brother. “Alex, I should warn you—”

Alex interrupted before his brother could finish. “Jason, Katie made the most amazing meal last night.”

“Alex.” Jason started again, with a concerned expression.

“You wouldn’t believe what she can cook over a fire.”

“Alex!” Jason snapped loudly to get his attention.

“What?” he answered, distracted.

“I didn’t come alone,” he said in a quiet voice and tilted his head toward the door.
 

“Oh,” Alex said. “Oh!” His eyes bugged out and he turned to Katie with a pained expression.

What?
She wished she could read his mind.
 

The door opened and a whip of a girl appeared. Dressed in a white jacket with a fur-lined hood, she could have modeled in an ad for the Ugg boots she wore. Silky blond hair, pink glossy lips and long, dark lashes framed her doe eyes.
 

Trina
.

Katie stared, dumbstruck, at this tiny cream puff who’d invaded her secret, snowed-over holiday.
 

“Alex! Oh my god!” She launched herself unexpectedly into his arms. “Oh, baby. I was super worried. You have no idea. Last night I almost didn’t open my Christmas gifts because I was so upset.” She hugged and kissed him repeatedly, while he tried to hold her off.

Katie wanted to evaporate into thin air, but couldn’t pry her eyes off of Alex and the white tornado wrapped around him.

He held Trina stiffly and set her on her feet. He wiped his mouth and glared at his brother.
 

Jason shrugged. “When she heard I was heading out at daybreak to search for you, she insisted on coming. She wouldn’t take no for an answer. You know how it is.”
 

“I was so scared. I cried all night,” Trina exclaimed.

Katie doubted it, based on Trina’s bright eyes and porcelain complexion.

Alex peeled Trina’s arms from his waist, but she clung to his arm. He glanced at Katie, clearly embarrassed. Katie averted her eyes and grabbed her jeans off the nearby chair. Would she ever get the image of sexy Alex, dressed in his underwear and the highly polished Trina, out of her mind? Why did Trina have to be here?

“How’d you find us?” Alex asked Jason.

“The police called last night when they found your truck in the river. You sure know how to freak people out.”

“You should have been in the truck. That wasn’t exactly a sleigh ride, was it?” Alex turned to Katie.

Katie glanced at him as she pulled her jeans over her hips.
 
Trina finally noticed her for the first time and startled, as if Katie were a bulging pimple on the end of her nose. “Who are you?” she said.

“Trina, this is Katie. I was giving her a ride to her mom’s for Christmas.”

Trina’s eyes traveled over Katie’s unkempt appearance, making her feel more uncomfortable than if a bunch of drunk frat boys had ogled her. “You said you were giving a friend a ride. You never said it was a girl!”

Trina noticed the tangle of blankets on the sofa bed. She looked from Katie, now buttoning her jeans, to Alex, in his boxers. “You slept with her!”

“It’s not like that.” His expressive eyes went straight to Katie. Katie saw so much in their conflicted depths. Was it guilt, regret or plain old embarrassment at getting caught this way?

“You cheated on me?” Trina asked, her face awash with shock.
 

“No, and it wouldn’t be cheating on you, anyway, would it?” he asked, pointedly.

Ignoring his comment, Trina perused the remains of their little party. She frowned at the empty wine bottles, then poked her French-manicured fingernail at the silver wrapping paper and the empty chocolate wrappers. Katie didn’t want Trina near their stuff, where she could soil the memories of their special night.

Trina’s lower lip protruded into a pink, glossy pout. “You bought me chocolates and then let
her
eat them?”

Alex rolled his eyes. “No. Not everything is about you, Trina. Katie brought them and shared them with me.”
 

Trina emitted a small huff. She reached to pick up Katie’s cinnamon candle, burned halfway down the jar.

“That’s mine, too.” Despite the fact Katie looked like a homeless person and probably smelled like one too, she scooped up the candle. She wasn’t about to let this spoiled, Kardashian wanna-be touch her gift from Alex. And what was with all the make-up? They were in podunk northern Wisconsin for Pete’s sake, not at an L.A. movie premier.

“Doesn’t look like you were suffering very much,” Trina whined. “I imagined you huddling in a cave somewhere, alone. Looks like I missed out on a really good time. How could you?”