Chapter 17

ANGEL

Angel snuggled into Nash, running her fingers over his muscles. “I think we should get dressed and go down and have something to eat, I’m starving.”

“Me too. I’ve worked up quite an appetite.” Nash leaned over to kiss her before jumping out of the bed.

He looked out the window and put his hands on his hips. “Darn, it’s too stormy out to do any work on the ranch. I think I’ll finish the downstairs bathroom. I could have it done by tonight.”

Nash held the bedroom door open for her as they made their way to the stairs.

“I hope the weather lets up by tomorrow though. I have to run a few errands in town. You want to come with me?”

“I think I’ll stay here and make some Christmas cookies to give to your parents and the Griffins. It’s the least I can do after all the kindness they’ve shown me. I might even make you some too.”

He winked at her. “I love your cookies.”

Angel shook her head. “You’re so naughty.”

At the mention of cookies, Moe’s ears perked up, and his tail wagged, making a thumping noise on the floor.

After breakfast, Nash took off to the bathroom-in-progress, while Angel cleaned up around the house.

She couldn’t help but sneak a peek at him at work occasionally whenever she passed by, and as the hours wore on, she felt drawn to him.

“Wow, it looks nice in here. What are you doing now?”

“Just some finishing touches,” he said from underneath the cabinet. “Sink’s not quite right. I’m almost done though.”

“It’s going to be so nice having a bathroom down here with running water.”

Without thinking, Angel turned on the cold tap. She jumped when she heard him yell to turn it off, and he emerged with a soaking wet face and shirt.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, holding her sides as she tried to contain her laughter. “I didn’t know you had removed the pipe.”

Grabbing a towel, he wiped his face. “I think you did that on purpose,” he said, smiling at her.

“I really didn’t, I’m sorry. Here, let’s get this wet shirt off you.” Angel started to undo his buttons, then slid the wet shirt over and off his broad shoulders. “I’ll get you a dry shirt.”

She bit her lower lip when she looked at his chest.

~Damn, this man is so hot. He’s turning me on again.~

“If you keep ogling me like that, I’m going to have to throw you down on the floor and have my wild and wicked way with you.”

Giggling, she walked away with his wet shirt. “I’ll be right back.” She was still sore from his passionate and intense lovemaking from earlier and didn’t dare risk letting him carry out his threat.

She came back with a dry shirt, and her breathing hitched when she saw him back on the floor, working away under the cabinet again, only he was half naked this time.

Tilting her head, she licked her lips when she saw the muscles in his stomach and arms rippling with every movement he made.

“Hot damn,” she said.

“Did you say something?” he asked, peering over his bicep to look at her.

“Hmm, no, no, nothing.”

He stared at her. “Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Did you bring me a shirt?”

Angel moved the clothing in her hands behind her back. “On second thought, you wouldn’t want to get another shirt wet or dirty. Best you finish your work as you are.”

NASH

That night, they lay on the sofa, Angel in front with his arm around her, and watched ~A Christmas Carol~.

Well, Angel watched it anyway. Nash had seen it a hundred times over the years.

Strangely, despite Angel being able to remember so many of the small things, she didn’t know the classic story, so had asked to watch it.

It was as if she was seeing it for the first time, and Nash watched her facial expressions and body language with fascination.

He held her close, his mind in turmoil. Despite how much he loved her, and how much he felt she loved him, and all they’d said, he still worried there was another man out there, waiting for her.

Part of him felt like what they were doing was wrong, while another part didn’t care. He might go to hell for loving her, but it would be worth it to be with her for whatever time they had together.

When the movie was over, she turned around to face him. “I never want to leave here.”

He moved her hair away from her face, his fingers tracing her lips. “You never have to leave. I want you to stay forever, as my wife.”

His eyes teared up. “I can’t ask you to marry me until we know if you’re already married. If you are, then we’ll find a way to be together. I can’t and won’t give you up to anyone.”

“I don’t feel married.” She buried her face in the crook of his neck. “Take me to bed,” she said, putting her arms around his neck.

He got up and carried her upstairs.

***

It was two days until Christmas, and with the weather clearing, Nash took the opportunity to run his errands in town.

Angel was already busy baking cookies, so Nash gave her a long kiss and patted Moe on the head before he took off in his truck.

He grabbed groceries, wine, and flowers for Angel, popped into the jewelry store, and grabbed some more supplies from the hardware store on impulse.

While paying for the supplies at the counter, he couldn’t help himself, and he grabbed the blender for his parents.

Angel was asleep on the sofa when he got back, so he tiptoed around the lounge to get a blanket, put it on her, and then made his way into the kitchen with everything he’d bought.

The smell of freshly baked cookies made his mouth water, and when he saw the wrapped boxes on the side, including one with his name on it, he smiled.

~Don’t open it, Nash. She’ll kill you.~

Instead, Nash put the food away and set the gifts on the table, including chocolates for Sherry and cigars for Gordon. He then set about trying to wrap them.

“What’s going on in here?” Angel said, half an hour later. She looked sleepy-eyed but wore a soft smile.

Nash glanced from her to the mess he’d made on the table. “Erm, well, I’m not very good at this.” As he said this, he ripped the paper he’d been trying to wrap.

Angel laughed. “Let me do it for you.” She fell into the seat next to him and pulled the gift out of his hands. “I see you went back and bought the blender.”

“Yeah, I was there anyway, and I figured, she’s my mom and she deserves it.”

“Who are the flowers for?” Angel tongued the inside of her cheek and winked at him.

Nash snaked his arms around her waist and nibbled her neck. “They’re for you, my love. Just a little something to say thank you for helping me buy the gifts and for wrapping these ones for me.”

“Why, you little sneak! You planned on me wrapping them all along.”

Nash unleashed an evil laugh.

“But thanks. The flowers are beautiful. Put them in some water for me, please?!”

He reached into a cabinet and pulled out a vase, then took it to the sink. “So, tomorrow night is Christmas Eve, and we usually gather at the bar for a couple of drinks.

“But if you would rather stay home, I don’t mind. I’d actually like to have you all to myself anyway. We could have our own private celebration.”

She giggled as she wrapped the gifts. “It’s all right, I’d like to go and have some fun. Who will be there?”

“Half the town, my parents, and the Griffins for sure. I imagine Eddie and Abby, too, although I haven’t spoken to them. I bought a bottle of wine for tonight.”

“Are you planning on getting me drunk, sir?”

He laughed. “No, I know I don’t have to do that to get you into my bed. I just thought we could have it with our dinner instead of the usual.”

Setting the vase of flowers down by the window, he pulled Angel into his arms. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”

With her arms around his neck, she looked up. “Let me think. Hmm, nope, not today.”

“Well, I do love you.” Nash kissed her and tightened his arms around her, drawing her in closer. “This is going to be the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I’ll be spending it with you, my beautiful Christmas angel.” He kissed her passionately, pinning her against the table. He pulled away just enough to whisper, “I’m hungry.”

“If you let go of me, I’ll start dinner.”

He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the living room sofa. “It’s not food I’m hungry for.”

***

After dinner, Nash opened the wine, and they sat by the fireplace, listening to Christmas music on the radio. Angel sang along from between his legs, swaying with his arms around her.

She reached forward to sip her wine, then glanced over her shoulder. “What was it like for you as a child at Christmas time?”

“Every year, on Christmas Eve, my mom would leave out cookies and milk for Santa, and Dad would read ~’Twas the Night Before Christmas~.

“I would try to stay awake to see Santa, but I always fell asleep, so I’d wake up disappointed…at least until I saw the presents under the tree.

“After opening the gifts and eating breakfast, we would go around to some of the neighbors to wish them a merry Christmas. We still do that part to this day.”

“It sounds wonderful.” Angel gazed at the twinkling lights. “I wonder what my holidays were like.”

“I bet you were a cute girl and got lots of presents. I can picture you in a pink nightgown, running downstairs to the gifts under the tree.

“I bet your family spoiled you; I know I would if I had a daughter.”

Angel swiped her fingers across Nash’s lips and down his chin. “You’ll make a great father, but I believe you’re right. I think you would spoil your children.”

“Well, they’re only young for such a short time. Before you know it, they are all grown up with families of their own. So yes, I’ll spoil them rotten while they’re young.”

Nash took her glass from her and set it down, then lowered her down on the sofa. “Meanwhile, I will spoil you every day of the year.”

“Would you now?”

Her cheeks turned red, and Nash knew she could feel the hardness between his legs.

“Not a day will go by without you feeling loved. I will treat you like a princess and make sure you never want for anything. I’m not a rich man but I am hardworking and faithful.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “I love you.” Angel pulled him down to kiss him.

He removed his shirt while they kissed, threw it onto the floor, and then he undid her buttons.

Opening her shirt, he moved his lips down over her neck and breasts. He heard her moaning when his hand slipped inside her pants, and he felt how wet she was.

They quickly shed their remaining clothes and made love in front of the fireplace.

Every noise she made, every orgasm she had, made his heart soar and added to his own pleasure.