Chapter 18: Chapter 18

NASH

“Is something wrong?” Angel asked, pulling the covers up over her naked body.

Turning away from the window, Nash smiled a sad smile before getting back into bed and pulling her close, delighting in the warmth of her body.

“Nothing is wrong. It’s going to be a beautiful Christmas Eve.”

“Then why do you look unhappy?”

“I was hoping the weather would be so bad that we’d have to stay home tonight. I want you all to myself.”

Giving him a shove, Angel laughed before getting on top and straddling him. “Well, that’s not until tonight. You have me all to yourself right now, so what would you like to do with me?”

She giggled when he took hold of her arms, flung her down onto her back, and got on top of her. After kissing her shoulder blades and chest, Nash let out a long sigh.

“I could stay here all day…but I really have to go and feed the animals and let them out.”

Angel rubbed her legs against him and caressed his back with her fingers, moving them up and down slowly. “You don’t want to put out the fire between my legs with that huge hose of yours?”

He waggled his eyebrows. “~Giant~ hose.”

She laughed. “I said huge, not giant.”

“I suppose I should put out the fire first.” He moved to kiss her while positioning his hand between her legs, becoming aroused when he felt how wet she was. “I want to stay in bed with you forever.”

ANGEL

Nash had said the Christmas Eve celebration was a casual affair, so Angel settled on jeans and a cotton blouse.

She did, however, want Moe to look his best, so spent the afternoon giving him a bath and a good brush.

Frank normally banned dogs from coming inside his bar but he made an exception for Nash, and Angel didn’t want to give the barman any excuse to change his mind.

Everyone Angel knew was already there when they arrived, hand in hand, and they sat with his parents and the Griffins, along with Abby and Eddie.

Nash didn’t even have a chance to sit down before Eddie was up and ushering him to the bar to get a round of drinks.

The Christmas music was blaring, people were dancing, and Angel couldn’t help but smile from how at home she felt.

When Angel sat down next to Sherry, the woman gave her a huge hug. “I’m so glad you made it tonight.

“I was talking to Mildred and Wade and asked if they would like to come to our home for Christmas dinner, and that includes you and Nash. You will come, won’t you, dear?”

“I’d love to, and I’m sure Nash will want to as well.”

“That’s great. Mildred usually cooks for everyone, so I thought she could use a break.”

Mildred patted Sherry’s hand. “I appreciate it but I will still be coming over to help you. You have extra people coming and will need my help. We also have a special guest this year—Angel.”

She turned to look at her. “Having you here with us has really made this Christmas all that more special, especially for my son.”

Angel couldn’t stop the tears from building in her eyes. “Thank you. I might not be able to remember much, but something tells me this is going to be my best holiday ever.

“And I owe it all to Nash. If he hadn’t pulled me out of the car, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Nash and Eddie appeared with trays full of drinks and sat them down.

“Are you ladies talking about me?” Nash asked, sitting next to Angel.

Abby giggled. “Oh, my God, we women have better things to talk about than you.”

He smiled at Abby as he put his arm over Angel’s shoulder. “Come on, sweetheart, you know you have the hots for me. But I’m sorry, I’m spoken for.”

Mildred rolled her eyes. “Oh, behave yourself, Nash.”

The song changed, and Eddie whispered in Abby’s ear. After she nodded, Eddie asked Angel if she would dance with him, and she accepted.

Before they left the table, Abby looked at Nash. “What do you say, cowboy? Since our other halves are dancing together, why don’t we get up there and show them how it’s done?”

Nash offered her his hand and helped her out of the booth. “Let’s do it.”

Eddie led her to the dancefloor, while Nash partnered with Abby, and the two couples proceeded to dance. Every time they passed each other, Nash winked at Angel, and Angel blew a kiss right back.

“Nash is so in love with you, isn’t he?” Eddie shouted over the music. “It’s so good to see him so happy. I’m glad you found each other. You’re a good woman, Angel.”

“Thanks, Eddie.” Angel’s face fell. “I just hope I don’t end up hurting him when I get my memory back. We still don’t know the full story.”

Eddie spun her around to bring the smile back to her face. “It’s Christmas time, a time for miracles. Everyone gets one in this town, and without a doubt, you’re Nash’s miracle this year.”

Angel peered over to see Nash and Abby dancing like fools, and seeing how happy he was filled her with warmth.

“You know it’s rude to stare at another man when you’re dancing with someone,” Eddie said with a wink.

Angel felt horrified. “I’m sorry, it’s just that I, oh, never mind.”

Eddie laughed. “You want to dance with him, right?”

“It’s nothing against you. It’s just, I have fallen in love with him. Absolutely head over heels.”

With a huge grin, Eddie spun Angel again, and she ended up in front of Nash and Abby.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Eddie said, holding out his hand to Abby, “but would you mind switching partners?”

“Probably for the best,” Abby said, taking his hand. “I think Frank thought we were drunk and was about to kick us out.”

Abby and Eddie danced into the crowd, and Angel moved into Nash’s arms.

“Sorry,” Angel said, swaying with him, “I was missing you.”

“I have to admit, I didn’t like seeing you in the arms of another man. It was bringing out that nasty beast in me.” He kissed her nose. “I love you and I’ve never been this happy in my whole life.”

Nash closed his eyes and swallowed hard.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just so afraid of losing you, it’s killing me inside.”

Angel put one hand under his jaw, encouraging him to open his eyes and look at her.

“You’re not going to lose me. I love you, Nash, and I don’t care if I’m engaged or married. As long as you want me, I’m yours. Worst-case scenario, I can always get a divorce.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that because I don’t want to let you go.”

He pulled her closer until she rested her head on his shoulder. Though it was a fast song, they danced slowly in each other’s arms.

He lowered his mouth down onto hers, kissing her softly. “I love you so much. You are the only thing that keeps me breathing. Without you, I will cease to exist.”

“Oh, Nash, you’re going to make me cry.”

The song came to an end, and Nash started to lead Angel back to their booth.

“I’ll meet you there,” Angel said, letting her fingers slide out of his. “I need to use the ladies’ room.”

When she came out of the washroom again, she scanned the bar and was surprised she couldn’t see Nash.

A feeling of panic gripped her chest for the briefest moments when she turned to find him standing behind her.

Without a word, he put her up against the wall, holding her in place by placing the palms of his hands on either side of her.

“What are you doing?” she asked, feeling the heat from his body when he moved closer, touching her body with his.

“I’ve been waiting for you to come out so I can do this.”

He put his lips on hers. His kiss was passionate and strong, but not too rough, and he pressed his lips and body against her even harder when he moved one hand behind her waist to draw her in closer.

The fire inside her core was heating up, and her panties were already damp from the animal way he was pawing at her.

They were tucked behind a wall, away from prying eyes, but Angel was aware that anyone going in or out of the bathrooms would see them.

She wished it was warm out. That way, she would have dragged him out back and let him take her in the alleyway behind the bar.

“Damn,” he said, his heavy breath warming her neck, “I wish we were home right now.”

Placing her hands on his chest, she pushed Nash back a little. Angel could feel his racing heartbeat, and that only made it harder to stop.

“But we’re not, so maybe we should stop before it gets out of hand. For the record, I wish we were home alone too.” She took his hand and led him back to the booth.

Despite all the excitement and noise, Moe had somehow fallen asleep under the table.

“Now, where did you two sneak off to?” Abby said, winking at Angel. “We were beginning to think you guys had snuck off home without saying goodbye.”

Nash sat back, his arm over Angel’s shoulder. “No, we both needed to use the washroom and we just happened to bump into one another on the way out. No biggie.”

“Just talking, were you? Then why do you have lipstick all over your mouth?” Eddie reached over to wipe Nash’s mouth and got a slap on the hand for his efforts.

He laughed. “Caught you, and there is no mistletoe to blame this time.”

Angel felt her face growing warm and she did her best to hide behind her beer.

Abby elbowed him in the ribs. “Stop teasing them.”

The door to the bar opened, and as usual, everyone let out a mock groan so that whoever had come in would close the door as quickly as possible to keep the cold air out.

Angel thought nothing of it until Moe woke up, got to his feet, and whined.

“Hi, folks.”

It was the sheriff. And while everyone looked at him with smiles on their faces and wished him a merry Christmas, Angel sensed dread in the pit of her stomach.

“I hope I’m not intruding, but I have some news for the young lady.” His eyes settled on Angel.

“What kind of news, Sheriff?” Nash moved his gaze across the faces of everyone at the table, eventually settling on Angel. He took her hand in his and squeezed.

“I come bearing good news and the best Christmas present one could hope for,” the sheriff said with a beaming grin. “I know who you are and where you come from.”