Chapter 7: Chapter 7

ANGEL

After going back to the ranch for an early dinner and to get changed, Angel and Nash returned to town for the switching on of the town’s Christmas tree lights and to enjoy a night of fun.

Coming to a stop at the park, Angel opened the passenger’s door, and Moe bounded out, running straight for the excited children.

“I’m glad we didn’t have to leave him behind again.”

The lights and decorations caught her eye in all directions; the park was awash with golden stars and red and green LED lights snaking around the trees.

“It’s so pretty,” Angel exclaimed excitedly.

“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

She turned to look at Nash, and when she saw he was already looking at her, her cheeks got warmer. “But you see this every year?”

He shrugged. “I know, it’s just that every year it gets better.”

They followed the path to the center of the park, where seating had been set up around the base of a tall fir tree.

With all the lights on the tables and the shrubbery around her, Angel could only make out the tree’s silhouette.

As soon as they reached a table, Abby appeared at Angel’s side. “Come with me. Sorry, Nash, you’re not invited.”

Before she could say anything, Angel was dragged away and taken over to a booth where they would both be handing out the cider and hot cocoa.

“What is it?” Angel asked when Abby finally stopped. “Is everything okay?”

Abby tongued the inside of the lower lip while looking over Angel’s shoulder. “Uh-huh…”

“Uh-huh, what?”

“Just as I suspected.”

“Abby, what are you talking about?”

Nash went over to the table where his father and another man were in charge of the chili.

Abby nudged her in the arm. “I’m testing a theory.”

“What theory?”

“Your boyfriend keeps watching you.”

Angel glanced over her shoulder, and when she saw Nash standing by the chili stand with his father, she caught his gaze for a second before he quickly turned his head away.

“Nash is not my boyfriend.”

“Then why did you look in his direction when I said it?”

Angel wondered if Abby’s grin could get any wider.

“Oh, behave yourself, he’s looking at everyone.”

“Yeah, yeah, okay.” Abby held her hands up in surrender. “You tell yourself that if it makes you feel better.”

Angel rolled her eyes, but the moment Abby ducked behind the table to start organizing the drinks, she stole another look in Nash’s direction and smiled.

NASH

Within an hour, almost the whole town had arrived at the park, and with the sun already down and the icy air creeping in, Nash’s chili and Angel and Abby’s warm drinks were extremely popular.

At first, he had enjoyed seeing the crowds gathering around the booth. Everyone looked like they were being very welcoming, and hearing Angel laugh made his heart sing.

But as the town’s older residents had settled at their tables, he noticed the crowd hanging around Angel and Abby mostly comprised the young bachelors. He was sure some of them were hitting on her.

A pang of jealousy seized his stomach.

“You okay there, son?” his father said to him while serving himself some chili.

“Just the cold getting to me, I think, Dad. Can you mind the booth for a few minutes? I’m going to get some hot cider to warm up my chest.”

His father grunted, and Nash walked to the other side of the park’s central square and pushed his way through the men.

“I could use a cup of that,” he said, rubbing his hands together.

~Was that my imagination, or did her face light up when she saw me?~

“I was wondering when you were going to come over.” Her beaming grin and dazzling green eyes warmed his core more than the hot beverage she handed him heated his fingers.

“It’s almost time to turn on the Christmas tree lights. Come with me, and we’ll get a good spot.”

“I’m still working,” she replied.

“I’m sure Abby will hold the fort, won’t you?” Nash turned to her.

Abby nodded and nudged Angel. “I can handle these brutes; you kids go and have fun.”

He took her over to a spot a little further back from the tables but away from the booths, where it was quieter. Nash whistled, and Moe ran over to join them.

“It will be any minute now.” He looked down at Angel to see she had her arms folded and was rubbing her upper arms. “Are you cold?”

“No, it’s actually very nice out tonight. Plus, now I’ve got Moe at my legs.”

Someone on the other side of the tree must have announced something, because, all of a sudden, everyone counted down from ten.

As soon as they shouted “One,” the lights came on, and everyone hooted and clapped.

Nash’s heart was beating a mile a minute when he slipped his hand around hers, and he did his best not to sigh with relief when she glanced at him, smiled, and squeezed his fingers in return.

With the tree lit up in front of them, Angel’s cheek changed from yellow to green to red as the lights twinkled and changed.

Everyone else started singing “Oh, Christmas Tree” as they admired the beauty around them, but Nash’s and Angel’s attentions were only on each other.

Movement caught Nash’s eye, and he saw it was starting to snow.

Angel let go and cupped her hands to catch the floating crystals in her gloves. “They’re so beautiful, they actually look like snowflakes… What?”

“Nothing. I just think it’s adorable how you get so excited over the simple things in life. It’s like you are seeing snow for the first time.”

She shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe I’d never seen it before coming here. Shouldn’t we be getting back to our tables to hand out more drinks?”

“No, don’t worry about it, look.” Nash pointed at a long table that had been set up with wine, beer bottles, spirits, and even a couple of kegs. “Now the lights are on, the real party gets going.”

Behind the makeshift bar was Frank, the owner of Nash’s favorite local bar. He was a beefy guy with a big beard, and his jeans looked like they were struggling to contain his heavy, overhanging gut.

The carol singers finished their song, and someone, somewhere, began playing country music through the speakers set up around the Christmas tree on all sides.

Everyone ran to the bar as Frank waved them over, and not just the young residents of the town, but the older men and women, too, Nash’s parents among them.

“Come on,” Nash said, laughing as he pulled Angel behind him. “Let’s get something before these animals drink the place dry.”

After they got their drinks, he took hold of her elbow and steered her through the crowd and toward a table where his friends had gathered.

“So, how are you enjoying country life?” another rancher called Donnie asked.

“I like it. Everyone is so friendly.”

The guy scooted closer to Angel. “You are a lovely woman and you brighten up this dingy town. If you get bored staying with Nash, I can make room for you at my place.”

Nash shook his head at him. “Easy there, Donnie. Your wife will kick your ass into the cold if she sees you flirting with another woman.” He chuckled and gave Donnie a light punch in the arm.

His smile fell away, however, when he turned to see a good-looking young man approaching them.

“Hey, all. What a good turnout tonight; the tree looks great.”

“Hey, Eddie, want to join us for a drink?” Nash couldn’t help but notice how much the guy was eyeing Angel.

Eddie clutches his left elbow with his right hand. “Actually, I came over to see if the lady would care to have a dance with me. How about it, miss? Care to dance?”

“I’m not sure if I know how.” Angel’s voice shook a little.

Eddie held out his hand for her to take. “You won’t know until you try. Just move to the beat of the music.”

Angel bit her lip and peered at Nash. He wanted to put his arm around her, to tell everyone she belonged to him, but he knew that wasn’t true. For all they knew, she had a partner somewhere.

Instead, he forced a smile and ground his teeth. “You should give it a try.”

While Eddie led Angel to the dancefloor between the tables, his friends tried to speak to him, but Nash was too distracted, his eyes fixed on the woman who was stirring such deep feelings in him.

She looked nervous at first, but Eddie was patient, and soon, she moved with him to the beat of the song.

Apparently, Eddie had a good sense of humor, and every time she laughed, Nash felt a burning in his chest.

The song came to an end, and Eddie spun Angel around, catching her in his arms.

Nash breathed a sigh of relief when she started back toward the table, only to find himself squeezing his bottle until his knuckles turned white when Eddie pulled her back to dance to a slower song.

Despite the intimacy of the music, Nash caught Angel looking his way a few times, and when she returned to the table, she put distance between her and Eddie and snuggled in next to him.

“That was fun. Are you going to ask me to dance, Nash?”

He smirked at Angel. “I’m not much of a dancer.”

“Oh, go on, boy, dance with the lady,” Donnie said, giving him a shove.

“You asked for it.” He got up and held out his hand. “Dance with me, Angel?”

ANGEL

Nash led her to the dance floor and slow music began to play. He took her in his arms, and their bodies moved together as one.

She felt his strong hands pulling her in closer, both around her waist, and she lifted her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest.

Angel liked how her body fit against his muscular frame; it gave her a warm feeling in her tummy, and she felt a slight tingling between her legs.

She couldn’t help but feel a little sad when the song ended and he pulled away.

“Fancy another drink?” he said. “Let’s go to the bar.”

When Frank handed the beers over a few minutes later, he stopped. “Look up,” he said with a big smile on his face.

Angel and Nash both looked up and saw that they were standing under the mistletoe.

Nash glanced at her, and she saw his cheeks were as red as hers felt.

“Come on, Frank, hand over the drinks.”

“Nash, you know the rules. If you’re underneath the mistletoe, you have to kiss the person next to you, or else it’s no more drinks.”

“I don’t think so, Frank.”

Frank lifted a bell out from under the bar. “Listen up, everyone!” The music stopped, and the park went silent. “We have someone here who doesn’t want to abide by the rules.”

“Kiss! Kiss!” everyone chanted.

Nash moved closer to Angel’s ear. “I guess we’d better kiss; they won’t stop until we do.”

“Oh, erm, all right…” Angel’s voice was shaking, so she cleared her throat and braced herself.

Nash leaned over and closed his eyes, and his lips touched hers softly. She felt herself melt into him, and she sighed when he put his hands on her shoulders and drew her closer, deepening the kiss.

When he went to pull away, she gripped his jacket at the chest. His lips were heaven, and she didn’t want to part from them.

Eventually, he broke off the kiss and stood back a little. “That was…erm…” He reached for the beers and cleared his throat. “Guess we better take these back to our table.”

“I guess so,” she said, grabbing the other bottles before following him back to where his friends waited.

Her mind was scrambled. The kiss had shaken her to her core and ignited a flame inside her.

She wanted more, and she knew he did too. There was no way he wasn’t feeling the same sparks she was after kissing her like that.

Back at the table, before he could slide onto the seat, Angel touched his elbow. The place was crowded, and as he turned toward her, she found herself pressed up against him.

“You okay, Angel?”

His voice vibrated through her body, and his scent was driving her crazy. His muscles up against her body made her hot, and the material between her legs was soaked.

“Nash, take me home.”