Kissmas Wishes (Love In All Seasons 3)
* * *When I wake in the morning, I do my best to quietly slip out of bed, pulling the flannel sheets up over Sugar and kiss her cheek. I want to warm up the cabin with a fresh fire while letting her sleep as long as possible. I realize there isn't much kindling, so I head outside once I've dressed.
I pull on my work boots and my work coat, and a cap over my head. I slip my revolver in my back pocket to cover my bases, knowing that the cougars have been coming mighty close to the cabin lately. I don’t want to deal with a catfight on Christmas. I find my ax and I began to split some logs. It doesn't take long to get an armful and when I have what I need, I head back to the cabin, stomping the snow off my boots.
A pretty layer of snow fell while we were sleeping and it’s the epitome of a white Christmas.
Inside, I find Sugar in my robe, a cup of coffee in her hand and she smiles at me. “I was staring at you out the window. You look like the sexiest lumberjack in the world. My romance novels need to step it up a notch.”
“I like that you have a thing for lumberjacks.”
“Well, ever since last night, I’ve narrowed my interest in mountain men to one man.”
“Is that so?” I ask, pulling her close with my empty hand.
“Mhmm.” She gives me a kiss before lifting her coffee cup. “Want some?”
“Sure. Just let me drop this first. Then we need to have a heart-to-heart.”
She nods, swallowing before turning back to the kitchen. I know I should go straight to the fire to stoke it, but I can't help but watch her as she walks, her cute little ass bouncing with each step. She pauses. “You watching me?”
“No, just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas.”
She laughs, her head turning over her shoulder. “Merry Christmas, Smith.”
I stoke the fire and she comes back into the living room with a cup of coffee for me.
“So, anything you want to talk about besides, you know, the fact that my brother is going to show up and whisk me away from you forever?”
“Right about that,” I say. “Look, I'm going to make this easy on both of us. I fucking—”
Before I can finish my sentence, the rev of several motorcycle engines blasts us.
“Fuck, I guess that’s him.”
She nods. “I should get dressed.”
I take hold of her wrist before she can walk away. “You're not going anywhere.”
She looks at me as if I'm a stranger. “Last night was perfect, Smith, but you don't know my brother.”
“I know he's a shitty poker player.”
“Sure, but he’s a drunk and he's stupid, which is a really bad combination. A stupid drunk is more dangerous than a smart guy sober.”
“Fair enough,” I say, “but that doesn't mean he's taking you anywhere.”
“As I said, you don't know my brother,” she says as fists pound against my front door. Rizz is here hollering at me to open up.
“I want Sugar. Now,” he demands.
“Go in my bedroom,” I tell her. “Don't come out. Promise me.”
She swallows, then spins around and rushes to my bedroom, shutting the door. I hear it lock into place. Fuck. She really is scared. I open my front door and step outside. I see Pussy Juice, Rimmed, and Rizz waiting for me.
“Guess you guys didn't need much sleep, huh?” I ask thinking it might lighten the mood, but they're not interested.
“Where is Sugar?” Rizz asks.
“Doesn’t matter. She's not coming with you,” I tell him plainly. “Look, you said you wanted her off your hands. You got what you wanted.”
“I have a reason I need her.”
“And what's that?” I ask. “You want to do some illegal shit with a woman who can make up her own goddamn mind? The guys all laugh as if I'm the fool. “She's not yours to take.”
What are you going to do?” Rizz asks. “It's three against one. I may not be the smartest guy on the block, but I know enough to say that's a stupid way to go.”
“You think you’re going to show up here, shoot me, and take Sugar? Is that what you think?” I ask. “She said you were stupid, but I didn't realize how fucking dumb you actually are.”
Rizz’s face is red with anger. My words riling him up just like I knew I would, but I don't care.
“Listen to me, I don't lie, I don't cheat, and I sure as hell don't back down from a fight.”
“Is that a threat?” Rizz asks, spitting at my feet.
“No, it’s a fucking fact.”
Rizz pulls out a gun, and so do his guys. Suddenly, all three have them pointed to me, their fingers on the triggers, and all I can think about is Sugar. Her being left with these men.