Date. Date? Was this a date?
It couldn’t be. She and Troy weren’t on a date. Dates ended with walks to the doorstep and kisses in the porch light. The private porch where there wasn’t a family watching their every move.
“Excuse me,” said a woman as she brushed past, holding the hand of a cute guy. Three more couples followed right after, each one coming from a different direction but happy to be there. Families with small children were headed to the parking lot while teens and couples headed in making this feel very much like a date.
She adjusted her scarf. Troy hadn’t said the word date. He hadn’t officially asked her to go out with him. He said it was time away from the wedding. Time away from pretending to be a couple.
Chloe stepped to the side to allow a family to pass under the lighted archway and followed Troy’s progress with laser-like precision. The ticket booth had a giant peppermint candy on the lower portion and snowflakes painted on the window. The lady selling tickets wore a green elf hat and a pair of pointed ears. But it wasn’t the over-the-top Christmas decorations or people streaming past that held her attention; it was the man buying a fist-full of tickets. Troy was more than she’d bargained for when she signed up for this charade. This may not be a date, but she wanted it to be.
Forcing her eyes away from Troy, she craned her neck to see inside the temporary wonderland. There were rides that spun and whipped and twirled in a flurry of lights and laughter. Organ music blared from the merry-go-round. A row of food vendors stretched farther than she could see, and there were games. So many games. Bing Crosby crooned through tiny speakers attached to telephone poles and booth corners. It wasn’t snowing, but the walkway was made of packed snow and mounds of the stuff crowded around trees and bushes. Fairy lights were strung across the top of every booth, around the ride entrances, and along the line dividers.
The smell of roasted nuts tickled her nose and crooked a finger for her to come on in. She was about to do just that, unable to hold back her curiosity any longer, when Troy appeared at her elbow, his hands full of tickets and his smile resembling a child who’d been handed a free evening. “Let’s do this.” He took her elbow with his and pulled her inside. Not her hand. Hand-holding was for dates. They were just two friends out for some stress relief and the sooner she got that in her head the better off she’d be. Getting her hopes up would only lead to a crash.
“Are you a ride person or a game person or a foodie?” he asked, hesitating.
Chloe licked her lips. The warm cider smelled divine and the churros were a must, but she was still full from dinner. “Rides. For sure.”
His grin grew. “Yes! Okay, the swing ride is a good place to start.” They got in line and only had to wait a few minutes before they were sliding into the cold aluminum seats and rattling the alarmingly thin safety bar in place. The seats only fit one person, so they were a few feet apart. Chloe glanced over to see Troy put on his goggles.
He caught her looking. “Trust me.” He pointed to the goggles around her neck.
She lifted a shoulder and did as he recommended. “Jingle Bell Rock” blasted too loud to speak over, and the ride lifted their feet off the ground. They went in a giant circle, gaining speed and tipping to the side. Flying.
She reached out her arms and closed her eyes, letting the wind chill her cheeks and the sensation of being free pull her worries away. Something grabbed her hand, and she yelped, throwing her eyes open wide. Troy laughed, still clutching her glove.
“You scared me!” she yelled over the wind and the music and the giddy feeling in her chest that most definitely did not come from Troy holding her hand.
“Sorry!” Troy yelled back, though he didn’t appear at all sorry. She couldn’t see his eyes behind the dark goggles, but his smile was enough to tell her that he didn’t feel all that bad about startling her. Her reflection in the colored glass smiled just as wide so it was clear she wasn’t holding a grudge.
The music cut out. “No holding hands,” said the ride operator over the loudspeaker.
Chloe yelped again and yanked her hand back. This time Troy let her go. The ride slowed and they came to a swinging stop. Chloe lifted her lap bar and exited on shaking knees. She smacked Troy’s chest. “You got me in trouble.”
“That?” He pointed over his shoulder at the ride that was already filling up with the next round of passengers. “That was nothing.” He pulled his goggles off and she followed suit.
“Ugh! It was humiliating.” Her face burned red.
Troy’s jaw dropped. “You’re one of those girls.”
She folded her arms. “What girls?”
“The ones who are all worried about rules.”
“Yeah, I worry about rules.”
He hooked his elbow around her neck. “We’re going to have to loosen you up a little.”
Chloe shrugged out of his arm. His muscle-heavy arm. Even in his winter coat, she could tell he had broad shoulders and an amazing chest. Heck, she knew that with a cinderblock wall between them, because she’d spent enough time serendipitously studying his physique at work. She knew the week he’d lost five pounds because of the flu. She’d noticed when he’d gone back to working out and gained it back and then some. She’d noticed the way his muscles strained against his tee shirts, and when he’d ripped a shirt on a lug nut, she’d noticed how smooth the skin over his torso looked. She could just imagine the feel of it against her fingertips.
“Chloe?” Troy waved his hand in front of her face.
She came to herself and immediately heated all the way through. “I do not break the rules.” Like the rule about falling in love with your business partner. Yeah, she wasn’t breaking that one. Not at all.
“You already did.”
“Wh-what are you talking about?’” He could not read her mind. Although there might be some of that lovey-dovey stuff on her face. He could read that, if he looked close enough.
“You agreed to be my fake fiancée—that’s kind of breaking the rules.” He nudged her with his elbow.
“That’s different.” She headed for the Magic Carpet Ride. There was a short line and a lot of people could get on at once. Though she would have to sit close to Troy, a situation that was fast becoming a hazard to her quickly beating heart, she wouldn’t be alone with him as the rows fit at least eight people each.
He dogged her heels as they walked. “How is it different?”
“I didn’t do it to be a rebel.” She entered the end of the line.
“Why did you?” Troy’s voice had gone soft, imploring. His hands hung at his sides and his eyes bored into her. “Why did you come, Chloe?”
Chloe squeezed her eyes shut. It wasn’t like she could say I came because I have a giant crush on you. And she couldn’t say I wanted to show you what you were missing. Really, those were the surface reasons. When it came down to it, she’d come for something much deeper. “I wanted to see what it was like to have a big family.”
Troy’s body softened and he reached for both her arms, pulling her puffy coat against his in a symphony of crinkling outerwear. “Oh, Chloe.”
She let him hold her close. “Don’t pity me. I’m blessed to have my dad, and Bree and I are as close as sisters.”
“I know.” He cupped the back of her head with his padded hand.
She tipped her chin up, her heart expanding to fill his arms. “There’s something you and Grady have that I don’t. I wanted to see it. To be a part of it for a few days.” She rested her hands on his chest. “Is that such a bad thing?”
“So basically, you’re using me for my family,” he said low with just a hint of teasing that let Chloe know he didn’t pity her.
“Is that okay?”
He twisted his lips. “I’d much rather you said you were using me for my body …”
She smacked his arm. “You’re not funny.”
“Who said I was trying to be funny?”
“Troy,” she warned him with her tone.
; “Seriously, what’s a guy gotta do to get some appreciation?” He pressed a kiss to her temple as easy as if he were handing over tickets for the ride. Her knees went all warm cider and she was forced to lean into him for support.
“How come I didn’t know you were a flirt?” She pushed her hair off her face, happy to keep up their light banter as they waited for the ride to come to a stop so they could board.
He locked gazes with her. Brushing her wild hair over her shoulder, he leaned close. “I was too busy obeying the rules.”
“What rules?” she whispered.
“Don’t flirt with your business partner.”
“Is that a rule?”
He nodded grimly.
“And you’re okay breaking it now?”
“I’m enjoying it immensely.”
She smiled shyly. “I guess I am the type of girl who breaks the rules, then.”
“Should we try for something a little more dangerous?” His eyes held a challenge.
She didn’t want to say no. She didn’t want to stop whatever was happening between them. “Name it.”
“Oooh, I like your spunk.” He suddenly ducked under the rope, getting out of line and racing off with her in tow.
She laughed, thankful that she’d thought to duck too and not gotten wrapped up in the velvet dividers. They dodged groups of teens and game lines until they arrived at the back corner of the carnival, where there was a quiet ride called “Mistletoe Lane.” Small, two-seater carts shaped like sleighs went through the opening, which was framed with two candy canes crossing to make the shape of a heart. Twenty feet behind them, the sleighs came out carrying couples cuddled close. The inside of the ride was dark except for red Christmas lights forming an archway.
She pulled back, hesitating. There wasn’t anyone around that they needed to convince. No one who would know if they skipped the ride—or went for it with gusto. So, why did he want to do this? Despite the fact that her hormones were doing a victory dance, the answer was important. “Troy?”
He pulled up, his brows coming together in confusion. “Are you coming?”
She looked around them. “I’m not sure.”
He glanced back at the ride and then at her.
“It’s just …” She ripped her glove off her left hand and pushed her fingers towards him, showing the ring front and center. “Is this why we’re here, or …” She couldn’t bring herself to actually come out and ask him if he liked her. Like, like-liked her. Ugh! That was so tenth grade.
Troy gathered both her hands in his. He slipped the ring off her finger and put it in his pocket. Then he held out his hand, inviting her to go on the ride with him, to get lost in his kisses on Mistletoe Lane. Just the two of them. No wedding guests. No parents to please. No pushy photographer. No fake engagement. No one but him and her. Their lips. And a few stolen moments under the mistletoe.
Okay, she could do this. She wanted to do this. From the bottom of her feet which were floating on a cloud to the ends of her fingers that tingled with the need to burry them in Troy’s hair, she wanted this.
She wanted him.
She slipped her hand in his. Her stomach erupted in butterflies that offered to carry her right to the front of the line. She ducked her face, knowing that her eagerness to kiss him again was written all over her freckles. Troy had gone shy too. His hand was warm. They were only two couples back, and she had to tamp down her giggle.
The couple in front of them stepped into the loading platform, and she couldn’t help it—she giggled. Troy lifted an eyebrow. She giggled harder, covering her mouth with her free hand.
“Something funny?”
She shook her head, her curls bouncing. She didn’t dare open her mouth for fear that she’d giggle again. The ride was just so cheesy and they were going for it. They were going to sit in that sleigh and they were going to make out like this was their only chance. Oh heave, she hoped this wasn’t their only chance. But if it was, she was going to make the best of it.
She missed kissing, darn it!
It was their turn, and Troy helped her climb in first. The attendant lowered the bar and gave them a knowing look. “Keep her hands and arms inside the ride—after that, I don’t care what you do with them.”
Troy snorted. Chloe burst a laugh and covered her mouth again. The ride moved forward at an extremely slow pace. They were under the canopy of lights, the brightness of the opening fading behind them. Feeling shy and silly, Chloe cleared her throat. “What now?” she asked before realizing how dumb that sounded.
Troy chuckled. He put his arm around the back of the seat and fingered her hair. Delicious chills swept over her in slow waves. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” sang through speakers she couldn’t see, and the clean scent of him filled her head with cotton candy. “Do you really want me to explain it?” His voice was unsure, and she saw an opportunity to make him blush for once.
“Please do.”
He groaned. “You are killing me, Smalls.”
She laughed, grabbing the front of his coat and pulling him closer. They’d been on the ride for twenty seconds and hadn’t started kissing—that was twenty seconds waisted in her book. “I thought breaking the rules was supposed to be fun.” His breath was warm on her face. The dim light made it hard to see, but she could make out the manly cut to his jaw and the softness around his eyes.
“I’m having a good time.”
She giggled. “Wanna have more?” She scooted closer so their hips touched and she could lean back against the side of the sleigh, pulling him along with her.
“What’s gotten into you?” he asked curiously.
She wasn’t sure. Maybe having spent months working with Troy made being with him natural. Maybe the darkness emboldened her. Maybe the romance of the lights, the happy melody, and the slow rocking of the ride put her in the mood to kiss someone.
Or maybe she was falling for Troy. “I want a Christmas kiss,” she whispered. Their lips were close enough that when she spoke, they brushed. The weight of his body leaning into hers was protective and strong.
He held off, so close she could almost taste the peppermint on his breath. “But do you want it from me?”
Her body singing with the anticipation of having his lips against hers. She nodded.
“Say it,” he pressed.
She moistened her lips. “I want it from you.”
His mouth was on hers before the last syllable cleared her lips. He kissed her hungrily, as if waiting had tortured him more than her. She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her hands in his hair. His kiss was hot, sensual, and it unwrapped her like a Christmas package, ribbons flying.
He moved to kiss her jaw and behind her ear. “How long is this ride?” she murmured.
“Not long enough,” came his answer.
She whimpered and moved his mouth back to hers, needing to get as much of him as she could before they reached the end of the sleigh ride. He moaned, all deep and manly and wanting. Her thoughts banished. All there was in the world was Troy and this kiss and the next and the one after that.
A spotlight hit them in the face and they broke apart, breathing heavily. The light cut off, and there was a lit sign indicating they were almost to the exit.
Troy hovered close. “Wanna go again?”
Heck yeah, she did. “I think so.”
They got off and got back in line, holding bare hands in the freezing cold, not able to let go of one another. Chloe should have been worried about her hair; Troy had run his fingers through it a few times. She should have checked her makeup; it was probably smudged. But she didn’t care about how she looked. All she cared about was the feel of Troy’s hand around hers and the hungry look in his eyes.
Chapter 20
Troy
Troy woke up slowly, reliving Mistletoe Lane in his half-sleep. He rolled over, hoping to find Chloe’s body in the blankets and sheets. He’d dreamed of waking up next to her and had a hard time separating reality from
the heated kisses from the night before.
As his mind cleared, he remembered the long goodnight in the dark hallway before going to their seperate rooms. He looked toward the shut door, knowing she wasn’t far away and thinking she was much too far at the same time.
He scrubbed his whiskery face. Things had changed between him and Chloe last night. At least, they had for him. He assumed they had for her, but with two shut doors and a hallway between them, he felt oddly exposed. Like he’d said more than he should have. Not that they’d talked much last night. He grinned at the memory of her grabbing his coat and pulling him close. A woman who knew what she wanted was so hot.
He burst from his bed, grabbed his shaving supplies, and headed for the hallway bathroom. The door was shut, so he knocked.
“I’m almost done,” came Chloe’s reply, making his heart pound against his rib cage. That woman had a major effect on his biological systems. He set down his shaving kit and leaned both arms against the doorframe, ready for her to make an appearance.
The door whooshed open, spilling steam in his face. When it cleared, Chloe was there, her hair damp and yet still ever so curly. Her face was clean and shiny, her freckles more prominent without the makeup she normally wore. Her skin captivated him, and he leaned closer, keeping his hands on the doorframe.
“Good morning, babe.”
She smirked. “Babe, is it?”
He nodded slowly, letting his eyes travel over her face and neck, barely stopping himself before he acted less of the gentleman he desired to be. When his eyes connected with hers, he found a spark of desire that had him gripping the frame.
She leaned forward and kissed him lightly. “Good morning, honey.”
His chest warmed at hearing her call him honey. He’d never been one for pet names before, but having her give him a name—one just for him that no one else used—was possessive and hot as heck.
He released the wall and scooped her up in his arms so her feet were off the ground. She giggled and placed her palms on both sides of his face.
Lucy McConnell's Snow Valley Box Set Page 64