by Annie Rains
Then, kissing her all the way, he led her to the bed, shedding clothes in their wake and letting the moment take them wherever it wanted. Fear prickled in the back of his mind as he let himself go. Some lines couldn’t be uncrossed. Just like crossing lanes and hitting a classmate. Or signing on the dotted line that committed your next four years to the marines. Somehow having sex with Kaitlyn felt like one of those lines that couldn’t be uncrossed, and yet he wouldn’t, couldn’t, stop himself this time.
* * *
Kaitlyn eased into wakefulness, not letting go of sleep too quickly. She’d just been having the best dream. A sleepy smile crossed her face as her eyes fluttered open to see Mitch sleeping beside her.
Not a dream. Last night had been real, and it had surpassed all her past experiences with a man—not that she’d been with many. She watched him for a moment as he slept. He was a tough alpha male, and he was sleeping like a baby.
“Stop staring at me,” he growled quietly and then cracked open an eye to look at her. The corner of his mouth turned up.
“I didn’t know you were awake.” Or that he could see through his eyelids. This was a man of many talents.
His hand reached under the covers and caressed her arm, the touch sending her body into full need.
She could spend a million nights like the one she’d just had.
“Oh no!” She sat up in bed and turned to the clock on her nightstand. “I have to make breakfast. The guests.” Those ooey-gooey feelings that had been flooding her were now a flurry of panic.
“I’ll go get takeout.” Mitch tugged on her arm, attempting to pull her in for a kiss.
She stopped just short of his lips. “Takeout? Don’t the guests expect something…more? I mean, it’s called a bed and breakfast. I’m supposed to supply both of those things.”
He leaned in and finally kissed her. Then he pulled away and started to dress. “I suspect the guests are all experiencing a bit of a hangover from last night. All they’ll need is hot coffee and lots of it.”
She watched him yank on a pair of jeans. He was still bare chested, and her fingers itched to slide over the smooth contours of his muscled abs. “No takeout.” Tearing her gaze from him, which was no easy feat, she got up and hurried to her dresser. She chose a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved I LOVE NEW YORK T-shirt. “You make the bacon, and I’ll make the eggs and grits. I have frozen biscuits in the freezer. Not Grandma Mable’s recipe but those’ll have to do.”
“Your choice.”
She went to the bathroom and then hurried down the hall and into the kitchen where she began bustling around on autopilot.
“You’ve really gotten this routine down,” Mitch observed a few minutes later. “Mable would’ve been proud.”
Kaitlyn grinned up at him. “I’m kind of proud of myself. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pull this off. But I am. I wish…” She shook her head. What was the point of wishing for something that wasn’t going to happen?
“What?”
“It’s just…my parents thought I was crazy to leave New York and come here. I wish they could see this place now and how I’ve got it all handled.”
“So show them,” he said. “Invite them here to be your guests.”
She considered the idea. “We just reopened. I’m not sure it’s ready yet.”
He flipped the slices of bacon to their other sides. “You just said you weren’t sure you’d pull this off but you are. You have guests and they’re plenty satisfied with their stay here. You’re ready.”
You’re. This was still her endeavor, not his. Last night had meant a lot but it hadn’t changed the end game.
“I’ll think about it. Thank you.”
“What for?”
“Listening. It’s one of the many things you’re good at.” She winked at him.
“You too.” There was a serious note in his voice despite her air of flirtation. He’d shared things with her last night that she suspected he didn’t talk about very often. Somehow that felt even more intimate than what they’d done in bed afterward. This had been more than a one-night stand—even if it had only been for the one night.
She fetched the bag of corn grits from the pantry and laid it on the counter. The water was already boiling. All she needed to do was add some substance and stir.
“Ho, ho, hoooooooo!”
Kaitlyn exchanged a glance with Mitch and then hurried toward the dining room to find Santa Claus standing among the other guests. Except Santa was tall, thin, and had pale-blue eyes like Paris. He was also wearing all black except for his bright-red Santa hat and white fluffy beard.
“I guess today is the big day?” Kaitlyn asked.
“Tonight actually. I’m heading down to the Sweetwater Café to meet some fellow bikers this morning though.”
“So you’re not staying for breakfast?”
He shook his head, his beard scraping low on his chest. “The café is offering us free breakfasts if we dress up.”
“That’s nice of them,” Kaitlyn said.
“You’re a crappy excuse for a Santa,” Mrs. Krespo bellowed from one of the tables. “Though I can see why Mommy was caught kissing Santa under the mistletoe if he looked like you.”
Kaitlyn pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.
“Afterward, I’m checking out the garage apartment for rent down the road. Do you think it’ll help if I wear my hat and beard?” Paris asked.
Kaitlyn tilted her head. “Maybe. Although I’ll be sad to see one of my favorite guests leave if you do rent that place.”
“Your nightly rate is reasonable to a point,” he said. “After two weeks, it’d be unreasonable for me to stay. I’ll see you all later.” He headed out the door, and a few minutes later, she heard the sound of his motorcycle roaring out of the driveway.
Kaitlyn walked over to the Krespos’ table. “Sleep well?” she asked.
Mr. Krespo gave her a sheepish smile. “Very well,” he said.
“No kissing and telling, Marvin,” Mrs. Krespo muttered, reaching for her coffee cup. “Kaitlyn doesn’t need to know you got lucky last night.”
Mr. Krespo’s face turned beet red. “I didn’t tell her that, Evie.”
“Well, you might as well have.” Mrs. Krespo gave her husband an assessing look. “I haven’t danced in years. I forgot how good of a dancer you were. It did things to me.”
Kaitlyn nearly fell over in her shock that the older woman was being civil, even flirting with her husband.
“Maybe I should take you dancing more often,” Mr. Krespo said with a small grin.
“Maybe you should,” Mrs. Krespo agreed, her stiff demeanor softening as she smiled at him.
Well, wonders never ceased. The bed and breakfast was already bringing couples closer.
“All right, everyone. Who’s hungry?” Mitch asked, coming into the dining area with his hands full of food.
Kaitlyn whirled, finding herself surprised a second time this morning. The Mitch Hargrove she’d come to know was standoffish with guests. He didn’t make grand entrances. Instead, he usually snuck up on people.
She watched as he set the dishes at the center of one of the tables and began serving the guests with a smile on his face. He also made easy chitchat, which Kaitlyn had never seen him do here. After a moment, he looked up at her.
Right. She was just standing there, equal parts stunned and charmed by this new side of Mitch.
* * *
Christmas was exactly one month from today. Mitch was halfway home with his commitment and suddenly trying to throw a wrench in things by sleeping with Kaitlyn.
Not that he could bring himself to regret even one moment.
The prospect of one more month with her didn’t sound so bad if it went like last night. The prospect of another month in Sweetwater Springs going stir-crazy in this inn, however…
He’d already checked off everything on Kaitlyn’s to-do list. He’d power washed the outdoor Jacuzzi this afternoon and then showered
the grime off and spent time online perusing places to rent in Northern Virginia. That was it. Now what was he supposed to do for another month?
Kaitlyn came breezing into the room where he’d been sitting and staring at the blinking lights of the tree. “What do you think?” she asked, doing a little twirl in front of him.
He hesitated. “Is this some kind of trick question?” She was wearing a bright-red turtleneck with a pair of fitted blue jeans. A crystal snowflake necklace added just a little cheer to what she was wearing.
“Your mom and aunt Nettie are here,” she said as if that explained her question. It only raised more in his mind.
“Why?” he asked.
“To watch the inn for us.”
He furrowed his brow. “Again, why?”
Kaitlyn placed her hands on her hips. “So you and I can go to the Lights on the Lake event, remember?”
Mitch tensed. “I don’t remember agreeing to that.”
“Mitchell Douglas Hargrove,” his mom said, walking into the sitting room. She paused from lecturing him to admire the tree. “Oh, how lovely!” she said. “Isn’t that pretty, Nettie?” she asked his aunt, who’d stepped into the room as well.
“It really is,” Nettie said. “So bright and colorful! You two must have worked so hard.” She turned to look at him. “Hello, my favorite nephew.”
“Your only nephew,” Mitch said, suddenly feeling like a hostage in this room of women.
“Kaitlyn is new in town,” his mom continued, “and she deserves to go. I raised you to be a gentleman, which means you’re taking her.”
That didn’t sound like a request.
Mitch massaged his temple where a headache was forming. The entire town would be there. Including the Eversons. “Mom, you’re supposed to be taking it easy,” he reminded her. “Not minding the inn for us.”
“I’ll have you know that Dr. Jacobs’s office called this afternoon.”
Mitch swallowed. “And?”
“And aside from being a little low on my iron level, I’m as healthy as a horse. Those were Dr. Jacobs’s exact words.”
“Low on iron?” Mitch asked, scrutinizing his mom’s appearance. A rosiness had replaced the pallor of her skin over the last week. She was almost glowing, part of which he knew was because she was happy to have him home.
“Dr. Jacobs said I have anemia,” his mom said, “which can cause a whole host of problems. It accounts for me being so tired and weak all of a sudden. Dr. Jacobs said to take an extra iron supplement along with my multivitamin and to come back to see her next month.”
“Well, that’s wonderful news!” Kaitlyn said.
“It certainly is,” Nettie agreed.
Mitch narrowed his eyes. “Is Dr. Jacobs sure?”
“Very. She also told me to tell you to stop worrying and to have a little fun. Doctor’s orders. Now get moving. You’re taking Kaitlyn out tonight, and we’re watching the inn.”
There was no arguing with his mom once she’d made up her mind on something.
Mitch turned to Kaitlyn. “Wouldn’t you prefer if I took you to a nice restaurant?” Because it wasn’t Kaitlyn he had a problem with.
Kaitlyn opened her mouth to speak but his mom held up a hand. “She would prefer to go to the one town event that everyone will be talking about until next year’s Lights on the Lake. Mable would’ve insisted on it.”
How could Mitch argue with a dead woman? “Fine,” he finally said.
“Are you sure?” Kaitlyn’s forehead wrinkled. “If you don’t want to, I’m sure I can get a ride over with Paris.”
“On the back of his bike?” Mitch ground out, hating that idea even more. “I said I’d take you.”
“It’d be his pleasure,” his mom said, narrowing her eyes at him.
Pleasure was taking Kaitlyn back to the bedroom. Not walking into what felt most certainly like enemy lines.
* * *
The moon was on a slow rise in the nearly December sky. Music floated above the crowd.
“I know why you were hesitant to come,” Kaitlyn said, reaching for his hand.
Surprising himself, he took her hand as if it were as natural as holing up and hiding himself from the world. He was also surprised that being out and about didn’t bother him as much as he’d expected. He had a large dog-eared hat covering his head and a full beard on his face. In such a thick crowd, no one would likely even recognize him. He’d been worried for nothing. “I’m glad I came.”
Engines roared from somewhere in the distance.
“Sounds like the Bikers for Santa.” Kaitlyn squeezed his hand excitedly. “I’m going to pull an angel off the tree too. It’s for a good cause.”
Mitch nodded. “Mable and Henry always did. They were my Santa as well, although I didn’t know that for a long time. Mom couldn’t afford to buy me a lot.”
Kaitlyn’s hand squeezed tighter as they continued down the row of stores, all lit up and decorated, enticing shoppers to come inside and let the holiday shopping begin. Now that Mable was gone, there were only two people on Mitch’s list to buy for this year. Make that three. He wanted to get Kaitlyn a little something too.
“Hey, aren’t those the Trapps?” Kaitlyn asked, pointing across the busy street.
Mitch followed her gaze to the two young men standing with an older couple. “Yeah. Those must be Nate’s parents.”
“Hmm. Well, being the good hosts we are, we should go say hello,” Kaitlyn suggested.
He wasn’t in the mood for socializing but he didn’t want to argue. “Sure.”
Kaitlyn stepped slightly ahead of him as they approached. “Fancy seeing you guys here,” she called out, gaining their attention. “I didn’t know you two were coming tonight.”
“Kaitlyn.” Nate went in for a hug, and then Chris did as well. After that, they shook Mitch’s hand. “Paris convinced us to come. Then we roped Mom and Dad into coming along too.” Nate turned back to his parents. “Mom, Dad, this is Kaitlyn and Mitch. They run the Sweetwater Bed and Breakfast. Kaitlyn and Mitch, this is Tina and Jim, my doting parents.”
Mitch shook their hands, very aware of Tina’s disapproving look.
“Thank you for giving the boys a place to stay but I really wish they would have spent the holidays at our home. That’s where they belong, not with strangers,” the woman said.
“Mom,” Nate warned, “you know why we didn’t stay with you. We aren’t discussing that here.” Nate’s tone and demeanor were relaxed. “We’re together tonight, and we’re going to have fun.”
Tina shook her head. “It’s just that Christmas is coming, and I don’t want you staying at some cold inn when you have a perfectly good home.”
“With all due respect, Mrs. Trapp,” Chris said, putting an arm around Nate’s shoulders, “Kaitlyn and Mitch’s bed and breakfast is anything but cold. It’s warm and cozy. They’ve taken very good care of us.”
“Thank you,” Kaitlyn said.
Mitch looked over at her and could tell she was working hard not to say whatever was on her mind. He also knew she’d eventually say it.
“Nate and Chris have been such a delightful couple to have,” Kaitlyn said after a moment. “We gave them one of my favorite rooms at the inn.”
“Together, I gather?” Tina asked, making no attempt to hide her disapproval.
“Of course. I agree that family belongs at home for the holidays but a married couple belongs in the same room.”
Mitch noticed the worried glance between Nate and Chris.
“You are so lucky that your son found someone to love,” Kaitlyn continued, keeping her smile steady even though her tone was pointed. “Not everyone does. It’s something to celebrate. Don’t make Nate choose between you and his husband. It’s not fair. And if you do, it’ll likely work in my favor,” Kaitlyn said, “and I’ll see Nate and Chris at the Sweetwater B and B more often over the coming years.”
Tina frowned and then looked at her husband, who kept his head low. Mitch guessed
Jim didn’t mind the couple sharing a room. Kaitlyn was right. Tina’s behavior would eventually put a wedge between her and her son if she didn’t change her rules.
“It was so nice to meet you,” Kaitlyn said, offering her hand to Jim first and then Tina. Tina hesitated before taking it. Mitch shook the couple’s hands as well. Then they said their goodbyes, and Kaitlyn promised Nate and Chris a delicious breakfast in the morning.
“Kaitlyn Russo is not someone to mess with,” Mitch teased as they continued down the sidewalk.
She gave a sidelong glance at him. “Or she never learned when to keep her mouth shut.”
“Nah. Nate’s mom needed to hear that. You did a good thing. I’m impressed.” Mitch reached for her hand again as they walked. It felt natural. Family belonged at home. Married people belonged in the same room. And he belonged here, with Kaitlyn.
Where did that come from?
Before he could analyze his thoughts, Kaitlyn pointed.
“Oh wow, look! Carolers!” She tugged him toward a group of festively dressed singers. Kaitlyn and Mitch blended in with the crowd and watched for several songs. He’d spent many a Christmas at this very event when he was growing up. Somehow, he’d never appreciated it until now when he’d stayed away for so long and missed so many years.
A strong hand slapped his back, sending Mitch into a cough that he quickly suppressed to avoid drawing attention from the onlookers.
“Hey, man,” Alex said with a laugh. He was dressed in his full police uniform tonight. “You must be Kaitlyn,” he said, offering his hand to her.
Kaitlyn dropped Mitch’s hand to shake with Alex.
Alex looked at Mitch and lifted his brows. “No wonder you didn’t need a place to stay last night,” he said just loud enough for Mitch to hear.
Mitch shook his head. “You’ll always be a jerk. Some things never change,” he said in the most affectionate of ways.
“Having fun tonight, Kaitlyn?” Alex asked, ignoring him.
“Oh, definitely. This is amazing. I can’t wait to see the Angel Tree. I’ve heard so much about it.”