Last Resort Love
Page 20
“And did I mention that you are impossible to forget?” he said.
His lips came down on hers and sensation roared through her every muscle, sinew and bone. The warmth and strength of his mouth turned her to molten lava in his arms. She pressed closer and his arms held her closer and closer until she didn’t know where she ended and Nick began. The world spun and her body hummed.
With a booming thunder and crack, the first firework burst into brilliant white and purple streamers and sparkles, and cheers and applause echoed up from the beach. Boom. Boom. Boom. Firework after firework shimmered and popped.
Nick broke the kiss and Krissa’s head rested on his shoulder, her eyes half closed. He ran hot kisses down her neck and then up the other side until he began to nibble on her earlobe. Krissa moaned and clutched at his arms and felt his muscles ripple and tense at her touch.
“God, how I’ve missed you,” Nick whispered in a low, husky voice. With his fingers running through her hair, he rained little kisses along her cheeks and forehead.
“Well, you impossible woman,” he said with a laugh, “I want to hear you say it again. I don’t think I believe you yet.”
With her heart humming happily, Krissa stroked his cheek with one finger. She felt so giddy that she wanted to giggle.
“I love you, Nick Olin,” she said with her eyes softly glowing with trust and happiness.
“See?” he asked. “Was that really so hard?”
“I think it was the easiest and most sensible thing I’ve ever said,” she replied.
“Sensible?” he growled. “Came to your senses is more like it.”
Krissa laughed and stuck out her tongue and then reached up to smother him in kisses. Nick pretended to resist, but before long his hands crept under her shirt and caressed the warm skin of her midriff, and then he cupped the curves of her breasts. Moaning, Krissa arched her back and pressed her hips into his and felt his hard response.
Another firework boomed overhead and they both looked up at the spray of twinkling golden and scarlet sparks. Krissa snuggled into the curve of Nick’s arm and felt the strong, quick beat of his heart. It felt so good. So perfect. She smiled and was pretty sure it was practically perfect.
Nick stroked her hair as they gazed up at the fiery display in the velvety black sky and listened to the rousing marching music echoing across the lake. Nick’s hand guided her face close to his. Their lips met and their arms entangled as a barrage of fireworks exploded overhead in whites, purples, reds, greens, and gold in rings, streamers, pom-poms, and arcing lances.
“I am with you for always, Krissa.” His lips hovered a whisper distance above hers. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Together.”
“I love you,” was all she said…but it was everything.
Epilogue
The sounds of laughter filled the Anderson household as the sun set through wispy pines and bare white limbs of the aspen thicket. The family dining room was packed with people and the table was groaning under platters and dishes, casseroles, gravy boats, and dainty crystal dishes of cranberry compote.
Krissa watched her family tell jokes and dig into the bountiful Thanksgiving spread. A happy glow filled her soul as she watched Dana cuddle her tiny Lily girl close and then as her own mother kissed her new husband, Jerry, on the cheek as he served a few choice pieces of turkey on her plate.
Her brother, David, looked so fine in his uniform and had a proud new bearing that almost made him seem like a different person, but as he laughed at a joke from Eli, she saw it was still her little brother.
Brett chatted easily with his younger sister, Lena, who smoothly scooped a heaping spoonful of cranberry relish onto the plate for her young daughter, Katelyn. Lena and Katelyn had flown in especially for the week, and Lena was already talking about moving back to Wescott Springs.
Krissa watched Brianna Olin slip her phone into her lap, and she suppressed a smile. The dark-haired woman was glued to her phone and seemed to be carrying on ten conversations at once, but she somehow never missed a beat with the people right next to her. Krissa almost shook her head in wonder. That was multitasking at a level she couldn’t handle.
She caught Nick’s eye and he smiled knowingly about his younger sister. Nick turned to answer a question from Eli, when she felt a warm hand on her leg. Nick stroked her thigh and she felt a promise for later that evening. A secret smile tickled at the corner of her mouth.
“Hey, Nick,” Brett said as he chopped up some turkey for toddler Tanner in his high chair. “How’s the deal going for that ski resort you were interested in near Jackson Hole?”
“We closed on it two days ago, but it was a close thing,” Nick said. “I am now the proud owner of my second ski resort in a hip and upcoming destination. We’re finalizing the plans here at Wescott Springs too. We’ve got new cabins, a few rows of condos, and we’ll even be adding a grand gazebo overlooking the lake and another lodge just for parties, weddings, and other events.”
“It won’t be soon enough for yours, though,” Dana interrupted with a laugh.
Nick smiled at Krissa and pulled her hand to his lips.
“Next weekend cannot come soon enough,” Nick said with his deep blue eyes squarely on Krissa.
“I can’t wait,” Krissa’s mother said. “A real family wedding. I’m so excited. Jerry and I eloped and it was wonderful, but I am so glad I get to see my baby daughter marry the man she loves.”
Krissa heard the love and happiness in her mother’s voice, and a contentment filled her like never before.
“And I’m a very lucky guy,” Nick said, “to have this wonderful woman be my bride and agree to spend her life with me.” He kissed her hand again and Krissa blushed with happiness.
“I love you too,” she mouthed silently just for him.
“Krissa has finally given into my pestering and she’s going to create a kid’s camp within the resorts. She’d better be careful or I’ll steal her away from school and keep her all to myself.”
“No way, Uncle Nick,” Eli interrupted. “She’s the best teacher ever. I get to keep her.”
Everyone laughed.
“I won’t go anywhere before the end of the school year, Eli,” Krissa said. “You can count on me.”
* * * *
With steaming cups of cocoa, Nick and Krissa stood on the back deck under the awning. Little fairy lights decorated the yard and they watched the first snowflakes of the night drift lazily through the dark sky.
“Just eight more days and you’ll be stuck with me forever,” Krissa said and leaned against Nick. “Do you think you can handle that?”
“Yes. It’s all I want,” he replied. Nick wrapped an arm around her and snuggled her close to his heart.
“I’m hoping you might want one more thing,” Krissa said and looked up at his handsome face. She glowed with happiness. She had no doubts this time.
“I’m pretty content right now, lady.”
“What would you think if we started our own family sooner rather than later?”
A silly grin slowly slid over Nick’s face. “Really? Are you sure?”
“Yep! I hope you don’t mind a pregnant bride. No champagne for me,” she said with a laugh.
Nick scooped her in his arms, swung her around in a dizzy circle, and kissed her firmly and thoroughly.
“It’s still really early, but I have a good feeling about this,” Krissa said and tried to catch her breath.
He placed a hand on her belly and the silly grin was back on his face. “I sure love you, my wife-to-be.”
Krissa hugged Nick close and hummed happily. Love was simple at last.
The End
Publisher’s Note
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About Holly Cortelyou
Holly Cortelyou is a romance author who pens sweet and spicy small town, contemporary romances as well as supernatural and paranormal historical romance
s.
On any given day, Holly can be found sipping coffee and surfing Facebook for gossip on royals, college football (Go Ducks!), knitting, and ghosts.
After trying on many hats as a meeting planner, political scientist, long haul trucker, and financial services specialist, she has finally found the perfect fit as a romance writer.
Holly’s living her own happily ever after with an uber-handy and sexily broad-shouldered husband, a sweet chocolate lab, and a fluff ball kitty in sun-kissed southern Oregon.
She has hazel eyes and a goofy sense of humor…all the rest is subject to change without notice.
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