by AC Netzel
I shrug. “Seems that way.”
“This means the house will be empty tonight. Noelle’s staying at her friend’s and now Val’s at Jeb’s.” He leans down and gives me a sweet kiss. “And you are all mine.”
“Hmm, I like the sound of that.”
“How do you feel about being tied up tonight?” His wicked words are sex in syllables, promises of pleasure.
“I feel pretty good about that,” I whisper. I love being at his mercy, especially when it’s mercilessly sensual. Squirming, I press my thighs together to relieve this pent-up lust.
“How about we go outside, and I’ll…”
“There you two are!” We’re interrupted again.
Sheesh, can a girl have five minutes alone with her husband so he could talk dirty to her?
“Hey, Holly.” I side-eye Nick, who blows out an exasperated breath, no doubt as sexually frustrated as me. “The barn looks gorgeous. You and Kris surpassed last year’s dance.”
“Aww, thank you. We couldn’t have done it without Nick and your help.” She smiles warmly. “Did you make the sugar cookies?”
“Yeah, they’re on the table.”
“How many did this one,” she points at Nick, “steal while you were baking?”
I chuckle. “Too many. I had to quadruple the recipe.”
“I used to do the same.” She nods in agreement. “So, have you two given more thought to adding a little snowflake to the family?”
From the second we said, “I do,” the baby talk started.
“No. Not just yet. But you’ll be the first to know.”
“I’ve already started crocheting blankets and booties for the baby.”
The baby that doesn’t exist.
We chat about our plans for Christmas Day. Nick and I are hosting this year’s meal with our family and friends joining us. The magic of Christmas that was missing for so many years has returned to my life. Holly is more than Nick’s aunt to me. She’s become my surrogate mother. Her warm-hearted generous soul has taken me in with unconditional love and open arms.
She even bought me a strand of mammoth pearls and crocheted and bedazzled a vest for me—so our outfits would match on Christmas Day.
“I best get back to my hostessing duties,” Holly says. “See you at the cactus blooming.”
“I’ll be by the tree farm to help Uncle Kris tomorrow,” Nick tells her.
“Good. He’d like that.” She gives us each a quick kiss on the cheek then moves on to the next group of Arid Fallians.
Nick grabs my hand. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Outside where no one will interrupt us for five minutes. Let’s get our coats.”
“Are you warm enough,” Nick asks, wrapping an arm around me.
I nod, heated by the flickering flames in the firepit in front of us. Soft Christmas music fills the air from the barn behind us.
Looking up to the cloudless sky, I smile as I watch the tops of the pine trees sweep across the millions of vibrant stars above when the breeze blows. I’ve seen these star-covered skies hundreds of times, and it never gets old.
When we fell in love, I realized that it didn’t matter where I lived… New York or Arid Falls. Whatever sky we were under, as long as we were under it together, was home.
“Last year at this dance, I never imagined we’d end up like this.” I rest my head on his shoulder.
“Neither did I,” he says.
“So much has changed since then.”
He turns his head and presses his lips to my hair. “We’ve come a long way.”
“Look at us now—we have an amazing daughter, you’re opening a café, and I’m getting paid to write.”
“All because you couldn’t convince me to sell my house,” he says with humor.
“Thanks a lot,” I answer sarcastically.
“For what?”
“For ruining my perfect sales record. Although I suppose, in the end, I did get the house.”
“How so?” he asks, amused.
“When you added my name to the deed.”
He laughs. “Pretty hardcore way to go about it. Marrying me and all.”
“I’m very determined. I had no choice but to fall in love with you… you know, so I could get the house.”
“You got my heart too.”
“That,” I turn to him, wrapping my arms around him and hug him tight, “is the best part.”
“Summer?” Tenderly, he caresses my cheek with the back of his hand, making me weak in the knees.
“Yes?”
“I want to kiss you.” He strokes my bottom lip with his thumb. Slowly, softly, back and forth. His gaze drifts between my eyes and my lips.
My pulse races as I remember this exact moment, in this exact spot, a year ago.
Last year I made a mistake.
This year I won’t.
“Why?” I tilt my head to the side and smile.
He smiles back—a warm, beautiful smile that gives me butterflies.
“Because I love you.” He cradles my face in his hands and kisses me so tenderly, with so much love, it sets my heart soaring. “Today. Tomorrow. Next week.” He kisses me again. “And every day after that.”
“I love you too. So much.”
“Let’s say goodnight to Noelle and go home, Mrs. Snow.”
“There’s nowhere else on earth I’d rather be, Mr. Snow.”
My mom wrote in an old scrapbook…
“Find a Snowman who melts your heart.”
I did.
Then I fell in love with him.
About the Author
AC Netzel
My work:
The Casual Rule (can be read as a standalone)
Amazon link: getbook.at/TheCasualRule
The New Rule (The Casual Rule 2)
myBook.to/TheNewRule
The Only Rule (The Casual Rule 3)
myBook.to/TheOnlyRule
The Casual Wedding (The Casual Rule 3.5 Allie Gets Married)
http://mybook.to/TheCasualWedding
Snowman (Standalone)
getbook.at/Snowman
I’m AC Netzel—an accidental author, wife, mother, and terrible housekeeper. I stumbled into Author-land and discovered that writing a book was a great way to get out of housework. (Laziness can pay off if you find a convincing loophole.) I left the dishes in the sink, ran with the writing gig, and here I am.
I’m in love with love and want to spread the joy, make you laugh, and make you swoon. If you’re smiling when you’re done reading my books, I’m a happy author.
I write about smart women with some snark, their relationships with the men they love, and the friends they keep. I like books that are fun, steamy, sarcastic, a little sweet, and swoony romantic… so I wrote them.
I may seem cynical when you first meet me, but truth is I'm a Happily Ever After Girl.
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Acknowledgments
A very special thank-you to Susan, who went above and beyond helping me make this book happen. Your helpful thoughts and endless support are appreciated more than I can express. You made me think and made me better. You are a freakin’ Rockstar, my friend. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you to Vick
i, who always comes through for me with your feedback and, more importantly, friendship. You’re my girl, my sounding board, and my biggest cheerleader for years. I miss your face. I owe you a big ol’ breakfast in Point Pleasant and a stroll on the boardwalk.
Thank you, Shannon… for taking time out of your busy life to read my work while I was still tinkering with it. Your time, support, and feedback mean the absolute world to me. Someday I’m going to hop on a plane and hug you!
To the members of my Facebook Readers Group, The Casual Room. Thank you for dropping in and keeping life fun.
To my amazing fans for hanging in there with me. Reading my books, checking in on me from time to time, and hanging out with me in social media-land. I’m so grateful to every single one of you.
Lastly, to John… because he loves me every day.