Christmas In Silver Bell Falls

by Samantha Chase

  All of which were valid points but it didn’t stop Josiah from wanting her.

  Melanie whispered his name and broke him out of his reverie. “I had a really good time with you today.”

  “Me too.”

  “I appreciate you spending your day off showing me around the town. That doesn’t mean I’ll remember where everything is, but it was nice to get a good look around just in case I need something and you’re not around to help.”

  “I’m only a phone call away,” he said.

  “I can’t rely on you for everything. Believe it or not I’m normally a very independent woman. I thrive on being self-sufficient.”

  He remembered her story earlier about how she was self-sufficient at the age of five and it felt like a fist squeezing his heart. When had someone taken care of her? He knew her father did the best he could, but it seemed like most of their lives had been one struggle after another. And he had a feeling Melanie took on much more responsibility than she ever should have had to.

  “Well, I don’t mind helping you,” he said. “Actually, it’s the sort of thing I thrive on.”

  “Yeah but…it goes with the whole sheriff thing, protect and serve and all that.”

  “Something like that,” he said and shifted until they were touching from chest to toe. “Some I like to…protect and serve more than others.”

  She seemed to catch his meaning and smiled. “That’s not very fair and impartial of you,” she said softly and then seemed to purr at his touch.

  “Maybe not. But it can’t be helped. I’m not sure. It’s all new to me.”

  Her eyes widened for just a second. “Protecting and serving?”

  He shook his head. “The being impartial part. I’m finding I really have a strong desire to protect and take care of you.”

  Melanie released a shuttery breath and looked down at the floor. “Oh.”

  Reaching down, Josiah tucked a finger under her chin and gently nudged her to look at him. “Does that bother you?” he carefully asked.

  “I don’t know how to answer that,” she replied honestly. “No one’s ever…I mean other than my dad…no one’s ever said that to me.”

  He couldn’t help the grin that tugged at his lips. “That’s good. I wouldn’t want to compete with anyone.”

  “Believe me, Josiah. There’s no competition.”

  That could be a good thing or a bad one, but he was opting for good right now. Her blue eyes studied him and as much as he knew he could probably stand here all night just looking at her, it was getting late and he could very easily make himself crazy staying inside his own head overthinking things.

  Time for thinking—or overthinking—was over. Josiah cupped Melanie’s face in his hands as he lowered his head toward hers. He almost stopped when he heard her whisper “Finally,” but he just took it as all the encouragement he needed.

  His lips brushed hers softly at first. He took one sip of her softness and then another before sinking in and truly getting a good taste. She hummed against him and it was a sexy sound that went right through him. Unable to hold back, his tongue teased at her lips and she opened for him. It was hot and wet and fairly consuming.

  Josiah lost track of time and everything around them. He was completely lost in everything that was Melanie—the taste of her, the sounds she made and the feel of her pressed against him. It would be so easy for them to move the short distance to her bedroom but tonight wasn’t the night for that. They needed more time. They needed to learn a little more about one another.

  And he couldn’t even believe he was talking himself out of what he so desperately wanted.

  When they broke apart, both were gasping. He knew Melanie’s heart was beating as wildly as his own because he could feel it, could see her pulse beating rapidly against the slender column of her throat.

  When she said his name, he almost caved. Almost said to hell with good intentions and carried her into the other room.

  But he didn’t.

  He saw the confusion on Melanie’s face and knew he needed to explain. “I want you, Melanie, so much it scares me. But…I don’t want us to rush. I know we talked about it earlier and I know we’ve only got three months, but that doesn’t mean we have to jump into bed tonight.” He sighed. “No matter how much I want to.”

  She smiled and seemed to visibly relax. “I know what you mean. I know what my body wants, but my head is talking pretty loudly to me right now.”

  “Yeah…mine too.”

  One soft hand cupped his cheek. “Thank you for being honest with me.”

  “Always,” he said gruffly. “You never have to worry about that with me.” Leaning forward, he kissed her one last time before forcing himself to stop. Slowly he turned away and headed for the front door. “I better go. I have work in the morning.” He turned and looked at her. “Can I see you tomorrow night?”

  Wordlessly, she nodded.

  “Good night, Melanie,” he said and when she wished him one as well, he walked out and carefully closed the door behind him. And just as it had the previous night, the cold air was exactly what he needed.

  He just wasn’t sure how many more cold nights he could suffer through.

  ****

  For two weeks it became their pattern—when Josiah worked, they’d have dinner together. It was always at Melanie’s place because Josiah felt awkward about how small his place was, or so he said. Melanie knew he loved his place but it really wasn’t great when they were both trying to maneuver in the kitchen. After one attempt, they opted to do all of their meals at her place, although they did alternate who cooked.

  She was enjoying getting to know him and found that everything she learned only added to his appeal. One of the things she was trying to get him to change—and probably the only thing—was his lack of technology, specifically with music. The man still owned a CD player and that was the only way he listened to his music. When Melanie mentioned how much more efficient and space saving an iPod would be, he balked at it. He talked about the price and how he had such a great collection of music on CD, but she had a feeling it had more to do with changing the way he did things.

  On Josiah’s days off, Melanie took those days off as well and they would go out for lunch and he started showing her some of the towns surrounding Silver Bell. It still was a very different environment than what she was used to back in North Carolina, but she could see the charm to it. And at any other time of the year she probably would have felt the charm a little more herself.

  Back home, she would have avoided all of the things she and Josiah were currently doing, the shopping and walking around town. He even took her ice skating twice! And maybe it was just her imagination but it seemed like everything was just…magnified here. The Christmas decorations, the music, the overall cheerfulness of the people were all over the top. At first she wanted to blame it solely on the town of Silver Bell itself, but even when they ventured to another town, she found it equally overwhelming.

  Her writing was coming along better than she ever could have imagined and although Josiah kept asking her about the story, she was keeping it to herself. Normally she didn’t share the details with anyone except her editor just because it was a habit, but now it was more because the couple she was writing about, bore a very strong resemblance to her and Josiah. The only difference was her fictional couple had already gotten hot and heavy with one another while she and Josiah were still…well, they were still not getting hot and heavy.

  Sigh.

  It wasn’t for lack of desire or trying—at least on her part. Short of greeting him at the door naked, she wasn’t sure what else she could do. The man was hell-bent on a slow seduction and it was getting harder and harder not to just blurt out how he didn’t need to bother—she was a sure thing!

  Maybe they could talk about it that night at dinner. His shift was slightly off so he wasn’t going to get home until almost seven but maybe she could…

  Her thoughts were interrupted by her cell ph
one ringing. Glancing down she saw it was her dad and she couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. “Hey, Dad!”

  “Hey, sweetheart! How are you doing?”

  “I’m doing great,” she said and realized she really was.

  “Really? That’s wonderful! How’s the book coming?”

  She shared with him how fast things were coming to her, without telling him exactly why or who was making that possible. “You were totally right, Dad. I needed the change of scenery. It’s really helped me a lot.”

  “I’m so glad, Mel. I really am.” He paused. “So listen, Thanksgiving is next week and I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind me coming up there to join you for it.”

  She gasped in surprise. “Do you mean it? You’d really come all the way up here?”

  “Of course I would. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “We talked about this before I left. I know you’re busy at work and it’s a lot of traveling and the cost of flying is astronomical at the last minute. I don’t want you spending all that money because of me.”

  He sighed. “Mel, it’s been a long time since we’ve had to count pennies. Things are good. You know it and I know it. I know old habits die hard but the thought of not seeing you for Thanksgiving was really bringing me down. I miss you.”

  She felt tears brimming in her eyes. “Aw…I miss you too,” she said, her voice trembling a little. “I just don’t want to cause you any undue stress.”

  “You’re not,” he assured her. “I’m going to fly in Thursday morning—and yes it was the cheaper way to go—and then I’ll be going home Friday night.”

  “But…but that’s really quick. It seems like a lot of time and money for such a short visit.”

  “I don’t look at it that way,” he said. “You and I have never been apart for Thanksgiving and besides, there’s a part of me that would really like to see the old cabin. I haven’t been there since I was a kid.” He paused. “Unless…unless you have plans.”

  Melanie couldn’t help but smile at the sudden uncertainty in her father’s voice. “Actually, I had planned on making a scaled down Thanksgiving dinner for me and…a friend.”

  “A friend, huh?” he asked, and she could hear the curiosity and excitement in his tone.

  She groaned. “Ugh…okay. So I met someone when I got here. He’s actually living on the property.” She gave him the Reader’s Digest version of her first meeting with Josiah—minus the naked in the tub part—and how they’d been spending time together.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t mentioned this,” he said and then sighed. “Why is the father always the last to know?”

  She knew he was teasing her so she laughed. “Oh knock it off. I’m not a kid anymore and it’s not like this is something serious. Josiah knows I’m leaving at the end of the three months and I plan on selling the property to him. He had tried to get your mother to sell it to him, but she never would.”

  “Well, I’m sure she had her reasons.”

  Melanie snorted with bit of annoyance. “More like her just trying to control things like she always did.”

  John sighed. “Look, let’s not even think about it. I’ve got some work to finish up before I go so I’ll just plan on seeing you Thursday morning, okay?”

  “Absolutely. And Dad?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m really glad we’re going to spend Thanksgiving together.”

  “Me too, sweetheart. Me too.”

  Later that night, after she and Josiah had finished dinner, she shared the news with him.

  “I know we planned on just having a low-key dinner for the two of us, but…”

  He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Melanie, you never have to apologize to me for wanting to spend time with your family. If I didn’t have to work Thanksgiving Day, I’d probably be driving to spend the day with my brothers,” he smiled at her. “And I would have brought you with me.”

  “I know…I just…it feels a little weird.”

  “Why?”

  She shrugged. “He’s coming here because it’s a connection to his childhood. You have a lifelong connection to this place and my grandmother. And then there’s the whole you and me thing and…”

  “Wait a minute…are you afraid to tell your dad about us?” he asked and Melanie could see the hurt he was trying to hide.

  “No, that’s not it at all. I already mentioned it to him and he’s excited to meet you.”

  “Okay, then what’s the problem?”

  She stood up and began clearing away the dinner dishes. “It’s like there’s this weird connection between all of us and then there’s the fact that I’ve never had a boyfriend spend a holiday with us and…I can’t explain it,” she said with exasperation. “So basically this is all new territory and I feel awkward and stupid, like I’m a kid again!”

  He stood up and came into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her. “So I’m your boyfriend, huh?”

  She playfully swatted him away and laughed. “Cut it out! I’m being serious here!”

  He laughed and pulled her back against him when she moved away. “I am being serious!” he said. “It’s just been a long time since anyone called me their boyfriend, that’s all.”

  “Are you kidding me? I know you’ve dated. We’ve talked about it.”

  “Of course I’ve dated but…you know…I kind of feel a little old to be somebody’s boyfriend.”

  That made Melanie laugh harder. “So what am I supposed to call you? My male friend? My make-out buddy? What are my options?”

  He hugged her tightly and then released her. “I don’t think I’m particularly fond of any of those.”

  “Got any better ones?” she asked, but her back was to him. She smiled when she felt him press up from behind her and begin to nuzzle her neck.

  “I would say lover but we haven’t crossed that bridge yet,” he said softly between kisses.

  “And whose fault is that?”

  He chuckled and his breath tickled her skin. “I want to make sure you don’t have any regrets.”

  Turning off the water, Melanie turned in his arms. “I think we’ve already covered that too. No regrets. Not with you.” Leaning forward, she kissed him gently on the lips and felt her heart skip a beat when Josiah took control of it. She loved that about him—his passion and the way he always made her feel. She knew that should they ever move forward in this relationship and get physical, it would be incredible.

  Josiah slowly broke the kiss and lifted his head. “So what are you saying?” he teased. “That maybe we should take this inside?”

  She almost wept with relief. Finally! It was on the tip of her tongue to say it but when she met his gaze and saw all of the heat and need there, she was suddenly overwhelmed and humbled by it. Rather than speak, she nodded and took him by the hand and led the way. Melanie only made it a few feet when he stopped her.

  “I wasn’t pushing, you know that right?”

  Something inside of her snapped. Turning toward him, she angrily put her hands on her hips. “Let me ask you something…do you want me? I mean do you even want to have sex with me?”

  Josiah looked at her with something akin to shock. “Are you serious? How can you even ask me that?”

  “Because every time I think we’re going to move in this direction it’s like you try to talk me out of it. I know you’re not rushing me. I know you haven’t rushed me. But you know what? Right now? I’m going to rush you!” And with that she stood behind him and literally shoved him toward her bedroom door.

  When they were both in the bedroom, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it. Josiah turned to her and smiled. “And here I was trying to be a gentleman…”

  Slowly Melanie walked toward him until they were toe to toe. “And I love that about you, but every night when you leave here I go a little more insane. You kiss me and turn me inside out and then you’re just able to get up and go.”

  He shook his head. “It’s not that ea
sy; believe me.”

  “Then why? If this isn’t what you want or if you’re having second thoughts, just tell me!”

  Carefully, he put his arms around her waist. “I really was trying not to rush you. I guess I didn’t realize you were just as anxious as me.”

  “Well I am,” she said with a pout.

  “What can I do to prove to you how much I want you?” he whispered huskily, his hands already beginning to roam from her waist to her shoulders and down her arms.

  “Hmm…” she purred. “Maybe you could kiss me again.”

  He did. “And what else?”

  Melanie pulled her shirt up and over her head. “And maybe you can touch me…here.” She placed her hands over her breasts. “While you kiss me.”

  He did.

  And then Melanie didn’t have to say anything else.

  Josiah knew exactly how to prove to her how much he wanted her. And he did. All night long.

  Chapter Five

  “So there we were, marching down Main Street as part of the parade and the snow was falling down at such a rate that we couldn’t even see the people standing on the sidewalks!” John said, unable to control the laughter. “And I don’t know which was worse—the fact that we were still out there marching or that people were standing there watching!”

  Josiah and Melanie laughed with him. They had just finished their Thanksgiving dinner and John was sharing some of his memories of his time in Silver Bell.

  “We’ve had quite a few events like that,” Josiah said. “The people here are die-hard fans of a parade and festival and we’re so used to the snowy weather that it doesn’t really stop us.”