by JoAnn Ross
Seth frowned. “What’s wrong with the playground?”
Bridey zipped her parka and turned out the lights. “The equipment is old and doesn’t meet current safety standards.”
He took the bag from her. “Sounds like a good cause. Can anyone donate?”
“I think they’d appreciate anything you could do to help out. With the city’s budget so tight, there’s just not any money left over for extras.”
She shivered as they stepped outside. “You’re right about it being chilly. Maybe that will encourage the mayor to keep it short.”
Seth wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked. “We can only hope.”
• • •
Outside, they hurried down to where the crowd was gathering near the bandstand in the park. As they crossed the street, a snowball came flying from out of nowhere to hit Seth in the middle of his chest. It didn’t take long for him to spot Nick and Callie approaching from the other direction. The former soldier already had another snowball ready to launch. Not to be outdone, Seth gathered up a double handful of the stuff and prepared to return fire. Bridey tried to stay out of it, but Callie wasn’t having any of that. She lobbed a snowball at Seth and then a second one at Bridey. Seth defended his woman’s honor, but she did her own fair share of fighting back.
As both couples continued their attack, other grown-ups and a bunch of children chose sides and joined in the impromptu battle with a lot of good-spirited name-calling and jeering when someone missed their target. Seth whooped and hollered along with the rest of the crowd, having a great time ducking and weaving to avoid incoming fire from the other side. When he saw one heading straight at Bridey, he jumped in front of her to take the blow himself.
She threw her arms around him for a quick hug. “My hero!”
“Damn straight!”
Then he gave her a quick kiss and rejoined the battle. The flurry of snowballs slowed down only when someone over by the bandstand started ringing jingle bells to get everyone’s attention, signaling it was time for the lighting ceremony. The snowball fight broke up, and everyone made their way down to gather in a circle around the steps of the bandstand. Callie and Nick fell into step with Seth and Bridey. The four of them found a spot where they could see the podium that had been set up. There was a group of people already gathered in the bandstand.
Nick nodded in their direction. “I see the town council is out in full force.”
The mayor must be a believer in promptness because she stepped up to the podium right at six o’clock. The crowd fell silent as she started to speak. “I want to thank everyone for coming tonight, especially those who pitched in to make this night possible. . . .”
Seth only pretended to listen to what she was saying. Right now all he could think about was how good it felt to have Bridey tucked into his side. Anyone who saw them standing together would know they were a couple. It had been a long time since he’d had this sense of belonging not just to someone, but also somewhere.
He’d always been a homebody, finding it easier to keep to his own company than constantly worry about his stuttering. But right now, in this place, he was part of something larger, and he liked how it felt. All those hours he’d put in stringing lights gave him part ownership in tonight’s event. It was more than having Bridey in his life, but she certainly played a large role in anchoring him here in Snowberry Creek.
Meanwhile, the mayor had moved on to talking about the auction, which would be held on December 23. Maybe he could donate a sculpture or two to the cause. His artwork was sold under his legal name of Geoffrey Kyser rather than Seth. He could always have his agent handle the donation to distance himself from the process.
Eventually, though, he needed to tell Bridey what he did for a living, but he wasn’t ready for that. Far too often in the past people had treated him differently once they found out who he was. It would devastate him if that happened when she learned he was a famous artist, and not just Seth, the guy who built her shelves. His last girlfriend had walked away because of what she saw as his obsession with his art, and what he’d felt for her paled in comparison to how much Bridey meant to him.
Once he finished her Christmas present, he’d use it to explain the artist was the same down-to-earth man she knew, the one who wore jeans and flannel. Geoffrey was the persona who filled out the professional uniform of well-tailored suits.
“Is everything okay, Seth? You look worried.”
Bridey’s question dragged him back into the moment. He smiled down at her. “I’m fine, and it sounds like she’s about done talking.”
The crowd grew silent when Mayor McKay held up a switch box. Then she called out, “Start the countdown!”
Everyone chanted the numbers, their voices growing louder as they approached zero. When the last number rang out, the mayor threw the switch, and the night was transformed into a winter wonderland. The trees in the park had been festooned with white lights, and the bandstand had been decked out in the traditional red, green, and blue. Behind them, the drifting snowflakes softened the bright lights along Main Street into a gentle glow.
He wanted to capture the moment somehow. A photograph would work, and he could certainly snap one with his cell phone like so many of the others in the crowd were doing. That would record the details but not the spirit of the moment, with its richness and warmth despite the cold nip in the air.
“This was worth waiting for.”
Seth could only nod, although he was thinking of something other than the twinkling lights and the crisp beauty of the snow. And from the heat in the depths of Bridey’s eyes, he wasn’t the only one.
“Should we head straight back to my car or take the scenic route and admire more of the lights along the way?”
She stared down the street briefly and then rose up on her toes to kiss him. “Let’s go light up the night ourselves.”
He wished like hell that he had a gift for fancy talk, but his relationship with the spoken word was adversarial at best. He settled for simply kissing her again in the hope she knew what he was trying to say.
And maybe she did because, as she took his hand and set off down the street toward the car, her sweet smile added to the wonder of the night.
8
After checking in at the front desk of the hotel, Seth made arrangements for their luggage to be taken up to the room while the two of them headed into the small bar located in one corner of the lobby. When they were seated, he ordered a champagne cocktail for each of them. When their server returned with the flutes, Seth said, “I thought a celebration was in order.”
She sipped the champagne, finding the bubbly drink refreshing. “And what are we celebrating?”
Seth gave her a solemn look. “Our noble victory over Nick and Callie in the great snowball war.”
Bridey suspected it was more likely Seth had picked up on her nervousness and was trying to take things slow and easy. She appreciated his thoughtfulness and went along with his ploy. “You actually think we won? As I recall, Nick got you twice before you even had a chance to throw one back.”
“Yeah, but I hit him straight in the face, definitely a lethal blow.” Then he grinned. “Besides, they’re not here to argue the point, are they?”
She liked this fun-loving side of Seth. Holding up her glass, she clinked it against his. “Then to the victor go the spoils!”
His eyes flared wide, his smile turning a bit predatory. “I like the way that sounds. . . .”
She studied him over the rim of her drink. “I thought you would.”
• • •
Half an hour later, they left the bar and stepped into the elevator. The doors closed with a soft whoosh, and they were whisked upward to the top floor of the hotel in a matter of seconds.
Bridey wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting when she’d let Seth make all the arrangements. Certainly nothing quite as fancy as this place—not that she was complaining. Well, not exactly anyway. It was hard not to worry about the
cost, but Seth clearly wasn’t concerned about it.
Should she say something? No. He wouldn’t appreciate her concern about the state of his finances, even if it did remind her that there was a lot about this man she didn’t know. He never spoke much about his past or his family background. All she knew about his job was his assertion he had work lined up starting after the first of the year. He hadn’t been very specific about what the job entailed, but she figured it must be along the same lines as what he’d done for her. Maybe that realization should’ve left her questioning the wisdom of her decision to spend the night with him, but she hadn’t been exactly forthcoming about her past herself.
When they reached their room, Seth swiped the key card to unlock the door. He reached inside to turn on the lights and then stood back so she could enter first.
“Wow!”
Bridey wasn’t sure if she was talking about the spacious room or the panoramic view. She wandered closer to the window and stared down at the brightly lit city below. Just like Snowberry Creek, Seattle was decked out in her best holiday finery. Even though Seth was normally the one of few words, right now all she could do was repeat herself. “Wow!”
Seth joined her at the window, where she could see his reflection in the glass. From his pleased expression, it seemed the single word had been praise enough. He stood close enough for her to feel his warmth but without crowding her. Maybe she wasn’t the only one who was intimidated about taking this next step in their relationship.
For a short time, she was content to hold Seth’s hand as they enjoyed the view below them in total silence. The peaceful moment didn’t last, though. She could feel her own tension rising and suspected that Seth knew it. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she regretted being there.
“Would you like to go out to dinner?” He paused to study their reflections in the window. “Or maybe you’d prefer to go back home?”
She seemed to be stuck on one-word answers. “No.”
He looked a bit puzzled as he faced her directly this time. “No, you don’t want to go out to dinner? Or no, you don’t want to go back home?”
“Let me try that again.” She drew a deep breath, hoping it would help calm her. “No, I don’t want to go out to dinner; nor do I want to go back home. Everything I want tonight is already right here with me.”
To prove her point, she placed her hands on Seth’s chest, one right over his heart. She left it there, taking comfort from the strong, steady beat of his pulse. He covered her hand with his, adding another layer of warmth.
“Something made you skittish.”
The truth would be better than any lie she could come up with on short notice. She glanced around at the lush room that surrounded them. “I wasn’t expecting anything quite so grand. It took me by surprise.”
“And you worry about the money.”
At least he looked more amused than insulted when she nodded. “Well, maybe a little.”
“The manager is a family friend. He gave me a special rate in return for some work I did for him a while back.”
Nothing in his behavior made her think he was lying, but she also sensed there was something more he wasn’t telling her. Not that it really mattered. She wouldn’t embarrass either of them any further by prying into his personal business. Besides, she had other, more important things on her mind right now.
Seth brushed his fingertips across her hair. She’d worn it up tonight just for him since he’d mentioned how much he liked setting it free. She savored the simple contact, knowing it was only a precursor to what the night would bring.
“Let’s order some room service. Maybe a variety of snacks to whet our appetites.” He put a small emphasis on the last statement, making it clear which appetites he was talking about. Then he added, “And perhaps some wine?”
“That sounds good. Perfect, in fact.”
After they made their selections, the two of them chatted about nothing in particular as they waited for their food and drink to arrive. When the knock at the door finally came, Bridey took advantage of the interruption to take her bag and slip into the bathroom while Seth let the waiter in with the cart.
It didn’t take her long to exchange her clothes for the black lace confection she’d teased Seth about earlier. The satin and lace skimmed down her hips to stop halfway down her thighs, and the neckline plunged down to hug the top curves of her breasts. Oh yeah. Seth was going to love it. After checking her hair, she touched up her lipstick and then spritzed on a small splash of her best perfume.
Maybe it took her longer than she thought because Seth knocked softly on the door. “Would you like a glass of wine?”
“I’ll be right out.”
Taking yet another deep, calming breath, she opened the door and stepped out into the room. Seth had been in the process of pouring them each a glass of wine. The instant he saw her, he froze, causing him to overfill his wineglass. He cursed and set the bottle aside.
“Sorry if I startled you.” Even though his reaction pleased her deeply.
He stared at her, his eyes slowly drifting downward and then back up to her face. His mouth widened into a hungry smile. “You look amazing!”
He’d packed a lot of approval into that assessment. Pleased, she held out her hand. “About that wine?”
Seth scooped up both glasses and headed straight for her. “I didn’t know if you preferred white or red, but this is one of my favorite local vintages.”
She sipped the wine, savoring the rich taste. “It’s delicious.”
He set his own glass aside. “Can I fix you a plate of food?”
She studied the array of cheeses, fruits, and pastries. Good. Nothing that couldn’t sit for a while.
Placing her glass next to Seth’s, she once again rested the palms of her hands against his chest and then slowly reached higher to encircle his neck. Rising to kiss him, she countered his offer with one of her own. “Why don’t you take me to bed instead?”
• • •
Kissing Bridey tasted like a rare vintage that went straight to Seth’s head. The pounding of his pulse drowned out all awareness of their surroundings except for the lush feel of the woman in his arms. He wanted to take her hard and fast. Bridey deserved better: a seduction, not a claiming. But as he drew in her alluring scent, he wasn’t sure if he had enough control to pace himself. The sweet press of her breasts against his chest only added fuel to the fire.
Even the delicate satin and lace that offered all those enticing glimpses of her pale skin underneath was too much of a barrier between them. Bridey must have been having some of the same thoughts because her hand wandered south to trace the bulge beneath the fly of his slacks. Her eyes dropped to half-mast and her kiss-swollen lips tipped up at the corners. “Take your shirt off.”
Who was he to argue? His fingers fumbled a bit with the buttons, but he quickly shed the first layer of his clothing. His white T-shirt went sailing right after it. He kicked off his shoes and then reached for the buckle on his belt, groaning when Bridey stopped him.
“Slow down.” She softened the command with a smile. “Just a little. Let’s enjoy this.”
He’d do his best, but did she have any idea the effect she was having on him? She went willingly into his embrace, murmuring her approval when he settled his hands on the enticing curves of her bottom and lifted her up enough to press his erection directly against the juncture of her thighs.
“Bridey, my control is about shot. Black lace and your beauty is a potent combination.”
She dug her nails into his shoulders just enough to sting. “I’m yours, Seth. Make love to me.”
He kissed her deeply again before leading her over to the king-sized bed. There he knelt down to grasp her gown by the hem and slowly tug it upward, taking his time to admire each new inch of her skin that was revealed, turning the process into one long caress.
Bridey raised her arms so he could strip the gown the rest of the way off. After tossing it aside, he tu
rned his attention to releasing the clip that held back her hair, setting it free. He loved the soft tumble of dark silk framing her face and brushing against her shoulders. He’d dreamed of threading his fingers through it as he took her. This time, when he reached for his zipper, Bridey didn’t stop him, her eyes following his every move. When he’d stripped away the last of his own clothing, there was nothing left between them except for that last scrap of lace. Now that they’d reached the moment, time had seemed to slow down.
He touched her mouth with a fingertip and then dragged it down to follow the elegant curve of her jawline, her throat, to pause at the pulse point at the base of her neck. From there he traced the top curves of her breasts and then down past them to test the small indentation of her belly button.
Her breath caught in her throat as he continued to follow a path down her body. He closed his eyes as the pad of his finger brushed against the damp heat at her core.
She moaned as he tested and teased, moving his fingertips in slow circles over the thin layer of lace. Abruptly, she retreated a step to perch on the edge of the bed. There, she supported herself on her elbows and arched her back, drawing his attention to her breasts.
Before following her down onto the bed, he reached for one of the foil packets he’d scattered on the bedside table. Once he’d taken care of that chore, he stretched out next to Bridey. Where to begin? He started with a kiss, taking his time and doing a damn thorough job of memorizing her taste. While their tongues tangled, he tested the weight of her breasts with the palm of his hand, kneading each of them in turn until her nipples pebbled up hard.
Continuing to nip at her breasts with his lips and teeth, he eased his hand inside her panties. As soon as he touched her, Bridey gasped and tried to pull him over her.
“Take these off for me, honey.”
Bridey froze briefly but then did as he asked. Minx that she was, she took her time and made sure he watched every move she made. When she dropped the panties onto the floor, she pushed him over onto his back and straddled his hips. His eyes about rolled up in his head when she rocked against him.
