Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“What?” I turn to her.
“You need a tree for your house,” she points out, “and I’m assuming you will be getting one for your house. I will be cutting it down.”
“You really think someone is going to give you a chainsaw to cut down a tree?” I turn to her. “Honestly, ask anyone if they would give you a chainsaw.”
“I’m cutting my tree down,” she huffs.
“To put in my house.” I follow her as she treks it up the side mountain.
“You said make myself at home, did you not?” She stops next to a row of small trees. “This is me making myself at home.”
“I could say no,” I mention as she walks through a bunch of small trees. I see her parents over on the other side with Jack and Evie as they point out the biggest ones.
“You could,” Elizabeth says, “or we can get two trees.”
“Where would I put two trees?”
“I could put one in my room,” she suggests, moving past the trees and going to the other section.
“You really are taking the make yourself at home saying literally.”
“You betcha.” She smiles at me. “Who do you think I talk to about getting the saw?”
“Elizabeth,” I say her name, “there is no chainsaw, it’s a handsaw.”
“Okay, then who do I talk to about getting a handsaw?”
I roll my eyes. “Have you even picked out a tree yet?” I ask her and she looks around.
“I want to be prepared, Nate.” She moves her foot, and she trips over a branch and falls flat on her face. The sunglasses fly off of her face as she uses her hands to stop the fall. I’m reaching out, but I’m not fast enough before she hits the ground.
I shake my head, making my way over to her, grabbing her glasses along the way. “How prepared are you now?” She pushes up on her elbows.
“Wow.” She turns on her back. “You aren’t even going to fall down for me.” She starts to get up and I hold out a hand for her. I’m thinking she’s going to grab it, but instead she slaps it away.
“I don’t need your help, Nate.” She gets to her feet and dusts off the snow from her leg and her arm, her hands now turning red.
“Where are your gloves?” I ask her and then hold up a hand. “Let me guess, they didn’t go with the outfit.” I reach into my pocket and pull out my own gloves. “Here, I’ll sacrifice frostbite for you.”
She comes to me, standing toe to toe. “I’d rather suffer frostbite than accept anything from you.”
“Well, if it makes you feel better,” I say, leaning down closer to her face, not sure I should say what I want to say, but also not caring anymore. She’s pushed every single one of my buttons since she paraded back into town. Not once even talking about that night to clear the air. If she doesn’t care, I’m not going to. At least this is what I’m telling myself. “I would sacrifice myself and get naked with you if it meant keeping you warm.” My words shock her, her mouth parting on a gasp. “Your glasses”—I hold them out to her—“wouldn’t want you to trip.”
CHAPTER 11
Elizabeth
CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
He smirks down at me, his stupid face with stupid stubble and an even more stupid chin. “Well, if it makes you feel better…” He leans closer to me and I can smell his musky scent. My hand itches to grab his jacket and pull him closer to me, to see if the kiss I remembered vaguely is as good as I think it is. Or is it maybe going to be horrible and I won’t want to kiss him anymore. “I would sacrifice myself and get naked with you if it meant keeping you warm.” I have imagined a bunch of words coming out of his mouth. But I never in all my life imagined him saying that to me. His words leave me in shock, my mouth hanging open, while other parts of me tighten, and if he wasn’t looking straight at me, I might even fucking shiver at his words. “Your glasses.” His hand comes up to hold up my glasses. “Wouldn’t want you to trip.”
I snatch them out of his hand and hiss, “You better watch where you are going.” I try not to sound like I’m panting from his words.
“Hey, you guys,” Jack says, running to us, “have you found anything you like?”
“Does it look like we’ve found anything we like?” I ask him, putting my sunglasses on so I can stare at him without him actually knowing.
“Someone is grouchy today,” he notes, trying not to laugh.
“Today?” Nate says, shaking his head. “How long has she been in town? She got grouchy probably the day before she landed.” He puts his hands on his hips, his jacket unzipped, showing the beige knitted sweater under it. You can see how soft it is, and I find myself wanting to touch it.