A Bent Creek Christmas by Catie Cahill

Author:Catie Cahill [Catie Cahill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-06-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Gabe

It was a split second decision to step around the ladder. Marybeth landed in my outstretched arms.

She drew in a gasp as I stumbled just slightly. I shifted her weight so that one of my arms was under her back and the other one slipped beneath her knees.

“Are you all right?” My voice came out strangled as she pressed a hand against my chest.

She nodded, her eyes wide. I should have put her down. She was okay. Safe. Unhurt. And yet . . . I didn’t want to. It felt natural, like she belonged there, protected in my arms.

Her breath warmed my face, and all I could think was that if I leaned down just a few more inches, my lips would meet hers. What would she do if I kissed her? Would she push me away, call me a villain, and kick me out?

Or would she pull me closer and return the kiss?

“Gabe?” Her voice came out shaky and her hand was warm against my shirt.

I groaned inwardly. I had to set her down. Now. Or I didn’t know what would happen next. And I didn’t trust myself to make that kind of judgment right now.

I lowered my right arm until her feet touched the ground. She stepped away and pulled at her sweater, smoothed her hands over her jeans. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

I cleared my throat. I needed to get out here. The carols playing overhead, the trees, the vanilla scent I swore I could smell on Marybeth . . . It was too much.

Everything here was too much.

“I’ll see you later.” I grabbed my coat and left as fast as I could.

Outside, the frozen air stung my nostrils as I strode quickly down the sidewalk. I was halfway through the next block before I yanked my coat on. I passed more people than I had since I’d arrived back in town as I tried not to think about Marybeth. They each stared at me, more curious than angry, a couple said hello, but I didn’t stop until I reached the truck.

But I didn’t feel like driving. I left it in the parking lot and walked the blocks back to the bed and breakfast, relishing the cold air hitting my face and burning my lungs. It felt good. It made me feel alive. And it clarified my thoughts about Marybeth.

I’d wanted to kiss her. Badly. And I couldn’t. Not because of our families. None of mine was left here to care, and if Luke Noble or any of her other brothers wanted to have words with me after all this time, so be it.

I couldn’t kiss her because I wanted her to sign that contract.

Didn’t I?

I climbed the steps to the B&B’s porch, my breath coming fast from the pace I’d set walking back. My phone buzzed before I could reach for the door.

With an odd hope it was Marybeth—did she even have my number?—I pulled it out. Only to find a text from Hatfield.

Spoke with Durnstorff.

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