Page 39 of All I Want is You this Christmas Final

“If they didn’t break the law, then they wouldn’t get the cops called or pulled over.”

Jared chuckled. “You would think people would understand that, but that’s not the way it works.”

“That blows. I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault. I chose this career, and it’s what I want to be doing.”

“It must be hard having people rip on you for something they did.” Anna handed him his sandwich, which he ate one-handed. He saw Anna Beth slipping a small sliver of bacon back to Rip, but he didn’t bust her.

“It’s not easy, but luckily, Snowy Springs isn’t a high crime area. The most I get are the cranky motorists.”

Anna Beth took a sip of her coffee before confessing, “To be honest, if you pulled me over, I’d be cranky.”

“I appreciate the warning.”

Jared glanced over at Anna Beth in the passenger seat, staring out the window as the trees past. He almost asked what struck her so quiet, but he didn’t want to be too nosy. He’s already pried information about Ian’s list out of her.

“So, Stubbs Farm, huh?” she said, finally turning his way. “It’s been a while since I’ve been there.”

“And still haven’t made it down Stubb’s Sledding Hill.”

Anna Beth had just taken a bite of her sandwich and coughed. When she finally stopped, she asked, “Are you crazy? If you couldn’t get me on Slaughter Hill at fifteen, you’re not dragging me up that mountain at twenty-six.”

“You’re still a wuss.”

“I prefer to think of it as intelligent. If I don’t go down a giant hill with a crap ton of trees, I live to write another day.”

Jared turned into the entrance of the farm and parked his truck. “First things first, tree cutting. Then we’ll discuss your lack of adventure.”

Jared climbed out of his truck with his coffee in hand, downing the now tepid liquid and slipping the empty cup into the door of his tuck. He opened the back and grabbed Rip’s leash as the Lab leaped out of the back seat and onto the ground.

“A.B., you wanna hang onto Rip while I grab the saw?”

“Absolutely.”

When she reached for the leash, their hands held for a moment, and he stared into her wide green eyes as lightning bolts shot up his arm from their connection. Her lips parted and a soft sigh escaped between them.

“Do you feel that?” he whispered.

Anna Beth blinked several times. “Yes.”

Thank God, it wasn’t one sided this time.

“What are we going to do about it?” he asked.

“I’m…I’m not sure.”

Jared released her hand, moving to cup her cheek. She swayed toward him when he leaned over and kissed her forehead.

He released her suddenly, before he lost all sense and kissed her somewhere else.

“We’ll put a pin in it for now,” He grabbed the chainsaw from the back of the truck, his heart still galloping in his chest. “Let’s get your tree.”

Fourteen

Was it possible to explode from pent up hormones? If so, Anna Beth would be considered combustible.

She stared at Jared's broad shoulders as she followed him through the trees with Rip by her side. When he’d asked her if she felt it too, all the air left her body. She’d barely been able to release that breathy yes. Anna Beth could still feel the warm press of his lips against her forehead and the sensation of his breath on her skin. They were out here among the trees, trying so hard to be the friends they were before, but it was different. He was different.