Page 103 of Noel Secrets

“You think he’s okay?” Addie asked, watching them help him out of the barn into the snowy day.

“Yeah. He’ll have a headache and some bruises later. I’m sure he’ll milk it for all it’s worth and Cassie will kiss him better.”

They shared a smile. If only Addie could kiss Price better. He still didn’t have a shirt on. She didn’t have any complaints about that. He was sweaty and she was supposed to be keeping her distance from him, not wanting to hear about each scar on his chest and then kissing him, telling him how heroic of a fighter he was.

“You’re an incredible fighter,” she admitted.

“Are you saying Easton didn’t have to make me look good?” he teased.

“No.” She couldn’t hide her smile. “You don’t need any help from anybody to look good.”

“Thanks.” He studied her, those dark eyes searing into her soul. “Did the fight bother you? You only have sisters, so I didn’t know …”

“I don’t love watching fighting,” she admitted. “But I liked watching you fight.”

His eyes got a sparkle in them. “Addie.” His voice was deep and husky. “I’d love nothing more than to kiss you right now, but I’m all sweaty …”

Addie flushed with warmth. Had he really just said that? “And I told you not to kiss me again,” she reminded him.

Some of the sparkle left his eyes. “There is that. I’m hoping you can rescind that request, that we can talk, kiss, and you can learn to trust me again.”

Addie backed up a step, feeling unsteady. This man was more appealing than any man she’d known, but he had hurt her deeply.

“Too far?” he asked, his eyes serious.

“Yes.”

He nodded. “Shall we go shower and make breakfast?”

“Yes.”

Addie was grateful he’d backed off. She’d claimed to forgive him for Christmas, but she wasn’t ready to hash it all out and figure out how to move past it. Trust would take time to build. If she could ever trust a man again.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Price took his time showering. He’d clearly won the fight, but Easton had gotten in a lot of hard hits. He’d be sore tomorrow for certain.

He’d also pushed Addie too far. Dang. She’d been letting down her walls. If he could’ve kept things teasing and light, he might now be able to walk out of his room, freshly showered, gather her in his arms, and kiss her long and deep.

The problem was he wanted a lot more with Addie than kissing. He wanted forever.

He dried off and got dressed, eyeing his face in the mirror. Addie had touched his scars last night and it had been a tender moment. They kept having opportunities to get closer, but that ticking clock in his head told him those chances were coming to an end.

His phone rang, and that dread filled his heart. With a sigh, he answered it.

“Captain Sanderson.” It was Thayne, respectful and eager as ever.

“Detective Thayne.”

“We found him. We found our guy.”

“Really?” Price’s stomach twisted. This was great news, even if it meant the end of his time with Addie. She would be safe and that had to be the top priority. “Let me get closer to Addie so she can hear this.”

“All right.”

Price pressed mute on the phone. He exited the bathroom and walked down the stairs, clutching the phone in his hand.

Addie was in the kitchen, cutting vegetables. “I showered quicker than you,” she teased. “Didn’t have to wash my hair.”