Page 98 of Noel Secrets

“You also need to not touch me unless absolutely necessary.” Addie’s eyes were serious. “And no kissing. Never again.”

Price couldn’t speak past his dry throat. His heart seemed to hardly be beating, dejected and sad.Never again.What a horrific proclamation.

“We’re stuck here together, so let’s try to bury the past for the next two days and enjoy Christmas with the family. Hopefully then Aiden can find someone else to watch over me.”

He couldn’t speak, so he just nodded his understanding. His stomach churned. How was he supposed to get through the next two days? No longing looks. No touching. No kissing. And still no explaining the mess to Addie. She’d said she’d forgive him for Christmas, but it felt more like a truce. They would play nice forthe next couple days and then she’d pray for a new bodyguard to come.

Price had hoped this reprieve would give him a chance to explain, but he doubted any kind of Christmas miracle would restore Addie’s trust in him.

Chapter Nineteen

Addie did enjoy Christmas Eve and all the plans Mama Millie and Presley had made. They went ice skating with the family on a gorgeous lake right on their property, decorated sugar cookies, went on an old-style sleigh ride behind horses around the ranch, watched Christmas movies, and read Christmas books.

She and Price were included like part of the family. Clint, Lilly, and Cooper were with them most of the day. Walker and Marci arrived in the evening from being with her grandmother in Florida. Rhett and Sloan drove up from Kalispell, and Houston and Daisy also arrived from visiting Daisy’s family who lived right in Coleville.

The evening was busy with a lot of time spent on dinner prep, eating, and cleanup. They also sang carols, and read the Christmas story in the Bible. Presley insisted Price was Joseph, she was Mary, and Cooper was the baby Jesus. The only problem was Cooper started squirming in Presley’s arms and she almost dropped him on his head. Price with his quick reaction rescued the infant. He straightened with a screeching Cooper cuddled against his chest and rocked him, calming him almost instantly. Price soothed Presley, assuring her Cooper was fine.

Papa Jared finished reading from the Bible, but Price refused to give up his hold on Cooper, despite Grandma and both his parents rushing to the rescue when the incident happened. The little one had settled against his muscular chest and was staring up at him.

“Those fascinating eyes of his capture even the baby,” Millie said.

Price glanced up, obviously uncomfortable with everyone staring at him. Those ‘fascinating eyes’ focused in on Addie. She’d told him no more longing looks, but she couldn’t look away from his dark gaze.

Watching him interact with little Presley, she could see that he was a fabulous uncle. That baby snuggling against his broad chest and the way Price and the infant had been looking into each other’s eyes made her stomach do flips.

Price would be the best kind of dad someday, just like her dad. She missed her family and wished she could be with them.

And why was she imagining Price as a dad, as the father to her own children?

It was sweltering hot in this beautiful cabin. She fanned her face.

Millie looked at her knowingly and clapped her hands. “It’s time, Princess Presley, for you and Cooper to open an early present.”

“Yay!” Presley raced for the tree.

Her parents hurried to help her find the correct Christmas Eve presents, which turned out to be Christmas pajamas. While the rest of the family was focused on Presley, Price paced around with Cooper and eventually made his way to Addie’s side.

She looked at the baby, content and still staring wide-eyed up at Price. “You’re good with little ones.”

“Bouncing works for most ages. Bounce the babies to sleep. Bounce the older kids and make them laugh.”

She smiled at that. “Good advice.”

He focused on the chubby angel in his arms. It was a beautiful picture, the tough man and the innocent baby. “I barely saw my nephew at this age. I was deployed.” He smiled. “I love holding babies. Maybe it sounds stupid or counterintuitive, but during tough times on deployment, I thought back to those rare moments. His smile and purity. It gave me the grit to do what I needed to do.”

The tough military man and bodyguard admitting to that made Addie’s heart soften. There was no pretense, no hidden agenda, simply a beautiful Christmas picture.

They had cocoa and cookies and pie, and then Easton and Cassie forced Presley to head home to bed so Santa could come. Lilly took Cooper from Price, and she and Clint left for home as well. Houston and Daisy headed to their house in town. Rhett and Sloan were the only ones staying at the main house with Millie and Jared. Easton and Marci would be staying at their cabin on the property, so they walked Price and Addie back to Miles and Eva’s cabin. She liked the vivacious author and the quieter twin, apparently a roper of some fame but ‘not as famous as his bull-riding twin’ in Easton’s words with a tease in his blue eyes.

Saying their ‘see you in the mornings’, Addie and Price walked into the cabin. It wasn’t late, barely after nine. She wasn’t ready for bed, but it wasn’t smart to let her walls down right now. Truthfully, they were already down. Why did Price have to be good with children and look even more incredible with a baby cuddled against his chest? That was a picture she didn’t know if she’d ever get out of her mind and there was no denying she was falling right back in love with him.

She’d better head to bed.

Price turned away from the door and pinned her with those dark eyes.

“Goodnight,” she managed.

“What traditions does your family do on Christmas?” he asked at the same time.