Page 74 of The Christmas Tree Farm

‘Because of your love of Christmas trees and bad hot chocolate?’ she teased.

‘Yep, that was exactly it.’ He planted a kiss on her chin, and she tipped toward him, letting him capture her lips. ‘Oh, and I love to be verbally abused by local business owners.’

She giggled and he kissed the sound from her lips.

Kira had been undervaluing kissing her entire life. Kissing Bennett, being kissed by him, was an event in and of itself. And right now, it was lazy and delicious and warm. She felt like she could do this forever, kiss him in front of a crackling fire.

She didn’t want it to end.

Stretched out on top of him, his hands on her body, Kira had never felt more content.

It was scary.

And dangerous.

She pulled away and sat up, straddling a rosy-cheeked, swollen-lipped Bennett and he looked so damn good it scared her even more.

It was going to hurt like hell when he left.

And if she was already a half-person without Chloe, how much of herself would even be left?

How had she let this happen?

Why was she incapable of making a single good decision?

‘What happened?’ he asked, brow suddenly furrowed in concern.

Kira bristled. ‘What do you mean? Nothing happened. I just needed some … oxygen.’

Bennett watched her, one hand running idly up and down her thigh. ‘Okay.’

‘So are there any other details about this treasure? Like a map or something?’

‘Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m pretty sure this is just a crazy town rumor.’

She frowned. ‘Right. Probably.’

‘Hey, come here.’ He tugged her back down and her body went without her permission. He was so warm and comfortable, she couldn’t help it. Bennett was a bad decision wrapped in a good decision package, but it was too late to fight it now.

He rolled them a bit and tucked her into his side.

I could live here.

She sighed and he misinterpreted her change in mood.

‘I am sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. And I’m sorry I got your hopes up, but the farm is doing great and I’m sure you’ll have a shiny new boiler in no time.’

‘Sure, yeah, probably.’ Maybe if she started selling her organs along with Christmas trees she could fix up the whole house.

He rested his chin on the top of her head and she nuzzled her face in the crook of his neck.This.This spot right here was where she would set up her new home if she could. She was such an idiot.

‘You’re doing great, Kira.’

And she didn’t know if it was his words or his hands stroking her hair or the warm fire or this crazy day, but her feelings threatened to overwhelm her again. It was a rare thing for someone to tell her she was doing a good job and actually mean it.

She sniffled a little and Bennett tried to pull back to see her face, but she clung tight to him like a desperate little barnacle. She wasn’t ready to leave this warm cove of his body yet. Not until she was forced to.

‘I’m fine. Just … just keep doing that to my hair.’