Completely, utterly, terrifyingly hooked.
“I’ve never needed someone like this before, Piper. I never stop thinking about you and the way your body feels under mine. Makes me ache just looking at you, and I’ve never had that before, not once.”
I turn to face him, curiosity getting the better of me. “What, the handsome and mysterious Christian Crawford wasn’t drowning in women before me?”
His laugh rumbles through his chest, but there’s a softness to it. “Not even close.”
“Bullshit,” I say, arching a brow. “Look at you.”
“It’s the truth. I’ve always been terrified of history repeating itself.”
“You never wanted more children?”
“Only if I had everything I imagined with it. The home. Thewoman. The stability. And now… well, now, I don’t know. Pretty sure that ship’s already sailed.”
“You know you deserve everything you’ve ever wanted, right?” I reach up and trace his jaw with my fingertip.
“And you”—he catches my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm—“have your whole life ahead of you, darlin’. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel like you don’t deserve the same.”
He pulls me closer, lips brushing my forehead in a kiss so tender it makes my chest hurt.
We lie here in the quiet, both aware we’re playing with fire, both pretending we’re not scared of getting burned, but neither of us is brave enough to admit it.
It’s my last full day at the farm, and Christian’s been delivering trees across what feels like half the damn state since he left the bed this morning. Turns out this little Christmas tree farm is so damn magical that everyone within driving distance wants one of these perfectly shaped trees gracing their living room.
I’ve spent most of the day wrangling kids hopped up on more sugar than should be legally allowed, while their parents keep apologizing while simultaneously shoving more sugar into their tiny hands. By the time lunch rolled around, I was ready to lose my mind, but Preston saved me and let me help with the horses. We brought out Roger and his sister, Mabel—names that stuck with me because they sound like a retired couple who argue over crossword puzzles and oatmeal. There are half a dozen other horses scattered across the property, but Roger’s especially close to my heart after my morning with Christian.
But as I take a break and head toward the house, any peace I’d found evaporates the moment I see Travis’s car parked in the driveway, like a dark cloud ready to shit all over my last perfect day.
I storm into the house, and fuck me if he doesn’t look worse thanour last encounter. The swelling’s gone down, but now I get the full, glorious view of the damage I left behind. His nose is bent slightly to the right—a beautiful, crooked little reminder that I don’t play nice when pushed.
Yeah, still not sorry.
“If you’re here to see your dad, he’s not around,” I say, arms crossed, bracing myself for whatever kind of bullshit he’s about to hit me with.
“Actually, I’m here to see you. Wanted to find out if you’re screwing my dad yet.”
“I’m not,” I bite out. “Now, if you’re done—” Travis starts to laugh, and suddenly he’s holding my red thong—the same piece of fabric I definitely, absolutely left on Christian’s floor last night, dangling between us like some weird sexual evidence.
Well. Shit.
“Do you wanna try that again?” The punchable expression on his face doesn’t budge. In fact, the smug prick looks ecstatic,like he’s just hit the jackpot and knows I’m about two seconds from losing it.
“Okay, you caught me. Now tell me, do I look like I give a single, solitary fuck?”
Because I don’t. Not about him. Not about his bruised ego or his petty little games, and definitely not about a piece of lace that proves what we both already knew.
“No, because you’re nothing but a cheap whore who’s spreading her legs for any guy in town who snaps his fingers.”
“Not anyone,” I fire back, cold as ice. “Just your dad.”
“You realize it’ll take one word from me, and he’ll drop your ass. One conversation about how I’m trying to repair our relationship, and you’ll be back down this mountain faster than you can crawl back into your panties.”
“You hate your dad,” I snap back, feeling the heat rising in my chest. “And by the way, for absolutely no legitimate reason other than the fact he simply exists.”
“You know nothing about it. Nothing about what my mom went through when he refused to stand by his word.”
“Oh, did poor little Meredith stop getting her pony rides andcountry club brunches covered?” I sneer. “Or was it that she gave it up to a man she thought she could trap and got pissed when he didn’t take the bait?”
