I thought it would be nice to share this Christmas Story with all of you.
Have a wonderful Christmas and Holiday!
ANGEL TREE
Charlie didn’t need to point her out, Nick had been watching her for the last ten minutes. “Yeah, that’s her.”
His friend got called over to load up a tree for a customer.
Nick busied himself with nailing in another cross stand to the bottom of a tree. He thought that even if he didn’t check her position around the tree lot every few minutes he would know where she stood. Her image was burned into his mind as complete as the sap from all these trees had seeped into his skin.
He remembered when she first showed up at the church Christmas tree lot two days ago. The cold front was clipping through and her long auburn hair was blowing all around her. Her cheeks glowed like a soft light buried in a decorated tree, they made her eyes look like they were glittering.
The memory made him bite the inside of his cheek. It wasn’t glitter that shined in her blue eyes, no, they were tears. Even now, as he looked over at her again, he could sense the sadness inside of her.
In mid air the hammer slowed and never struck the nail he held. Nick let go of everything and moved to intercept her, not wanting to let her escape another day. Maybe I can help…
He stepped in front of her before she could scoot around the flimsy fence surrounding the trees. “Hi, I’m Nick and I know you must see this tree.”
Without thinking he took hold of her hand and started walking through the row of pine trees. “The one I saw is just over here—a blue spruce—there it is!”
Ginger stumbled after the tall man pulling her along. She didn’t really feel like she was walking and couldn’t find the power to pull back. The trees smelled so good, she let their scent invade her senses. Odd, but not even their essence could overpower the force of the man before her. He possessed a special spirit, one that touched her heart with warmth and something she couldn’t identify. She didn’t need to see him again as she stared at his back, she already knew he possessed the greenest eyes and soft, brown hair that flowed into his neatly trimmed beard. She smiled remembering how there were white highlights at each side of his cheeks. His height would make her strain to meet those glorious eyes, ones that followed her every move these last days.
“What did I tell you, this is the perfect tree.”
He no longer held her hand and the cold started to invade her palm. She closed it tight to capture his lingering warmth. She couldn’t help but look at the tree he held out for her to see.
Nick watched the smile tug at the corner of her heart shaped mouth. He waited for those crystalline eyes to meet his, knowing that if combined their eyes would be the color of the tree he picked for her.
Ever so slowly her gaze moved across the outstretched branches, the tree’s width would make three of her and stood up to his shoulder. The tips of the branches looked as if they were dipped in frost, the beauty of it stole her breath. “It is glorious.”
Soft as an angel her voice reached him. “Yes—a true angel—of a tree.”
Their gazes locked, hers full of humor over his stammering statement. “An angel tree, I believe you are right.”
It took all of Nick’s concentration to speak up, “I noticed you don’t have a car with you. I can deliver it tonight, on my way home.”
He knew before she said it that she would refuse the tree.
“I would love this tree, Nick, but I can’t…”
“Oh, it isn’t for sale—the tree picked you.”
Nick heard the breath she sucked in, realizing his statement shocked her. He was about to apologize…
“Oh my, it did?” Ginger glanced between the tree and Nick in confusion, then dismissed it, knowing she mustn’t question the gift.
The girl rattled off her address and spun about, disappearing into the row of trees. Nick stood there a moment—wondering, then he smiled and called out, “6425 Forest Road, got it and I’ll be there, with the tree.”
Yes, a tree with a baby just starting to climb and reach for things wasn’t exactly the right mix. Ginger refused to think about the other reason she didn’t want a tree.
The gurgling tug on her dress made her look down and smile. “Right, dinner time isn’t it?”
She picked up the smiling baby who offered her a sip from her cup. Ginger made a show of accepting the shared drink as she placed her daughter in the highchair. “There you go, Sugar. I have your dinner right here.”
Sugar’s feet kicked in excitement as the plate was set before her. Ginger watched her daughter for a moment to make sure she liked the choices. “Messy, but fun.”
The child’s little fingers closed about the chicken nugget. She knew Sugar enjoyed touching everything and squeezing the item. “I wonder how the tree will survive.”
She shook her head and laughed softly over the challenge ahead.
The doorbell halted her thoughts. She took a deep breath before going to answer it.
Nick stood there as the door opened releasing a rush of sensations. She looked prettier than before, a calm seemed to cloak her. “Hi—I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“Ginger and welcome, come in Nick, please.”
“Where should I put the tree?”
“I cleared a place for it in the corner.” Ginger led the way and wished she could see his reaction to her home. It was a small house and as clean and neat as any home can be with a baby on the loose. She moved out of his way as he carried the tree in and went over to Sugar to check on her. “I hope you like meatloaf and potatoes?”
Nick stood behind her staring into the smaller, matched set of crystal blue eyes.
“Her name is Sugar. Sugar this is Nick.” The baby’s feet kicked the highchair as she smiled at the man towering over her mother. “She doesn’t talk much, yet.”
“She is beautiful, looks just like her mother.”
Ginger felt the blush rushing over her cheeks. She moved her head to look around Nick. “My goodness, the angel tree is beautiful.” She looked up at the man before her and smiled. “Thank you, Nick—?”
“Clauze.”
“Really?” Ginger couldn’t halt the question.
Nick grinned, “Oh yeah, with a z. And it would be Ginger—and Sugar?”
The buzzer went off breaking their locked gazes. “Meatloaf…”
“That’s worse than Clauze.” He heard her giggle. She moved about the kitchen gathering plates and silverware, he started to wonder if she would tell him her last name when she turned and stopped to look at him.
“Snapp, it is Ginger and Sugar Snapp.”
Nick shut his mouth and smiled, when he looked at the baby grinning at him he couldn’t help himself. “Two cookies, now that is perfect.”
She moved past him to set the table and right some items on the baby’s tray. “Like I said, I hope you like meatloaf.”
“I love it.” He wondered at both their refusal in asking if he would stay for dinner. Nick was surprised by how relaxed he felt around her and the child.
“You best sit on this side, she likes to share her food and drink, a lot.”
He took his seat as she set out the platter of meatloaf and bowls of potatoes and vegetables. “Please dig in while it’s hot. I have ice tea or coffee.”
“The tea would be great.”
Nick waited until she finally sat down and smiled at her. “It smells heavenly, Ginger.”
She noticed that he hadn’t dished up and she felt a lightness in her heart, “Would you say grace, please.”
Nick took her hand and reached over and let Sugar grab his finger as she did her mother’s. “God, thank you for this wonderful food and the two cookies that invited me into their home…”
She interrupted him, “And the angel tree, thank you very much.” They said ‘amen’ together and Ginger gave his hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it.
* * * *
Nick loaded the last dish in the washer as she came back from putting the
baby to bed. “Is she all tucked in?”“Oh yes, she has always been good about that.”
He leaned back against the counter knowing he should go, but it was the last thing he wanted to do. “You raised her alone.” It was a statement more than a question, he sensed a lot from her during dinner.
“Her father died in the war before she was born.”
Having served over there and survived Nick’s gaze never faltered. “I’m sorry, Ginger.”
“It’s okay, I’m getting over the emptiness.”
He wanted to argue that point but decided now wasn’t the time.
“Nick, would you like to help us decorate the tree?”
If she hadn’t asked him he would have invited himself. “Yes, I would.”
“Tomorrow is Saturday, are you off work?”
“I’ll be here.”
They settled on the time as they walked to the door.
Ginger almost walked into him when he spun about at the door. “Ginger, dinner was really great, you are a wonderful cook.”
She laughed, “I better be, I’m the lunch chef at Mical’s on Main Street.”
He wondered how many more surprises she carried. It was the fanciest restaurant in town and he knew how good the food was, he took his clients there for lunch many times. She looked too small to even work in a kitchen let alone run one. Nick realized she caught his surprise.
“It’s okay, I get this reaction a lot.”
“I’m sorry, it isn’t what you think.” His finger touched her lips to silence the temper he caused to flare. “I think you will constantly be a surprise to me, Ginger.” Nick slowly moved to capture those velvet lips in a light caress that he wanted beyond reason to deepen. He could feel her surprise and made himself pull back. “Night Ginger.”
She watched him walk towards his truck, raising her hand to wave when he looked back towards her. The door slowly closed and Ginger leaned her back against it as her fingers rose to touch her lips. “Wow, Mister Clauze.”
“You are in a rush to leave today, something special going on?”
Mical smiled at her blank gaze, not surprised that she didn’t hear him. More than once today he felt she’d been preoccupied, it wasn’t like her. He hoped nothing was wrong with Sugar. “How is Sugar?”
“She is fine, I need to go pick her up.”
He wondered again how long it would be before she felt up to taking over the dinner service. Though she planned all the menus and Clive was a good a chef, he wasn’t Ginger.
“Do you want to join me, I’m going over to Groveland mall for some shopping. We could make an afternoon of it with Sugar.”
“I’m sorry Mical, we have plans for today.”
“Really?”
Ginger giggled as she walked past him and called out. “I do have a life away from here!”
As the kitchen door swung shut he answered. “No, no you haven’t—until today.”
His jaw firmed over his thoughts then shook his head to deny them. Ginger hadn’t dated since she started working for him, even before Sugar was born. Ginger had been deeply in love with Randy and he knew she needed time to heal. Though they kept their relationship on a friendly, professional level, Mical always wanted something more with Ginger. “Who the hell is he?”
* * * *
“No one else walks like her.” Nick maneuvered the car up to the curb and
called out through the window. “Hey pretty lady, going my way?”He switched off the motor over her smile and jumped out to help her.
“I didn’t realize I was running so late. Sugar and I must have got lost in the store.”
Nick took the various packages from her overfilled hands and placed them in the bed of the truck. When he turned back to look at her all he could do was smile at Sugar grinning up at him. “This is some get-up you are in Sugar.”
When he realized Ginger was moving her arms out of the bands to swing the backpack around that the baby sat in, he lifted it and Sugar off of her mom. “How this?”
“Lighter, she is getting bigger every day.”
“Do you walk out here all the time?”
“We have been, I always felt it was better for her to be outside.” Ginger rattled on as she pulled Sugar from the backpack. “There is hardly any traffic out this way and on bad days Mical usually brings us home. If I’m going shopping I usually take the stroller in the morning, I just didn’t think about it today.”
Nick held the baby while Ginger got in the truck and then passed her Sugar. When he was sure they were settled he shut the door. As he got into the truck he suddenly felt glad this was an extended cab, then chastised himself for thinking ahead of the situation. We just met Nick old man. If only these feeling she brought with her weren’t so strong.
“Thank you for picking us up.”
“It looked like you needed some help.”
Was he angry? Ginger wondered what upset him and looked over at him again, but the thunderous look no longer filled his gaze. “We were alright, Nick.”
He took a deep breath over the censure he heard in voice. “I meant all the packages you were carrying.”
His excuse seemed to calm her down. The lady certainly carried a temper inside that petite, curvy body of hers. Nick smiled to himself and wondered if he would survive a full blown attack of it from her.
“You’re right, I got carried away. I realized I didn’t have any ornaments for the tree.”
“Ahh, so the Christmas spirit struck.”
Her soft giggle filled the cab and Nick couldn’t believe the affect it had on him. He realized he wanted to make her smile and laugh, take away the sadness she kept inside.
“Well, you weren’t alone, I too went shopping, only I have a truck to hold it all.”
Ginger couldn’t help herself from looking around and spotting all the bags in the backseat. “No way, and I thought I was bad. You didn’t need to do this.”
“Humor me, I haven’t decorated a tree for years.”
“Really? Why not?” Ginger watched him and wondered if he would dodge the answer. She admitted that she did want to know this man. Her heart hadn’t stopped racing since he stopped to pick them up.
“First there was college, the decorating was always done by the time I got home. Then the war took over, there wasn’t much to decorate over there.”
Nick instinctively reached over and covered her shaking hand holding Sugar. He wished he hadn’t mentioned it as he moved back to turn the wheel and pull into her driveway.
Nothing more was said as they began to unload. Ginger went to get Sugar settled as Nick brought things into the house.
“How about some coffee? Sugar will be down for a while, this is her nap time.”
“That would be great, thank you.” He couldn’t stop watching her as she moved about the kitchen. He noticed how functional the kitchen looked and the new stove. Of course a chef would want her kitchen to be top of the line. “How long have lived here?”
Ginger didn’t turn from making the coffee to answer. “I moved in her when I was four months pregnant. It was a good buy and location to go with the job.”
“Sounds like you have settled into Titusville.”
“I went to chef school in Groveland, so I knew the area. I met Mical while in school, he offered me the position before…” Ginger’s hand stopped scooping out the coffee. She closed her eyes for a second before continuing. “Before Randy was killed.”
Nick wished he could pull her into his arms and calm the shaking he witnessed. “It must have been very hard for you.”
She snapped the lid shut and turned to face the man watching her. “It is, was, I’m doing better now.”
He had a feeling Christmas made it rougher than usual for her. “I can only imagine what you have a still are going through, Ginger.” His own memories from the war still troubled him.
“Sugar has made it better. I wish she could have known her dad, but she will in some ways.” That troubled look drifted through his glorious eyes again and she wondered how he himself had fared through it all. “Coffee is ready.”
“Black is fine with me.”
Ginger poured him a mug full and passed it to him, their fingers lingered when they touched and she could feel the heat in her cheeks.
Nick cleared his throat and sipped the hot coffee. “Hmm, wow, what is in this it is delicious.”
“Oh, I should have warned you.”
Her soft laughter warmed him more than the coffee. “I really like it.”
“I make up my own blends for various occasions. This one is the winter blend, it has a little cinnamon, bourbon and a touch of anise.”
He took another sip and rolled the flavors around his tongue. “It is really exciting and warm, I’m impressed.”
She smiled over his honest compliment. “I’ve always played with flavors in coffee and tea.”
“Have you ever thought of marketing this?”
Ginger almost scoffed at his question until she saw how serious he was. “Not really, I usually just make it up for gifts and friends.”
He passed her his empty cup. “Well, I’d like another cup and I think you ought to make this more than hobby. I’d like to taste some of the other blends when you have them.”
“You’re serious.”
“I don’t kid about business.” His smile earned her own.
“Okay, I’ll make you up some of them to try and see what you think. I warn you now, these aren’t like the ones on the market in the grocery store.”
“I can already tell that Ginger by this one. I’d say they would be strictly gourmet or specialty items and there is a huge market for this type product.”
She could see his excitement building. “I take it you don’t sell Christmas trees for a living.”
His laughter filled the room and made her stomach flip in a funny soft way.
“I own a marketing firm, Clauze It.”
“I know that place, we do a lot of catering for them—for you!”
He leaned over the counter and pushed her chin up to shut her lovely mouth. “That’s me and I must say, you are the best chef in this whole area, Ginger. I’ve never received so many compliments as when you cater our events.”
The blush warming her face made him take a deep breath as finger brushed over her lips. Such velvety softness, he wanted to do a lot more than just kiss them…
“Thank you, it is nice to know the work is worth it.”
“It is and I’m serious about your blends. I know how to develop and market this if you want to do it.”
The touch of his finger moving over his chin nearly made her miss his offer. “You try the blends and we’ll talk about it.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, Nick, I promise.”
Sugar finally went to sleep after all the excitement and Nick left a short time later. Ginger missed his presence. He could fill the house with warmth by just being here. Like tonight when he just sat beside her in silence as they watched the lights play off the many delicate bulbs on the tree. She realized she hadn’t felt this kind of peace for a very long time. “Nick Clauze, you definitely have made an impression on us.”
Yes, us, Sugar seemed to have taken to Nick right off. Usually, her daughter shied away from strangers, men in particular, but not Nick. And he appeared just as taken by Sugar. Her daughter sat in his lap for most the night or was held in his arms as she helped him put bulbs on the tree. Sugar’s glees and ohhs over each one left Nick laughing with a permanent smile on his face.
“He honestly enjoyed himself.” Ginger couldn’t figure out why she wondered about his reaction so much. In all honesty she couldn’t remember any other man reacting the way Nick did with Sugar. He was so at ease with her. The way he held her and played with her, all the while keeping her entertained… “but safe.”
That is exactly what she felt from him tonight. Nick kept Sugar safe from all the dangers associated with the tree. He even thought of her when he set the tree up by bringing a tall stand for the tree to sit atop. Sugar couldn’t reach the tree and Ginger knew how relieved she felt over his unexpected action to make it safe.
Oddly Ginger felt safe as well. “What is it about you, Nick Clauze? How have you affected us so quickly?”
Voicing her feelings didn’t solve any of her questions. She wondered if her heart finally healed. “Can I care for another person again? Dare I?”
All the pain and heartache that came with those words blurred the tree’s beauty. Ginger brushed the tears away refusing to let them fall, she’d done enough crying. “It is a beautiful tree, thank you Nick.”
She thought again of her coffee blends. He made sure she understood he was serious about producing and marketing the blends. Ginger looked up again at the angel on the tree and smiled. She would need to mix up her favorite blends for Nick to try. He would be over on Monday, her day off, to experience all of them.
Ginger could feel her excitement building and she knew it wasn’t because of the possible business venture. Oh no, one particular man is where her anticipation rested. Just the thought of seeing him again thrilled her. After the kiss he imparted at the door she wondered if the flutters in her stomach would ever subside. The way he rested his forehead against her own to halt the fervor that one kiss created between, would stay with her for a very long time. “He wanted more and so did I. So much more.”
* * * *
“Ginger, can I see you in my office?”She placed the last dish on the counter and followed Mical into his office. “What’s up, boss?”
“That’s what I want to know.”
Her brow rose in confusion over her friend’s tone. “Why are you angry?”
She watched the struggle in the man to control his temper. Mical did have a temper, but rarely lost it with her and she couldn’t think of any reason for it now.
“You aren’t yourself, Ginger. Is something wrong with Sugar?”
Her head moved to deny his concern, “No, nothing is wrong, Mical.”
“Then why are you racing out of here all the time? You never did this before. I heard you tell the crew you were leaving right after prep.”
“It isn’t a problem, Mical. The dinner prep is finished and the lunch crowd is over.”
“So what. What is so important that you need to rush home?”
Ginger swallowed down her ire and the retort she wanted to give into. “I have business to take care of, that’s all.”
“And would this business come in the form of Nick Clauze?”
Ginger sucked in her breath over Mical’s obvious anger. “If it is, Mical, it is no concern of yours.”
She didn’t wait to see what Mical’s reaction might be, the matter was settled as far as Ginger was concerned. That the man even said such a thing stunned her. Mical had always been there for her, been a friend through everything with Randy, even before she married Randy, but this—“where does he get off!”
Ginger threw her apron in the laundry bin and slammed the backdoor as she left the kitchen. Her fury seemed to grow with each step she took. She stopped, and turned back to look at the restaurant as her mouth open in sudden understanding. “Oh Mical…”
It may have been a long time since Ginger faced raw jealousy, but she had a feeling she just ran smack into the full force of it. All the years, their friendship, she shook her head and wondered what she did wrong. “I’m so sorry, Mical.”
She turned away knowing she couldn’t say anything to make him feel better. She did wonder how he found out about Nick. They’d only met a couple times. Her brow creased in worry over Mical’s unexpected reaction.
* * * *
Sugar played in the kitchen with the plastic bowl and spoon as Ginger
finished up the last batch of coffee blends in the hand grinder. “Three times
through, Sugar, think that is fine enough?”The baby’s answering gibberish made Ginger laugh. It felt good to smile after the hours of worry she faced since leaving the kitchen. She shook her head to get rid of the troubling thoughts, refusing to let them ruin her evening.
A knock on the door made her turn and pick up Sugar, together they went to answer the door. She swung the door open, but her smile faded over the unexpected figure standing there. “Mical…what are you doing here?”
“Can I come in?”
“Sure.” She moved sideways to let him in. Her gaze failed to find the man she looked for in the fading light.”
She followed Mical, setting Sugar back down on the kitchen floor with her toys. “Is something wrong at the kitchen?”
He looked so uptight she bit her lip over the way he paced by the breakfast bar.
“No damn it. I’m not here about the kitchen, Ginger. I’m here about you.”
Her back straightened and she glared at him. She felt trapped by his presence and knew nothing she could say would change his anger. “I’m not sure I understand, Mical.”
“You don’t understand!”
The raised timber of his voice silenced Sugar and made the baby whimper. “Mical, stop it, you are upsetting Sugar and I don’t understand why you are acting like this.”
Ginger picked up her daughter and glared at the man she no longer knew.
He took a deep breath, but she could see it did little good.
“You are dating.”
Suspecting his feelings and really facing them were difficult. “I don’t see that my social life concerns you, Mical. I’m sorry, but I think you need to go…now.”
Nick didn’t like what he heard through the door. He could hear and sense the fear coming from Ginger, he moved on instinct, refusing to question the right or wrong of interfering. “I think the lady has asked you to leave, Mical.”
Ginger spun about and Sugar instantly reached for Nick. Without thought she let the baby go to him, wishing she too could be held in the protective circle of his arms.
“Clauze, who invited you in?” Mical’s anger lashed out at Nick.
“The door was open.” Nick looked at Ginger and gave her a slight smile. “I was invited, Mical.”
It didn’t take much for Nick to figure out what was happening between Ginger and her boss. When he met the anger in Mical’s gaze Nick immediately recognized the emotions boiling in it. Nick figured his presence lay at the core of that green eyed fire.
Ginger couldn’t stand the furious stance mounting between the men. “I have coffee ready, would either of you like a cup and we can talk.” She didn’t wait for answers as she pulled cups down and filled them. She left Nick’s on the counter, both his hand were filled with Sugar. The child laid against his chest with her fingers curled about his shirt as his hand stroked her back. She held out the cup to Mical who ignored her effort. The cup banged against the counter where she left it. “This is ridiculous, Mical.”
“Not on your life, Ginger. We have known each other too long for me to let some upstart take over.”
That did it, she held her hand up to halt Nick’s protective movement. She could feel hi solid presence at her back. “That’s enough Mical. I’m very sorry you are feeling like this, but I suggest you stop right there. We are friends, Mical, or at least we were, I’m not so sure now. We have never been any more than friends and we never will be, Mical. I have never, ever, given you any indication my feelings were more than that, Mical, not ever.”
The man’s hot glare fell before her declaration. She didn’t miss the way his shoulders slumped in defeat. “I’m sorry Mical, really I am.”
He finally looked up at her, “No Ginger, it is I that am sorry. I—I need to go.”
Ginger and Nick didn’t move as they watched the man leave. Ginger sighed as the door closed. She looked up at Nick. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“I hope he will get over this, Ginger.”
“Yes, me too.”
Sugar gave a deep sigh and they both looked at the baby. Her eyes were closed and her lips puckered against his chest, but even in sleep her grip remained on Nick’s shirt.
Ginger smiled up at him. “You want me to put her in the crib?”
He smiled, shook his head and answered, “nope, I think you better leave her right here, for now.”
“I’ve never seen him so upset, he yelled, Nick.”
“I know, I heard. I take it he has been around you a long time.”
It really wasn’t a question, but Ginger felt obliged to give Nick the information he sought. “We have known each other since high school, even before I met Randy and married him. Mical has always been there for me, but he never acted like this, not even after Randy—died.”
Neither of them had to call Mical’s actions for the jealousy they both recognized. “I am sorry that I never realized how he felt.”
“It is his problem, Ginger. I’m just not sure how you are going to deal with him at work.”
“Neither am I, Nick, neither am I.”
He tickled her before putting into the playpen.
“You are right, that is exactly what she’ll do. Boxes and ribbons, oh, and let’s not forget the lights and bulbs on the tree, anything she can reach and grab.” Ginger’s laughter joined Nick’s as they walked back into the kitchen.
Nick sipped the last of the six blends that Ginger made up for him to taste. “Wow, I like this one the best.”
“That is the tropical blend, coconut, rum and papaya, with a dash of nutmeg.”
“Where did you learn to do this?”
“Sort of taught myself. I got bored with the grocery store blends, they were all the same. So, I started to experiment with the spices and liquor mixes. I figured if they could do it with tobacco that coffee would be perfect.”
“I’d say you have a winner, Ginger. If you will allow me I would like to take this to a friend of mine that has a processing plant. We need to know if it can be done in volume for the market.”
“Sure, I would like that, Nick. How much do you need me to make up?”
“About a pound of each. He will need to analyze them. I trust him, Ginger or I wouldn’t suggest it.”
She smiled at him, “I know, and I trust you.” Her words came slow with all the meaning behind them. His gaze intensified with each word she spoke. Ginger held her breath as he moved closer, his arms came about her and pulled her up against him.
They decided that tonight would be the tasting night for the coffees. It took some time, but things did settle down with Mical. If he hadn’t apologized and come to terms with their relationship Ginger knew she would have quit. Nick never pressured her, but did state his concern. She also knew he was relieved over Mical’s change of heart.
Ginger smiled, remembering that tonight it would be a month since she met Nick. Their relationship grew stronger with each passing hour. She still marveled over the man now in her life—in her heart. She felt proud that she conquered her fears over allowing anyone to get this close to her. She decided that Nick was worth the risk.
His arm encircled her waist and he nuzzled her neck. “You look very sexy when you are lost in thoughts like that.”
She leaned into his strength, “Maybe because they are all about you.”
Her smile came unbidden when he nipped her ear lobe. “Good, I don’t think I would like anyone but me to give you that kind of look.”
She wrapped her arms about his neck and met the lips stealing her own. Her senses spun out of control over the fire that just a kiss could light. Ginger never expected to find this kind of thrill in her life again. Yes, she wanted Nick as a woman, but she also wanted so much more. “Hmm, you do taste good.”
“And I find ginger snapps very hard to resist.”
She giggled against his caress and he pulled her closer, molding her against the evidence of his desire. “Oh Ginger, you are a temptation I never want to lose.”
She leaned back in his arms to look up at him. Nick smiled down into the question her gaze held. Yes, he wanted her to know how he felt, and what he wanted.
“I don’t want you to ever let me go, Nick.”
“Are you sure, Ginger.”
She looked up at the marvelous man that came into her life. “Oh yes, Nick Clauze, you are my angel tree.”
______________
Merry Christmas, Jewel Adams
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