“There must be hundreds of women lining up to date you,” Rachel said a little breathlessly as John’s hand brushed the edge of her jaw.
“Maybe.”
A heat that had nothing to do with the fire rolled through her body. John was her employer. She had standards. High standards. Standards that didn’t involve jumping on top of her boss and kissing him senseless.
John’s hand rested lightly on her shoulder. “For a few minutes, do you want to pretend that we’re two normal people in front of a roaring fire in the middle of a snow storm?”
Rachel’s gaze slipped to John’s mouth and stayed there. “I’m not normal,” she whispered. “I have issues.”
John put his mug of hot chocolate on the floor, then took Rachel’s mug out of her hands. “So do I.”
Rachel waited for him to put her mug on the floor. “If I kiss you, it’s because I want to. Not because of how much money you have.”
“And if I kiss you back it’s because I want to, not because I feel sorry for you.”
Rachel started to move forward, then stopped. “You feel sorry for me?”
The grin on John’s face melted her heart. “You think your girlfriends are better company than a boyfriend. You just haven’t met the right man.”
His lips nudged Rachel’s mouth, dissolving the words she was about to say. She pulled him forward, wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him close.
His groan tore at something she’d buried a long time ago. Something so wonderful that she never thought she’d feel it again. It was a sense of belonging, a rightness to what was happening. It settled deep inside her, warmed her from the inside out.
John buried his hands in her hair and devoured her mouth with an urgency that left her wanting more. She pushed the blanket away and straddled his hips, making them both moan as their bodies connected through layers of denim and wool.
“Have to slow down,” John moaned as Rachel’s lips nibbled his neck.
His hands found their way under her sweater, teasing and caressing her skin until she couldn’t think straight. A tremor of need started in the center of Rachel’s body. She’d never wanted anyone as much as she wanted John Fletcher.
That thought alone was enough to scare her senseless. She pulled her lips away from his mouth, slipped off his lap, and landed on the floor at his feet.
He looked down at her and frowned. “How did you get down there?”
“Gravity.” Rachel took a deep breath and rested her head against his legs. “You were right.”
John’s hand stroked her hair. “About what?”
“Men.”
His hand stilled. “Is that a good thing?”
Rachel smiled. “A very good thing. But I need to go to bed before I get myself into more trouble. Bella and I have got a lot of things to do tomorrow.”
“You’re not going into town, are you?”
“This is the last time. We did some more baking for Pastor Stevens and we’ve run out of craft supplies.” Rachel kneeled in front of him and ran her fingertips over the frown. “We’ll be okay. Tank’s coming with us.”
John held her hands. “Be careful. Bella told me she’s getting bored, but she’s safer here than anywhere else.”
“I know.”
John leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I don’t want anything happening to you, either.”
Rachel looked into his blue eyes. “Nothing will happen to Bella or me. I’ll call you as soon as we arrive at Pastor Stevens’ home and when we leave Walmart. Tank knows what he’s doing. We won’t do anything stupid.” John nodded, but she could tell that he was still worried. “I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Rachel felt John’s gaze on her as she left the room. She didn’t look back, didn’t slow down. If she hesitated for one second she’d spoil a good working relationship. He was her boss, the father of her student.
The man she wanted to keep kissing until they were both quivering wrecks.
***
Bella slid the last box of Christmas baking onto Pastor Stevens’ table and smiled. “Rachel said that Frankie’s going to help you take our baking to other families. Can I help you next year?”
Pastor Stevens lifted a chocolate cake out of a box. “Sure you can, Bella. Do you want to put this baking into the baskets in the living room?”
Bella nodded and held her hands out for the chocolate cake. “We made all sorts of cookies, too. I kept some peanut butter cookies for dad, but we brought chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon, and…what was the other flavor, Rachel?”
“Hazelnut. Has anyone seen the gingerbread loaf Mrs. Daniels made? It’s got a big Santa Claus tag attached to the cellophane wrapper.”
Tank held a parcel toward her. “Is this it?”
Rachel looked at the tag and smiled. “It is. This is for you, Pastor Stevens.” She took the loaf out of Tank’s hands and passed it to Pastor Stevens. “Mrs. Daniels knows you like gingerbread and she wanted to give you this. It’s a thank you for all of the work you’re doing to make people’s Christmases special.”
“It’s no more than most people would do,” Pastor Stevens said. “How about we empty these boxes then have a hot drink?” He looked down at Bella. “Let’s take this baking through to the living room. I hear you’ve got an exciting time at Walmart planned?”
Rachel watched Bella walk out of the kitchen with Pastor Steven. She was chatting away, totally oblivious to the reason Tank went everywhere with them.
“It will be all right, Rachel,” Tank said from behind her. “She’s happier helping someone than being stuck at home.”
“I know she is, but I can’t help feeling uneasy about being away from the house. I think John was right. We need to be super careful.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to either of you while I’m looking after you.”
“That’s what you said last time we were in Walmart, and look what happened.”
Tank looked affronted. “I wasn’t the only person who thought the popping balloons sounded like gunfire.”
“Not the balloons. The decorations. It took John two days to get used to all of the tinsel and the blow-up Santa. You’re a bad influence.”
Tank grunted. “It didn’t stop him from going back for more, though.”
Rachel pulled three lemon cakes out of another box. “I think the Christmas spirit is growing on him.”
Tank raised his eyebrows, but didn’t say anything as he disappeared into the living room.
By the time he came back, Rachel had finished unpacking another box. “Do you think the people behind the death threats will ever be found?”
Tank picked up two chocolate cakes. “I don’t know, but everyone’s doing their best to locate them.”
Bella rushed into the room. “The Christmas baskets look amazing. What can I take into the living room next?”
Rachel passed her two containers of cookies. “Take these into Pastor Stevens. I’ll be there soon.” She picked up some more cookies and followed Bella.
The first stop of the morning was well underway. She just hoped their next stop at Walmart would be equally as exciting for Bella.
***
Tank listened to the person who was speaking to him on the phone, then hung up. “There’s been a change of plans. We’re not going to Walmart.”
Bella’s mug of hot chocolate clattered against the table. “But we have to. I haven’t finished making dad’s Christmas present.”
Rachel looked up from the table. “What’s happened?”
“Christmas is what’s happened. Walmart is packed with people. There’s a line of shoppers halfway down the store waiting to pay for what’s in their carts.”
Pastor Steven bit into a slice of Mrs. Daniels’ gingerbread loaf. “It happens every year. The week before Christmas is crazy wherever you go.” He looked at Bella. “What do you need to finish your present? I might have some extra supplies here.”
Bella leaned back and pulled a crinkled piece of paper out of her pocket. “I need pink foil, some double-dot jewels, sticky red jewels, glitter sticks, and some more cardboard sleighs like the ones Rachel found the other day.”
Pastor Steven frowned. “It sounds like fun, but I don’t have any of those things here. What if you visited one of the specialty stationary stores in Bozeman? They might have what you want without having to go to Walmart?”
“We might not even need to do that,” Rachel murmured. She looked at Tank. “I know a craft store that sells the scrapbook supplies that Bella needs. Would you take us there?”
He looked at Rachel. His intense stare told her that he wasn’t impressed with her suggestion.
Bella got off her chair and walked around the table to Tank. “If I don’t find what I need I can’t finish dad’s present. It will only take a few minutes. Can we please go to Rachel’s store?”
Rachel glanced out of the kitchen window. “It’s not snowing anymore. We can rush into the store, buy what we need, and be back in your SUV before you know it.”