I answer it, wanting to test the gruff, dirty-mouthed sheriff who doesn’t mind breaking the law. “Hey, Franco. What’s going on?”
“Where the fuck are you? Fabio told me you weren’t coming,” he growls in his typical fashion. My cousin is so bossy and grumpy. You’d think getting married would have softened him up a bit, but it hasn’t, unless it’s his wife. She calms and soothes the grumpy beast.
“Yeah, well, I’m currently in a small town called Snowfall.”
“Are you coming home tomorrow?”
“Yes, I’ll drive there tomorrow.”
“You should be here, sweetie.”
Franco’s loud enough for Mark to hear, and he snatches my phone. “Sorry, but she’s with her fiancé, so she won’t be going anywhere for a long time and definitely not to another man.” He growls as he hangs up.
“Do you have a death wish?” I chuckle, taking my phone from the handsome man. Wow, did I get what I asked for. He’s everything masculine that I’ve been craving, and my pulse is wild with need.
“You think I’m afraid of some ex-boyfriend?”
“Ex-boyfriend?”
“Yes, because as far as I’m concerned, it’s over between you two.” I giggle harder. Oh my goodness. Ask and you shall receive. “You think I’m kidding. You kissed me in the middle of the store. I’m pretty sure he’d consider it cheating.” Wow, my body loves every ounce of that hostility vibrating off him. He’s staking his claim…but I suppose I staked mine first. I’m not sure what came over me in the store except that bitch’s look of undisguised lust for my man. Yes, he’s mine. Or at least he’s acting like it.
“Well, Franco sure wouldn’t…”
“The hell he wouldn’t. No man in his right mind would let you go around kissing other men.”
“Franco would, since he’s my cousin and boss.”
His face flattens for a minute and then he smiles. “Oh shit.” Even he laughs to himself, knowing that he’s made an ass of himself with my family.
My phone rings again, and this time it’s my brother. “Hello, Soren.”
“Who the fuck are you with?” There’s a growl coming from Mark at the way my brother is snarling on the other end.
“The local sheriff.”
“And who was the asshole saying you’re engaged?”
“The sheriff,” I say with a laugh bubbling out of me.
“Well, then, you sound like you’re having fun. He better not be playing with your feelings, or I’ll kill him and bury him beneath my grapes.”
“We’re not getting married, so just chill.”
“Yes, we are,” Mark snarls with his eyes on the road ahead. A flutter of excitement runs through me, but I do my best to hide how much that notion arouses me.
I roll my eyes at Mark. “I promise that I’m fine.”
“Okay. As long as you’re safe, I’ll let you get back to your holiday, although Mama and Papa will want to meet him.” That’s definitely going to be fun. I don’t even know this man aside from what my body wants to believe. It’s singing as if it’s found its missing half.
“Yeah, well, we’ll see.”
“Yes, we will. Merry Christmas, Mia.”
“Merry Christmas, Soren.” I end the call and give Mark a dirty look.
“You are trouble, Sheriff.”
“Just wait until I get you alone.” He winks and then turns off a long stretch of road and onto a lengthy driveway. The house is a massive country-style home with a wraparound porch.
We pull up to the front behind another black SUV, and I see the man from the inn shoveling the snow—Jenny’s husband, Derek. “Are you kidding me?” I laugh even harder.
“What is it?” Mark asks as he opens my door to help me out.
“Oh, it seems you were able to join us,” Derek says with a grin on his handsome face while Mark steps to my side with a bit more tension than necessary. Seriously, this town is full of good-looking guys. Still, I think Mark’s the hottest one, although I don’t have much to compare to yet.
“Yes, it seems your sheriff just doesn’t take no for an answer.” His brows raise, and then he chuckles. “He kidnapped me from the grocery store because I took the last of the eggnog.”
“Uh-oh. You’ve committed a crime, then, and he has the right to arrest you,” Derek teases.
“I tried to tell her, but she wouldn’t comply. She assaulted me, and since it’s Christmas Eve I couldn’t just arrest her, so I was forced to bring her along.” He rolls his eyes like it was a chore and he was doing it for my benefit. I could kick and kiss him at the same time.
“Whatever. Don’t forget my cheesecake,” I huff, walking up to the porch, stomping my snowy boots all the way up the steps and onto the mat before entering the large home.
“Oh my goodness. Who are you?” An older woman approaches me with a huge smile that is clearly like her daughter’s.