ChapterEleven
FROSTIE
“You know you didn’t tell me that you entered me into the bake-off.”
“I thought it was part of the deal.” Clause grins as he polishes off another one of my frosted cookies. Here I thought I brought too many sweets, but he’s eating them all up.
“The blackmail?” I say, and he shrugs. I don’t think he wants to talk about it. Since we’ve started this, we’ve shifted from blackmail to something else. I want to be here, and it’s not because of the consequences. “You know I’m here because I want to be. Plus, this kitchen is kickass.” Who has three ovens?
“But you wouldn’t have come without it,” he says, and I shake my head.
“You never asked.”
“You wouldn’t look at me,” he grunts.
“The reason I couldn’t look at you is because I was always blushing or acting like a dork in front of you. You flustered me because I had a crush on you. You’re not the only one that’s shy, Clause.”
“I’m not shy.” He folds his arms over his chest, and I can sense a wall start to come up. “And you’re not a dork,” he adds in my defense.
“Okay, maybe that’s the wrong word.” I lay my hands on the cool countertop, hating that the kitchen island is separating us right now. “I’m a virgin.” His eyes widen when I lay it out there. “Is it really that shocking? If I was dating, you would know it. One kiss with you and the whole town knew in five minutes. Have you heard of me with anyone since you moved here?”
I’m actually not sure when Clause did move here. His house sat far enough back from town that when it was built, it wasn’t noticeable. It wasn’t until I spotted him more than once around town that I realized he must live close. Then I might have asked around about where he lived.
“I know you haven’t dated anyone since I’ve been here, but there had to be someone before. I don’t want to think about that,” he grits out.
“Why are you so sure there was someone before?”
“You’re…ah…” He trails off.
“I’m what?”
“Perfection.”
If I wasn’t already half in love with Clause, that alone would have put me there. “So you do keep up on town gossip,” I say, and he gives me another one of his shrugs. “How did you spot me in Westchester? I had a wig on.” I knew it wasn't the best disguise but still. What are the odds he’d be a town over going to the grocery store when there’s one right here in town?
“I’d know your body anywhere.” His eyes drop to my breasts, and my cheeks warm.
“Are you a boob man, Clause?” I tease to lighten the mood for a moment, but I have no intention of fully changing this subject. I was timid when I left the bakery about where Clause and I stood, but after him getting me off in the truck, I know this has to be more.
“I’m a Frostie man.” A laugh bubbles out from me.
Clause has this way of complimenting me in the sweetest ways. It’s not straight lines that say I’m sexy. It’s endearing and so him.
“If you haven’t noticed, I’m a Clause girl.” He drops his arms and starts to come around the island, but I shift to match his movement and keep the island between us.
Seconds ago, I didn’t want there to be space between us, but I know if he touches me right now, I’ll be done for, and I want to have this conversation because I know I’m not leaving this house a virgin. I want to make sure that means something. I hadn’t been saving myself, at least I didn’t think I was, but as the years passed and no one ever caught my attention, I realized I wanted my first time to be with a man that would forever be mine.
“Are you running from me?” Something flashes in his eyes that makes more than my cheeks heat. My whole body lights up at the idea of Clause chasing me down because he wants me so badly, but I’m starting to think that maybe that is what has happened here. Or maybe I’m a silly girl making up a fantasy in my head. Somehow I don’t think that’s true.
“You’d chase me?”
“Yes,” he says without hesitation. He’s right. Shy is the wrong word. Maybe unsure or I might even say scared. He could be afraid to get hurt because his own family threw him out. Clause might not have liked what his family stood for and did, but that would sting any child to a degree.
“Clause, I—” He lunges for me, and for a big man, he can move fast. He’s got a hold on me before I can try and go anywhere again, and I wrap my legs around him, not fighting it. “I’m not running from you. I just want to know what this is.”
“You’re mine,” he states, and I run my fingers through his hair and feel him relax under my touch. “I saw you leave. It was late, and I was worried.”
“You followed me to Westchester that night?” Now it’s his turn to look shy. In a crazy kind of way, it’s cute that he blackmailed me into pretty much dating him, but it also makes my heart ache that he thought he’d have to do that. “I don’t think you know how attractive you are.”