“What do you buy a man who has everything?” my sister muses as we walk through the mall. We’ve been here for over an hour, and I’ve already cleared off the last few people on my list.
It’s a fair question. The Ranov men can have anything they want. Frost all but proved that to me a few nights ago. It’s getting harder and harder to stay away from him because my body all but hums for him.
“What about one of those coupon books like we made for Mom and Dad when we were kids except yours would be…” I trail off, but we both know what I’m talking about.
“Pointless. If there’s something in that area he wants, he takes it.” A smirk forms on Pumpkin’s lips as she blushes, and I know she’s thinking about something she and Miller have done. I don't want to know. Miller is becoming like a brother to me. I like him, and he treats my sister like a queen, but I don’t need all the dirty details.
“Am I supposed to get Frost something?” I ask, changing the subject. He is my brother-in-law, and I know he’ll be there.
“I think we all know what he wants.” She wiggles her perfect eyebrows at me, and I smack her arm.
Now it’s my turn to blush because I can’t stop thinking about what happened a few nights ago. I’ve fantasized about being with Frost more times than I want to admit, but now it’s gone to a whole other level.
It’s dangerous that I know what he can do to me with only a few touches. I’ve never orgasmed so hard in my life, and now my body is on edge all the time, wanting it again. It makes me wonder if we could have a small fling. We could establish some rules and boundaries about what we want. My body screams yes, but my brain says no.
“Don’t go there,” I say, leveling her with a stare. “Think how bad it could be.”
“Think of how good it could be.” She lets out a dreamy sigh like she’s closing the last page of a romance novel that gave you everything you wanted in a book.
“It’s not a risk we should take.” I notice my voice is less forceful than normal when discussing this subject. He’s chipping away at me, and damn it, I think it’s working. “What about this?”
I pick up a giant stuffed bear. I think it’s for display, but I really want to change the subject away from Frost. He has everyone on his team because even Mom asked me about him last night. He stopped by to salt the stairs on the porch and asked if they needed anything else because there’s another big snowstorm rolling in. He’s laying it on thick, but that’s not the Frost I’ve heard stories about.
“That’s a display…or it’s for a child, though I’m sure that will happen soon enough.” She puts her hand over her stomach.
“Are you…?” I ask in shock. If she is, she should have said something hours ago!
“I’m not sure yet, but I’m sure it’s coming. It’s not like we’re preventing it.” Now that would be a gift Miller would love.
“I’m going to be a killer aunt.” I think about holding a little one in my arms, and my mind drifts to being in a hospital bed holding my own baby as Frost stands next to me.
“You’d be a killer mom too.” She plucks the thoughts right out of my head.
What the hell? I need to place a better defense from this man and my sister. “I’m not sure I want kids. I’ll just stick to the aunt thing.” The lie doesn't come easy, and it twists my insides.
Pumpkin rolls her eyes. “Food?” Now it’s her turn to change the subject.
“We have to get mall food. It’s the whole point of coming to the mall.” We can go to the food court and stop by a few places to make our meal. Like getting a cheeseburger with a side of crab rangoon.
“I’m dying for a pretzel.”
“Oh. That sounds good too. I might have to rethink what I want.” Pumpkin doesn't even offer to share hers so we can split something else. We normally do, but that doesn’t look like the plan today. Maybe she’s already knocked up.
I snag us a table and see the food court is filling up fast. I let out a small sigh when we sit down and my feet can rest. The bags are getting too heavy to carry around.
I watch the kids running around while we eat and note that there’s a line for Santa.
“You think Dad will dress up as Santa when we have kids?” I ask Pumpkin. He always did that when we were little, and some of my favorite memories are from that time.
“Did you say we?” I stare at her, and she smiles. “Yes, I bet he will.” She dips her pretzel into her cheese and does a little dance in her seat as she stuffs her face.
“I was going to see if Lewis could use some help. It’s almost tax season. Don’t you think they might need extra hands?” After winter break I have one semester left to finish my accounting associate’s degree. Lewis has an accounting firm and lives next door to my parents. We’ve all been friendly over the years, and I’ve done some clerical work for him in the past.
“Maybe.” Her nose scrunches.
She doesn't look like she likes the idea very much, and even though I’m not sure I do either, I have to do something. I picked accounting because I’m good with numbers and needed a job. But it’s possibly the most boring job ever.
I’m flailing right now trying to grab on to something. I can’t live at home forever, but I think my parents have it very much in their minds that you don’t move out until you’re married. They can be a little old-fashioned at times, and traditions are a must for them.
We talk some more about what options I have, and it doesn't take us long to finish off our food. I start to pack up our stuff, not wanting to hold the table when the place is so busy. When I go to drop our trays, I see Nathan out of the corner of my eye, and a chill goes down my spine.
I dump the trays and look over toward him and see he’s staring right at me. This is the third time in the last few weeks I’ve run into him. Then I see the blonde he cheated on me with standing beside him.
I want to get out of here.
For a second I think he’s following me, because that’s too many times to run into the same person. I doubt someone would stalk me with their new girlfriend in tow, but I wouldn’t put anything past him.
I don’t feel anything toward him romantically, but when I see him I have this resentment I can’t let go of. I hate the way seeing him makes me feel—it ruins my whole mood.
When I get back to our table, Pumpkin is standing up and has a sour look on her face. She has all our bags in her hands, and I have no doubt she sees Nathan.
“Let’s roll,” I say, taking some of the bags from her.
She nods in agreement, but under her breath, she says, “He’s watching you.”
“I know.” I can feel it, and it gives me the creeps. So I do the only thing I can right now, and we go home.