She and Nick hadn’t even officially been an item longer than any of those relationships. Sure, they’d known one another longer than any of the other boys she’d dated. They had also been closer.
When her phone chimed, she rolled over and shut off the alarm as Nick’s hands pulled her closer.
She laughed and then sighed when he rolled over her.
“Morning,” he said after kissing her.
“Morning.” She smiled up at him. “I need to—”
“Shower with me and eat breakfast before heading out to take care of your friend.” He nodded. “I completely agree.”
She laughed and tried to nudge him off, and he picked her up and carried her to the bathroom.
“There is only one way out of this house,” he said, turning on the water and then setting her on her feet slowly. “Giving me what I want,” he joked as he kissed her again. “You’re better off. It’ll be quicker,” he said between kisses. “Or we could have our first fight?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her, causing her to laugh.
“We’ve had plenty of fights before,” she pointed out as he started peeling off her clothes.
His smile widened. “Not since we’ve been an official couple.”
“Is that what we are?” she said, starting to pull his shorts off.
His eyes met hers as his hands stilled. “Yes.”
She saw the seriousness in his eyes and swallowed, wanting to change the subject.
As if he read her mind, he finished pulling off her clothes and stepped into the shower with her.
“The shower is too small for the both of us,” she pointed out when the water hit her full force and missed him completely.
“Yeah,” he said with a slight frown. “I’ve been avoiding moving my things downstairs into the main bedroom. Half my stuff is still out in the cabin. The bathroom downstairs is twice this size. I still have to purchase new furniture for down there as well. Most of it was busted in the break in.”
“I can help you if you want. After I get Liz settled.”
He pulled her close and shifted until the water hit him in the back. “I’d like that. I have no idea how to decorate the place.”
“We can drive into Casper after Christmas. The furniture stores usually have great deals after the holidays.” She didn’t want to tell him that she’d already made a few trips there to purchase gifts in the past few days.
He nodded, then leaned down and kissed her until they both forgot about anything except for one another.
While she dressed, applied her makeup, and dried her hair, Nick disappeared downstairs to make them breakfast.
When she stepped into the kitchen, he was just letting all three dogs inside. The kitchen smelled of bacon.
“I can keep Ollie here for a while,” Nick suggested as they ate. “The boys like the company. I’ve got a few things to do around here, and then I’ll take him home when I go check on your animals, if you want.”
“Okay,” she said as she took a sip of her coffee. She pushed her half empty plate aside. “I’d better get going.”
“Be careful,” he said, taking her hand. “I was going to call Kyle and get an update. Remember, whoever shot up the market is still out there.”
She shivered at the thought of someone coming after him or Liz.
“I will,” she promised. “I’m only going to the hospital and then to Liz’s place.”
He nodded. “Will I see you later?”
She thought about it and nodded. “I can come over again later tonight. You should just keep Ollie here.”
He smiled. “Does that mean you’ll spend Christmas with me?”
She wanted to tell him yes, but something had her shrugging instead. She had all his gifts over at her place.
“I’d better go.” She got up, gathered her bag and coat, and left through the snow.
A few hours later, Liz was sitting against her headboard in her old bedroom in the main house as Kara sat at the foot of the bed reading the local newspaper to her. Christmas Eve was the following day, and the entire town continued to fixate on the shooting, even during all of the holiday celebrations.
“Does it really say that?” Liz asked.
Her friend’s coloring was back to normal and, if Kara was honest, she looked perfect. Except for the white bandage on her upper arm, Liz was in perfect health. Thank god.
“It does.” Kara showed Liz the newspaper.
Liz took it from her and laughed. “They’re actually calling him a local hero?”
“Nick did rip the tablecloth in half and put a torniquet on you,” Kara pointed out.
“I know, I’ve watched the video like a million times,” Liz said with a smile. “A very sexy move. Who knew he had it in him?”
Kara wanted to say that she did but bit her lip instead.
“Gosh, you’ve got it bad for the guy.” Liz laid the paper down in her lap.
“What?” Kara frowned.
Liz rolled her eyes and nudged her hip with her foot. “You’re in love with Nick. If it’s not obvious to you, it is to everyone else in town.”
Kara swallowed and avoided her friend’s eyes. “I…” She shook her head.
“Gosh, don’t you dare cry on me,” Liz warned. “It’s not like you just got shot. You’re in love. You should be happy.”
“I…” She shook her head again, then sighed and rolled her shoulders. Feeling the tension build, she stood up and walked over to the window and looked out at Liz’s small snow-covered yard.
This was how she knew she belonged on a ranch and not in town. She needed the vastness and space. She hated seeing neighboring homes, even with all of their cheerful Christmas decorations and lights. The street out front was busy as three cars drove by. She wanted the hills. The fields of cattle. The open sky.
Closing her eyes, she finally admitted to her friend her fears.
“What if it doesn’t work out?” she said, not turning around.
“Then it doesn’t,” Liz said casually. “Not everything does. But it’s obvious to everyone else that he feels the same way about you.”
Kara turned back around. “He’s told me a couple times.”
Liz smiled. “Then what’s wrong?”
“I… I’ve never told anyone, any man, before,” she admitted.
“There’s always a first time,” Liz said, shifting slightly.
“Have you told someone before?” she asked her friend.
“No, but someday when I do fall in love, I won’t hold back. When you feel it, and know it’s right, there’s no use in wasting any time.”
“I know you’re right,” Kara agreed. She knew she’d been hurting Nick by holding back her feelings. He deserved to be with someone who wasn’t afraid of love. Wasn’t afraid of saying so and showing it.
“Do you remember when we first met?” Liz interrupted her thoughts.
Kara smiled. “Sure, I was getting picked on by Willy and his gang. It was my first day at school after moving here. You walked right up and took my hand and told Willy to shove it and sit on a tack. Then you pulled me away and we went to go play on the swings.”
Liz smiled. “That day, I knew we’d be best friends. There was no doubt in my mind what I would feel for you.” Liz held out her hand for Kara’s. Kara walked over and took it, sitting next to her friend. “Kara, I love you. You’re the most important person in my life beside my parents. I have never distrusted you or been afraid to show or tell you how I feel. What we have”—she held up their joined hands—“is real. And so is what you and Nick feel for each other. I can’t say I’m not super jealous of it, but I can say that I’m not surprised by it either. You two deserve to be happy together. Don’t waste a minute of it. You never know when someone with a gun will take that away. Rudy wasn’t as lucky.” Liz frowned. “He asked me out a couple times.”