Once Upon a Snowball Fight
Autorzy
Arri Stone
Lektury
564K
Rozdziały
25
Charlotte Harris is heading home for Christmas when her car breaks down on a snowy road. As luck would have it, Jackson Forbes, a Marine back for the holidays, stops to help. Recognizing each other from their childhood days, where they used to tease and annoy one another, they are both surprised by the unexpected reunion.
What follows is a holiday filled with mishaps, laughter, and rekindled connections. As they spend more time together, old animosities give way to a deepening affection. However, Charlotte's strict parents, especially her mother, are less than thrilled about the Forbes family.
Amid laughter, love, and tears, can Charlotte and Jackson overcome past prejudices and find true love?
Chapter 1
CHARLOTTE
Several years had passed since I was last home. My parents were getting older, and I felt guilty for not visiting them as I had promised. This year, however, I had an excuse to return and celebrate a “family” Christmas once again.
Driving slowly along the snowy roads, I considered myself a good driver, but the snow made me nervous. As I rounded a bend, I let out a breath.
My favorite song came on the radio, and I hummed along. That was until the car made a sudden loud noise from under the hood. It caused me to lose control.
I hadn’t been going very fast, but the car skidded and bumped into the snowy side of the road, bringing the car to a stop. My heart pounded in my chest, and I nearly wet myself.
Looking around, I was relieved that I had skidded into the snowy bank; the other side was a steep drop. I shuffled over into the passenger seat and climbed out, as the driver’s side was banked up against the snow.
Trying not to grumble, I struggled out and popped the hood. I had no clue what I was looking for. Apart from the basics of checking my oil and windshield washer fluid level, the rest was a big metal spaghetti mystery.
With the engine not even turning over, I swore at the car and kicked a wheel. Out in the middle of nowhere, there was no sign of any other car on the road. The long road home suddenly felt even longer.
My parents wouldn’t even be worried about me, as I had told them I wouldn’t be arriving until tomorrow. I had finished work early and left as fast as I could. The last place I wanted to be was with my ex.
I checked my phone. “Of course, no signal,” I muttered.
As I tried to work out how far away I was, I heard the hum of an engine from behind me. “I’m saved.” My heart pounded with elation.
I threw my bag in the back of the car and waved my arms about, pleading with the driver to slow down. As the vehicle started slowing down and pulled up, I thanked my lucky stars.
JACKSON FORBES
I had been driving for several hours. I was tired, and all I wanted was sleep.
I had been away working nonstop, and my childhood home was my escape. This year, I made a promise to come home for Christmas.
When I came around the corner, I saw a car. As I got closer, a woman was at the side of the road with her car hood up.
I dragged my hand over my face. “All I fucking need.” I passed her slowly, and she caught my eye.
She was stunning—long blonde hair, cute rosy cheeks. I couldn’t tell her figure, as she was wearing a big puffy jacket.
I pulled up in front of her car and stopped the engine, cursing my luck. Before I opened the door, I took a deep breath and put my jacket on.
As I stepped out, she was already thanking me. It was obvious she had thought I was going to keep driving past her.
“I nearly did,” I muttered.
She was still talking. It was only then I recognized her as the girl I used to tease and was also mean to when growing up.
But that was all for show. I couldn’t really tell her I liked her. Her mother hated me. She was oblivious to who I was.
When I was seventeen, I left home as soon as I could, joined the Marines, and moved up from there into the job I was doing now. She was still talking, and I could feel a headache coming on.
“I’ll take a look if you like?” I sighed, hoping she would stop talking.
“Yes, please, thank you, thank you. I have no clue what I’m looking at.” Her sweet smile captured me, and I had to remind myself who she was.
I wandered up to the hood. Right away, I could see the drive belt had snapped, which meant the car was fucked.
For show, I poked around a bit more, and as I came out from under the hood, she was standing right next to me.
“What’s the verdict?” She chewed her bottom lip.
Her bright green eyes twinkled at me, and I could see worry behind them as I stood longer than I should—staring at her face.
Years had gone by since I last saw her, and now I was a man who hadn’t had sex in some time. She was stirring the beast tucked in my pants.
“Hum, yes, it’s knackered.”
Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened. “What do you mean? It’s knackered?”
I rolled my eyes. “The belt has gone. Your engine is knackered.”
“Can I get it fixed?” Her innocent, sweet voice made me wonder what other noises she would make.
She started biting her lips again, something she did a lot when she was nervous; I remembered from when she was a kid.
I ran my hand through my hair, and Charlotte watched. The way she stared at me, I’m sure she was figuring out who I was.
She blushed when she realized what she was doing.
“Look, grab your bags, and I can drop you off. You’ll have to arrange for a recovery vehicle to come get it.” I had to distract myself from her, so I tucked my hands inside my jacket pockets.
Charlotte stood staring at her car, swearing at what a piece of shit it really was. Huffing, she walked up to it and pulled out two bags and a suitcase from the trunk.
I found it all highly amusing and watched as she bent over to double-check inside the car. She was leaning right over the back seat, trying to grab something from the floor behind the driver’s seat.
I moved in closer to see what she was doing when her ass wiggled, and I licked my lips, wanting to spank it.
“Do you need a hand?” I said, chuckling at my own words.
She shuffled backward, puffing. The zip went on her jacket, and she took it off, handing it to me. “I can’t do anything in that thing.”
As she went back in this time, I couldn’t help but let out a groan as she showed off her figure. Now I stared at her cute little ass wiggling about in front of me.
Her legs kicked up snow as she fumbled about. “Got it.” Her voice chimed out.
She came back out, holding her phone. It had fallen down and under the driver’s seat. Her face was all flushed from her little workout.
I stood there, amused. She still hadn’t worked out who I was yet by the way she was around me. I wondered how long it would take her till she realized.
I stood holding her coat as she bustled about. She grabbed two bags in one hand and her suitcase in the other. With a quick glance over her shoulder, her eyes held a look of pride.
She didn’t want me to perceive her as a feeble woman incapable of carrying her own belongings. Noticing my gaze, she hoisted everything higher to prove her point. As she dragged the case along in one hand and carried the bags in the other, I sighed.
“Give me your case, and I’ll take it for you.”
“No, I can manage,” she insisted, continuing to pull it along.
“Still stubborn,” I muttered under my breath.
Her coat was in my arms, and the scent of her sweet perfume wafted up to my nostrils. It was the same one she had always worn once she was old enough to wear perfume. I opened up the back door of my truck and took the bags from her, placing them on the seat.
She insisted on handling her own case, at least. I stood back and let little Miss Independent do her thing. Disaster struck, and the case opened.
All her clothes tumbled out over her and onto the snowy ground. Charlotte let out a cry of frustration and released the case. The rest of her belongings fell at her feet.
The case hit her shin on the way down, and she let out a whimper. Tears started falling, and I felt a pang of sympathy for her. She bent down to rub her leg.
I came up behind her and put my arm around her. It was the only thing I could think of to offer her some comfort without being too intrusive. “Why don’t you sit in the front, and I’ll sort this mess out?” I suggested, keeping my voice soft and calm.
She had had enough and nodded in agreement. I helped her up into the front seat as the vehicle had high steps. “I’ve got a first aid kit if you want me to check your leg?”
“It’s probably just a bruise. I’ll be okay,” she replied, chewing her lip again. I wanted to reach up and run my finger along her lip to stop her. Instead, I ran my hands up her leg, pushing the material up, exposing her skin.
With one hand around her calf to support her leg, I examined the front of it and ran my fingers softly along her skin, admiring her leg. She was right; it was only a bruise. “So?” Her voice quivered.
I sighed and let her leg go. “It’s fine, you were right.” I bent down to pick up her case and started stuffing her things back in.
Now I was smiling for other reasons as I collected her underwear. I had a couple of her panties in my hands, and it made me wonder what she was wearing right now. The longer I stared at her, the more I wondered how some blonde-haired, annoying teenager had grown up into the beautiful woman sitting in my truck.
Naughty thoughts filtered into my mind of what I’d like to do to her. My crush on her was coming back with force. She was sitting, gazing out of the front window when she suddenly realized I was picking up the contents of her suitcase.
As she looked, I had her panties in my hands, and she caught me staring at her. She blushed as much as I did. When I realized I was comparing them, I jumped up, a little flustered, and apologized.
I lost my footing and fell on my ass. She jumped down to grab her things, and her feet went out from under her. She slipped face-first into the snow.
I burst out laughing. Charlotte was not amused at all and was pissed off that I was laughing at her. She rolled over, gathered up some snow, and threw it at me.
The snowball hit me in the face, and I sat up, shaking it off. “You always were a good shot,” I laughed. It was at that moment she realized who I was.
Her eyes widened, and her mouth hung open as she stared at me, unable to speak. Both of us sat in the snow, staring at each other. I still had her panties in my hands and gave her a cheeky smirk.
“So what color are you wearing, then?”
