An Officer and a Rebel: An Accidentally in Love Novella (Entangled Bliss) (9 page)

He grinned. “Done.”

Two…

One.

As people yelled out “Happy New Year!” Nate kissed her again, slower, deeper. He backed her up to the wall of the entryway, kissing her until she wasn’t sure where she ended and he began.

“Happy New Year,” she whispered when they came up for air. She put her hand on his chest and grinned up at him. “So when we get back to Marion, can I drive the cop car with the lights flashing?”

He lowered his forehead to hers. “No way.”

“I’ll talk you into it eventually,” she said, pressing another kiss to his lips. She wasn’t sure how it’d all work, only that they’d find a way. She glanced around, making sure they were still alone, then tugged on the waistband of his pants. “I think I want to unwrap my Christmas present again.”

An adorable blush crept over his cheeks.

Then Mom showed up and let out a high-pitched happy shriek. Kelsey took Nate’s hand and led him into the party. As they stood talking to Mom and Chris, Nate kept shooting her a smile or squeezing her hand, tenderness in every look, every touch.

Only a few minutes in, and this was already the best year ever.

Epilogue

Kelsey swept up the last of the hair off the floor. As luck would have it—or fate, she liked to think—the spot where Mom’s jewelry shop used to be went up for lease the exact day Kelsey moved back to Marion. Nate helped her convert it into a salon, and one of the girls she’d gone to high school with was renting a booth, so she had someone else to help pay the bills and keep her company.

They displayed her metal sculptures up front, and she’d even sold a couple in town, though most of her success was at shows in Charlotte. Being in control of her own place gave her a renewed love of her job, and she was already turning a profit. Nate was transitioning to taking over the farm, but he still worked at the station when needed, and he was on the rescue team when it came to anyone needing help in the nearby mountains.

Basically life was perfect, even when a concerned mom came in to ask why Kelsey had dyed her teenager’s hair the color she had requested. She still caused a bit of a stir with some the older generation when she walked down the street, but she’d managed to win over a few. Dolly started bringing over pastries as soon as Kelsey began renovating the place, their relationship picking up right where they left off, and Kelsey had dyed her hair a bright red that complemented her skin color and fiery personality.

Mrs. Walsh was slowly opening up, getting used to the idea she was there to stay. Kelsey had even made friends with Derek’s fiancée, and was surprised how easily they could hang out. Mom was still too far away, but it was a closer drive from Marion than Charlotte, and they’d both committed to visiting more often.

Nate and Sheriff Henderson walked past the large front window of the salon, slowing near the entrance. As much as it killed her to admit, Nate looked super hot in his police uniform. She bit her lip as she watched for the door to swing open and she could get an even better look.

I still can’t believe I fell for a cop
.

“See you tomorrow,” Nate said to the sheriff as he pushed inside, and his boss nodded at him, then tipped his hat at Kelsey.

“Evening, Sheriff,” she said, flashing him a giant canary-eating grin. The guy always made her feel guilty with a simple glance. It didn’t help that he’d pulled her over twice since she’d been in town. Once for going five over—seriously,
five
—and once for going
slightly
more over than that on the back roads.

He hadn’t given her a ticket either time, out of courtesy to Nate she was sure, and she had a feeling that ate at him.

Nate covered his twitching lips with his hand as he witnessed her and the sheriff’s strained interaction. As soon as the door closed and they were alone, he gripped her waist and gave her a long-awaited kiss. “You ready for dinner?”

“Ooh, which of the two places are we going tonight?”

“Babe, we’ll go anywhere you like.”

They both knew she’d choose the diner. She closed up shop, taking a moment to soak in every detail of her very own salon, including the large sign that read
The Best Little Hair House in North Carolina
.

There was going to be a town meeting about the name next week, since apparently it was “completely inappropriate.” Was it wrong to be excited about it?

Nate raised an eyebrow. “I know that look.”

“What? It’s free speech. Unless they’re paying my rent, I get to call it whatever I want.”

“Mm-hm.”

She spun around and patted his chest, one of her favorite physical features, and he flinched.

“Sorry, was that too hard?”

He brought up his shoulders and she could see he was holding back. She pulled him to a stop. “Nathaniel?”

“I was going to surprise you tonight. But…”

She bounced on her toes. “But what?”

“I…I got a tattoo today.”

“
What?
”

The people around them stopped to stare. Nate pulled Kelsey between two buildings, his cheeks reddening. At first she’d thought he was joking, but from the look on his face she could tell he wasn’t. Her Nate decided to get a tattoo?

“Lemme see, lemme see.” She couldn’t wait to see what he’d decided was important enough to make permanent.

He glanced at the mouth of the alley, then back at her.

“Don’t make me rip your clothes off right here, Officer Walsh, because you know I totally will,” she teased, getting a thrill at the way his eyes lit up with a combination of embarrassment and interest.

He shook his head. “One day you’re going to get me tossed in jail for indecent exposure.”

“I certainly hope so.” She reached up to unbutton his shirt. His eyes locked onto her as she did it, and she got the same feeling she had at Christmas, tearing open wrapping paper with no idea what’d be underneath.

She gently peeled back the gauze. Her name was in script, right on the spot she’d hit earlier. For a moment, she just stared, her heart expanding and pushing against her ribcage as all the love she had for him rose up.

“I love it.” She pressed a light kiss over it. “Soon you’ll be as addicted to getting them as I am.”

“Nope, that’s it for me. One tattoo, one girl.”

She slid her arms around his waist and kissed him again, considering her earlier threat to strip him down right here and now. It was crazy how one snowstorm could change her entire life. That night, Nate had ended up saving her in more ways than one. With him, she felt a security she never had before, and even better, they made an awesome team, something else that was new to her when it came to relationships.

And she couldn’t wait until next Christmas, when they’d be cuddled up by the fireplace, sitting under their very own tree decorated with reject popcorn strands and scrap metal ornaments.

* * *

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About the Author

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She is the author of YA novel
All the Broken Pieces,
adult romances
Falling for Her Fiancé
and
Act Like You Love Me,
and the upcoming contemporary romances
Cinderella Screwed Me Over
and
Ready to Wed.

You can find Cindi at
cindimadsen.com

Follow her on twitter
@cindimadsen

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Reviews help other readers find books. We appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative. Thank you for reading!

Other Books by
Cindi Madsen

Ready to Wed

Wedding planner Dakota Halifax loves to be in love. But when her fiancé jilts her, she can’t figure out how the heartbroken celebrate others’ true love. Until she reconnects with her childhood best friend, the surprisingly sexy and all-grown-up casino bouncer Brendan West. Maybe she can fall back in love with being in love. But then her ex reappears, begging for another chance and suddenly Dakota questions if she’ll ever understand love. Can someone once-burned and twice-shy ever find her way down the aisle again?

Cinderella Screwed Me Over

More in the Accidentally in Love Series:

Falling for Her Fiance

Resisting the Hero

Act Like You Love Me

For young adult readers:

All the Broken Pieces

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