Until Christmas

  A Friends to Lovers Romance

  Holiday Short Stories

  T.O. Smith

  Copyright ©November 2022 by T.O. Smith

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Formatting: Tiff Writes Romance

  Cover Design: Tiff Writes Romance

  Editing: Tiff Writes Romance

  Proofreading: Kimberly Peterson

  Created with Vellum

  For Riley, my reason for everything that I do.

  * * *

  For every reader who enjoys a feel-good Christmas romance set in the south.

  Contents

  Books in the Series

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Epilogue

  Also by T.O. Smith

  About the Author

  Books in the Series

  Christmas With Her Marine

  * * *

  Valentine’s Day With Valentino

  1

  Logic

  They said you never forgot your first love, and fuck if that wasn’t true for me.

  Especially when I spent almost every damn day with her.

  Amara Hooper—my best friend since we were four and starting our first day of school together. She was shy and an easy target for mean kids. I refused to let her push me away, and before the end of our first day, we were thick as thieves, and I got in a hell of a lot of trouble for the fights I got into protecting her.

  I checked my watch and frowned. It was still too early for me to call and see how her night went. She and her most recent boyfriend—she went through the douchebags faster than she ate chocolate—were supposed to go on a date last night. She had high hopes for this one.

  Honestly, I was a hairsbreadth away from locking her in a room in my house until she figured out I was the man for her. Because these other guys certainly weren’t it.

  But fuck, she’d friend-zoned me long ago.

  With a tired sigh, I put the tractor into park and then hopped down, heading toward my house from the barn. I needed another damn cup of coffee before I headed to the Christmas tree farm.

  When my dad passed due to an unexpected heart attack three years ago, my mother gave everything to me—the farm, the Christmas tree farm, the animals, and the house. She packed up what she wanted and moved further south into Florida.

  I didn’t mind. I liked being my own boss, and I loved being a farmer. I lived and breathed this land. Didn’t know anything else except agriculture.

  But it was days like today when the holidays were drawing extremely close that I wanted someone to share it with, someone to spend Christmas with me and my mom. She always made the drive up on Christmas day, going back home on Christmas night. She knew it was hard for me to plan time away, and I knew she liked coming up here a couple of times a year to reminisce on the life she spent with her husband.

  The arrangement worked for us. But damn if it didn’t get lonely sometimes.

  I managed to get two cups of coffee down my throat before hopping into my truck. When I got to the Christmas tree farm, I swung open the gate and then poured myself a cup of coffee from my thermos. It wasn’t cold—never really got cold this far down south in Georgia—but coffee was the base of my diet.

  My doc got on my ass about it every time I had a check-up, too.

  About an hour later, tires crunched on the gravel. I looked up, spotting Amara’s car immediately. She drove a Prius, which honestly suited her. She was sweet, kind-hearted, and she loved kids, hence her chosen profession as a Kindergarten teacher. So, when she’d rolled up to my house a couple of years ago to show off her new car, I hadn’t been all that surprised.

  “Rough morning?” I asked, noticing the dark circles under her eyes when she got out of her car. It made anger stir low in my gut. Guess last night didn’t go all that well.

  She sighed and hopped onto the tailgate beside me. She was wearing a pair of jean shorts that hugged her thick thighs, cowgirl boots with some kind of teal threading on the stitching, and a plain black hoodie that I was ninety-nine percent sure used to belong to me at one point because it swallowed her smaller body.

  “He broke up with me last night. Said I was too boring.”

  I bit back a snort. Amara was anything but boring. She loved to paint, and often enough, she ended up with paint all over her clothes and in her hair. She also liked to write short stories, which she self-published. I read them, but she didn’t know that. Pretty sure she’d be mortified if she knew since they were basically pure smut. She also liked to ride horses, and she loved hunting and fishing as much as she loved getting her hair and nails done and going shopping.

  “What a sack of shit,” I muttered. I held out my cup to her. “Coffee?”

  She shook her head. “I had a cup already this morning.”

  I shook my head. “One cup is never enough.”

  That made her smile. She leaned her head on my shoulder. “Men aren’t shit, Logic.”

  I sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “You friend-zone all the men worth anything.” It was a low dig, and I knew it, but I didn’t regret the words.

  She hummed, not getting what I was saying. I stared out over the Christmas trees that were waiting to be picked out by a family, thinking about us. And fuck yeah, there was an us, even if she didn’t realize it yet.

  I contemplated making a move right now, but I knew it could potentially destroy everything between me and Amara.

  But if I did make the move, it could also be one of the best things I’d ever done. It could be the start of something beautiful and amazing between us.

  I wouldn’t ever know though unless I took a chance. A chance that was making my stomach curl with unease. Because even the friend zone with Amara was better than nothing at all. I couldn’t picture my life without this sweet woman in it, shining brighter than the damn sun itself on a hot-as-hell Summer day.

  “I’ll make you a deal,” I said before I could stop myself.

  She sat up, and my arm fell from her shoulder. Her brows pulled low over her eyes as she stared at me, trying to figure me out.

  “A deal?” she finally asked, sounding both curious and a bit cautious. Couldn’t really blame her.

  I nodded. “A deal. Give me until Christmas day to act as your boyfriend, to show you that not all men are shit. Give me the opportunity to show you how you deserve to be treated.”

  She instantly started shaking her head, but I wasn’t letting this go. I gripped her hand in mine, stilling her. “Amara, let me,” I pleaded, my eyes seeking out hers. Nervousness resided in their depths. “You’ve had asshole after asshole for boyfriends. I promise that if this doesn’t work out between us by Christmas day, we’ll end it and still remain friends. I swear. You’re not losing me.”

  “Promise?” she asked, her voice quiet and small. I knew she was afraid of losing me. Fuck, I was afraid of losing her, too. But I was also afraid of living the rest of my life not knowing what it was like to completely love and cherish this woman like I wanted to.

  I squeezed her hand and lowered my head, our eyes connecting again. “I promise, sweet girl.”

  She drew in a deep breath and nodded. “Okay then, cowboy, you’ve got yourself a deal.”

  I snorted and gripped the side of her neck. “I’m going to kiss you now,” I whispered. And fuck, I hoped I didn’t pass out when I did. Because my heart was already racing way too damn fast in my chest as it was.

  Her lips softly parted on a small gasp of surprise, and with a groan, I leaned in, kissing her firm, sweet lips. She moaned and curved into me, her hands coming up to grip my t-shirt, her mouth opening beneath mine. But I didn’t allow her to deepen it. I pulled back and planted a kiss on the tip of her nose.

  “Be prepared to get treated like a princess, Amara.”

  She snorted. “As if you don’t already.”

  Oh, she had no idea what she was in for because I had been holding back, not wanting to cross boundaries.

  Amara was about to be wooed, and if I had anything to do with it, by the time Christmas day came, Amara wouldn’t want to let me go.

  2

  Logic

  Amara spent the day out at the Christmas tree farm with me, where I proceeded to show her what it was like to be with a man like me. I doted on her, ordered food for her without having to be prompted, and she barely lifted a finger to do anything. I had her blushing numerous times today, and every time she did, I couldn’t resist kissing her.

  Those lips of hers were fucking addictive, and I had no idea how I planned to stop if she decided she didn’t want to be with me after Christmas.

  She wanted to come back to my house with me that evening, but I sent her on her way to hers. I needed to get our date ready, and unlike her previous boyfriends, I was going to do something she liked.

  Which was why I was out here setting up the back of my truck for our date. It was my old truck, the one I only used around the farm. I’d pick her up in my other one and bring her out here into the middle of my hayfield. I had finger foods made for us, waiting in the microwave in the house.

  I was hoping this would be enough for her—an evening under the stars, just enjoying our company together. Amara was a simple girl; I just hoped this wasn’t too simple for her.

  I stood back and planted a hand on my hip as I looked at my handiwork. Grabbing the brim of my cap, I lifted it, scratching at my forehead before placing it back onto my head. Now, I just needed a shower and to go pick up my girl.

  My girl.

  I’d always thought of her as that, but now, it was real. Even if it might only be temporary, right now, for these next few days, she was mine.

  Fucking finally.

  I just needed to figure out how to keep her forever.

  I knocked on Amara’s front door before stuffing my hands in my pockets. Normally, I’d just barge into her house and announce myself, but I was trying to do everything the right way. And as her new, fresh boyfriend, that meant no longer barging into her house like it was my own.

  She swung open the front door wearing a pair of jeans, those damn boots again, and another hoodie. She rolled her eyes at me. “Why didn’t you just walk in like you normally do?”

  “Because I’m trying to show you how this is done, sweet girl.” Her cheeks heated. Reaching forward, I grasped her waist and pulled her to me, leaning down to plant a kiss on her sweet, addictive lips. “Come on. We have a date.”

  She shook her head and closed the door behind her. “You know you don’t have to go all out like this,” she told me. “You work a lot, Logic, and I already know you’re a good man.”

  I grabbed her hand in mine and led her down the walkway to my truck, which was parked against the curb in front of her house. “Doesn’t matter what you know, sweet girl. Any man you’re with,” and fuck, the thought of her with another man made me feel sick to my stomach, “should never stop treating you like you’re everything he’s ever wanted, no matter whether he’s already proved himself to you or not.”

  I opened the passenger door, and gripping her hips, I lifted her into the passenger seat. Her cheeks were a gorgeous red color. I pressed my lips to them. “Don’t change, Amara.”

  She fanned her face. “Blushing this much is embarrassing, Logic.”

  I shook my head. “It’s fucking adorable as hell.” I pressed my lips to hers and then shut her door before striding around the front of my truck to get in on the driver’s side, ignoring my dick pressing against the zipper of my jeans.

  “So, where are we going?” she asked as I began taking the streets to exit her neighborhood.

  “My place,” I told her.

  She looked over at me in surprise. “Your place?” I nodded. She smiled a little and turned to face out the window, but she looked pleased. The pressure I’d been feeling eased a bit. If she was happy that we were going to my place for our date, then maybe I was doing something right.

  Amara gasped, her hands flying up to cover her mouth as she stared at the back of my truck. I’d parked it under two oak trees, and I’d strung up battery-operated white lights to provide a pretty glow. I’d laid out three comforters on the bed, and I had throw blankets tossed on top with multiple pillows lining the bed sidings.

  I set the basket of food in the center, smiling at her, a little nervous. “You like?”

  “Oh, Logic, this is—this is amazing.” She blinked back tears. “No one has ever done this for me before.” Turning to me, she grasped my face in my hands and pressed her soft lips against mine. “Thank you. I love it.”

  I smiled, barely biting back a sigh of relief. Once she was in the back of the truck, I pulled her boots off for her, setting them aside, and then I climbed up beside her, pulling my boots off as well. I then made her a plate of food, handing it over.

  She giggled. “Did you make all my favorite finger foods?” she teased. There were dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets, grapes, pickles, and original-flavor potato chips, amongst other things.

  “I wanted this to be perfect.”

  She wistfully sighed. “It’s the best date I’ve ever been on.” She leaned against me as she ate, staring up at the stars. “Maybe I made a mistake putting you into the friend zone for all these years,” she whispered.

  I pressed my lips to the top of her head, not saying anything. But her words gave me hope. Maybe we didn’t have to let it end on Christmas day after all.

  Maybe she’d give us a chance.

  3

  Logic

  I gently shook Amara awake. She’d fallen asleep about an hour ago, but I needed to get her home. The old me would have taken her to my house and deposited her in my bed where we’d sleep with a pillow between us, but that couldn’t happen now.

  I wouldn’t push anything. If anything happened between us more than a kiss, it would happen because she initiated it—not me.

  “Ungh,” she mumbled, snuggling further against me. My heart skipped a beat in my chest. I loved it when she did that, and it was tough on my restraint.

  “Come on, sweet girl,” I gently coaxed, shaking her again. “I need to get you home.”

  “No,” she mumbled. “Your house.”

  I laughed softly, pressing my lips to the top of her head. “No. Come on. Stop being stubborn. It’s time for me to get you home.”

  She huffed in agitation and slowly opened her eyes before reaching up to rub them with a yawn. I slid my boots on and hopped down from the truck, waiting patiently for her to pull hers on. When she was done, I lifted her down and then grabbed her hand in mine, leading her across the field to the house where my newer truck was parked.

  “I don’t understand how you can see with just the moon,” she muttered, her steps a little sluggish. I kept my pace slow for her. She was clumsy enough as it was. Add on being half asleep and it being dark? Recipe for disaster if I wasn’t careful.

  I laughed softly. “Babe, I grew up on this property, remember? And don’t you say snakes—not the time of year for them.”

  She grumbled something under her breath that I didn’t catch, but I let her be. She could be a real grump when she got woken up before she was ready. Instead, I just gently squeezed her hand and continued leading her to my truck.

  I tucked her hair behind her ear. “I had a good time with you tonight,” I quietly told her, keeping my voice low. I didn’t want to break the magic between us.

  She smiled softly, her eyes still a little hazy with sleep. “You made it magical, Logic. Thank you.”

  I smiled and then leaned down to softly kiss her, keeping it short and sweet. “Go on in and get to bed, sweet girl. I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah? Get some rest.”

  She nodded and slipped inside her house. I didn’t move from the porch until I heard her lock click on the other side. And then, I took a moment to adjust my jeans.

  I’d been hard all fucking night. I used to be able to mostly control it, but every time I kissed her, or she moved against me while we were cuddling in the back of the truck, I got hard all over again. My fucking balls were suffering big time.

  When I got home, I headed straight for my shower, already pulling my shirt over my head. All I could think about the whole ride home was how Amara felt in my arms, which led to me thinking about how she’d feel beneath me and the taste of her lips, which made me wonder how her lips would feel wrapped around my cock.

  Sure as fuck didn’t help that my goddamn truck smelled like her perfume the whole way home.

  I groaned as soon as I was under the spray of water and fisted my cock. Planting one hand against the wall and spreading my legs a bit, I began to stroke myself, picturing her on her knees beneath me, the water beating down over us. She’d slide a hand over her body and rub her clit, getting herself off as I drove myself down her sweet throat.

  I grunted, coming so fucking fast, I should have been ashamed of myself.

  Fuck, this woman was driving me nuts. I hadn’t even touched her yet, and I was already fucking ruined.

 

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