An Officer and a Rebel: An Accidentally in Love Novella (Entangled Bliss) by Cindi Madsen Page B

sub-conscious. Maybe he was an idiot for not saying what happens in the snowstorm stays in the snowstorm, but he wanted there to be more to what was happening between them. And knowing he couldn’t have it made him feel like he should protect himself from getting carried away.
    Kelsey leaned back against him, and he wrapped his arms around her. “So, tell me why you wanted to be a cop,” she said.
    “You always wrinkle your nose when you say cop. ”
    She wrinkled her nose again—she had the cutest little nose, and the diamond stud accented it nicely.
    He laughed and wrapped his arms tighter around her. “I went down to Charlotte to get away from here for a while—see what the world outside of Marion was like. I was staying with my cousin Wes, who’d gotten me a part-time job at the helicopter tour office where he worked, and one of the guys he knew from high school—Connor, the dark-haired guy from the photo—mentioned he was going through the police academy.
    “I hadn’t planned for college, really, thinking I’d just run the farm with my dad. The academy seemed like a good way to get into a career, one I thought I’d be good at. It was supposed to be my backup, but once I started, I liked it. The guys were great and I felt like I could make a difference in people’s lives. By the end of it, all I wanted to be was a cop. I was planning on working in Charlotte, but then my dad needed me here, and a job opened up. I thought I wouldn’t like the small town vibe, but helping people, making them feel safer, helping out with town events, I love it.”
    “Do you love when you get to give someone a ticket?”
    He laughed, sliding his hands down to her hips. “When I feel like they’re endangering others, yes. The law’s the law.”
    She wrinkled her nose again.
    He pressed his lips to her neck, not kissing, but just resting them against her soft skin. “But I’d let you off with a warning.”
    She shook her head but she was smiling.
    His stomach growled, and he realized the only thing they’d eaten today was cookies and a couple bites of popcorn. “I’m gonna go see what I can scrounge up to eat.”
    “You go, mountain man. But full disclosure, I’m not eating anything that needs to be skinned and roasted the spitfire way.”
    “How about opened with a can opener and heated by the fire?”
    “Sounds perfect.”
    He grabbed a candle and headed into the kitchen to grab a couple cans of soup. As he rummaged through the cupboards, he pulled out his phone. Since Derek hadn’t answered his call, he decided to text.
    Call me ASAP.
    At this point, he was thinking he’d given his brother a chance to respond, so all bets were off. What was that saying about how it was easier to ask for forgiveness than permission?
    …
    Kelsey scraped at the last of the creamy potato soup with her spoon. Even eating out of a can, there was something romantic about sitting in front of the fire with Nate, no power on. Usually she prided herself on not needing anyone else, but every time she remembered Nate saying he’d take care of her, a thrill went through her stomach.
    She set down her can and scooted next to him, resting her back against the couch the way he was doing. Between the fire and the candles, the metal pieces of the tree reflected the light, giving the tree a glowing effect, even without the lights on.
    It could’ve been any other Christmas, sitting in front of a fire, a glowing tree nearby. All that was missing was Mom, snacks, and a holiday movie playing in the background.
    “What’s your favorite Christmas movie?” she asked.
    “Easy. A Christmas Story .”
    “Typical. Every guy loves that movie for some reason.”
    “Because it’s awesome.”
    “I kinda hate it,” she said, and he gasped like she’d said she didn’t like puppies. “I’ve been forced to watch it too many times, and I just never thought it was that funny.”
    “You’re lucky the power’s out, or I’d force you to watch it right