Page 24 of Snow Drift

"Yes. And I'll bring him with me. I have to go. Talk soon."

"Love you, sweetie. I'm really glad that you found someone who listens to you."

"Thanks, Mom."

"He's hot, right? I assume you've checked out his ass."

I laugh. "Goodbye, Mom."

"You're not even going to tell me if it's nice and tight like a linebacker's, or?—"

I end the call, knowing that she's laughing just as hard as I am.

Okay. Time to go tell my hottie with the great ass that I've made a decision.

15

MOORE

Although I'm glad that we'll be staying an extra day or two here at the chalet, I don't know whether I'll truly be able to enjoy it or not.

If Kallie feels like I'm pushing her to do something she's not ready for, that makes me an asshole. Nobody should ask their partner to change just for them. Even though I think she's ready to stop running.

Do I know her well enough to try and make that call?

If all we do is visit, and scratch the whole living together bit for now, I'll understand. She knows what I want.

When the three of us move from the library to the dining room, Dylan reaches out to pat Baz's stomach teasingly. "Have you put on those two pounds like you were hoping to?"

He laughs, more relaxed than I've ever seen him. "You'd better believe it. Probably more like five."

Maya is in great spirits as she serves us lunch, and it's cute to see that she and Dylan are now completely open about the fact they're together. She keeps it professional, but now she'll occasionally rest a hand on his shoulder, or give him a special little smile.

"Looks like the snow has stopped, but that cold front is still blowing through," Baz says once the three of us are alone again. He peers out the window. "I think it's going to be another night with those fireplaces doing most of the work."

My head jerks up when I see Kallie beckoning me at the doorway.

"I expect that dessert to be still there when I get back." I wave a finger sharply between Baz and Dylan before jumping up and hurrying toward Kallie.

She takes my hand, leading me into the sunroom. I grab the blanket and pull it around her shoulders as we stand in front of the window.

"Is everything okay?" I ask. My arms around her are mainly for warmth, but I already feel the pull to hold her closer.

"I just spoke with my mom," she says softly.

"Yeah? How is she?"

"Great." Kallie looks up at me with an adorable grin. "I think she likes you already."

"Wait, you told your mom about me?" My lips brush across the top of her hair. "Can I hope that this means we're getting serious?"

"I think so." Her lips curl up into a smile as she stares into my eyes. "Mom and I agree that the healthiest thing for me at this point would be to shack up with a guy I just met."

A deep chuckle bursts out of me, then I stop short, realizing the implications. "You're serious?"

"Yes. I mean, as long as you understand that I still might be jumpy and weird sometimes."

Crushing her to my chest, I rock her gently from side to side. "Baby, I need you to tell me every single time anything like that happens. If you ever feel afraid, or get that weird, suspicious feeling. You tell me, and I'll take care of it. Or we'll go somewhere else immediately and do whatever it takes to shake it off."

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