Page 7 of Cold Snap

"This is better." Wrapping my arms under the coat as I hold her tightly against me, we look out across the blowing snow as a few splintered sunbeams escape the clouds. "It's not exactly dazzling sunshine, but at least it's daylight."

Rosa looks up at me with a strange smile. "Why are you taking this so seriously?"

My palms skim slowly down around her curvaceous hips, then up her sides, before slipping up to her precious, innocent face. "Because I want to takeyouseriously. Us. This. Whatever this is, or is going to be, I think it's going to be magical."

She blinks in surprise, then her eyes drop. "I'm not used to being taken that seriously."

"I think you should start. To begin, you can be the judge of all things food, our activities, and telling me all about your life." My lips drift across her forehead. "And I'll be in charge of tellingyou how beautiful you are. How you make me breathless. How I've been dying to kiss you since the moment I laid eyes on you."

Her bottom lip trembles as her mouth falls open. Leaning down slowly, I wait until she tilts up, bringing our lips together in a gentle, breathy kiss that makes my head spin.

Time stops. It feels like our hearts connect, then start beating together.

Rosa pulls back just long enough to catch her breath, then her fingers grip the back of my collar as she kisses me again. It feels like her body is trying to absorb the heat of mine as she presses every possible inch of herself against me.

"Are you cold?" I whisper.

"No."

"Are you sure? You're shaking."

She blushes so beautifully. "I'm… I'm sorry."

Tickling my beard against the side of her face, I chuckle. "Never be sorry with me, angel. I want you to tell me everything."

Her eyes sparkle. "I guess I'm just nervous."

A thought hits me. Her tentative kisses. Her shy smiles. "Rosa, have you ever had a boyfriend before?"

Her pale cheeks blossom with pink as she giggles and tries to hide her face against my chest. "Of course not."

My head tilts as I stare in disbelief. "What is that supposed to mean? You're gorgeous, you're interesting, you're…" I step back to let my eyes rake over the front of her t-shirt and her stretchy jeans. "I hope I don't offend you by calling you sex on a stick, but it's the truth."

Her mouth falls open. "If you're joking, I'm not laughing."

"Damn," I mutter under my breath, pulling her against me. "Rosa, if you don't know how hot you are, you've been hanging out in the wrong places."

"I hang out in kitchens." Her head tips to look up at me. "You really think I'm…"

She trails off, so I interrupt her with another kiss. This one is deeper, slower, and I hold her luscious curves against me, resisting the urge to pick her up and pin her savagely against the porch wall.

"You're so sexy that I can't get you out of my head," I growl into her mouth, as one hand slips up to caress the back of her neck. "May I please come to your room tonight?"

Rosa places a hand on my chest and pulls back. "Mrs. H. made a really big deal about not fraternizing with the guests."

"We're not regular guests."

"Still…"

I hate that she looks unsure. Stepping back, I release her, wrapping the parka around her snugly to give my hands something to do. "I need you to talk to me. I need to know everything about you."

"Um, well, number one, I have to start dinner in a minute."

"I won't get in your way." I hustle her inside, with just a tiny peck on the lips before kissing the top of her hair. "I want you to do something for me, angel."

"Sure. What?"

"Do you ever talk to yourself when you're cooking?"

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