Page 41 of Snow Harm, No Foul

“We have a lot to learn about each other still.”

“And we have the time to learn it.” She adjusts her position until she’s further up my body, her face directly in front of mine. “We skipped about a thousand steps, but we can go back down them and take them together. The only difference now is thatwe’re having a baby. I’m up for the challenge of getting to know you properly. Are you up to get to know me, too?”

I curl a finger beneath her chin and pull her in for a soft, short kiss. She smiles against my mouth.

“Your place,” I start, diving in like a needy fuck. “Is it big enough for a baby?”

“Babies are pretty small.”

I scowl at her teasing. “Babies are. But I’m not.”

“Oh, you’re really asking about you. I had no clue that’s what you meant.” Her devious smirk says otherwise.

“You’re talkin’ like you’re not too exhausted to be bent over my knee. I’ll have you countin’ how many times I smack your smart ass.”

“I’m never too tired for that.”

I drag the tip of my thumb along the blue ring beneath her eyes. “Not tonight.”

“In that case, I’ll let you know in advance that I wouldn’t be opposed to being woken with sex.”

My chest shakes with a silent laugh. She rests her cheek on my pec, eyes drooping.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“My place isn’t big. It’s just somewhere to sleep. My own space. What about yours?”

Despite having come twice in the span of a few hours, I harden beneath her at the prospect of her coming to my place. Seeing her in my bedroom unpacking her things in my closet might send me to an early grave.

“It’s big enough for us. Three bedrooms, a finished basement, and a big backyard,” I say.

Despite her dreamy smile, she tuts her tongue. “For us? You haven’t even taken me out on a date yet, Niko.”

I set my hand flat on her back and hold her against me, my eyes growing heavier and heavier. “What does a perfect date look like for Ivy Bell?”

“Honestly?”

“Mmm.”

Her eyes scroll over my face as she thinks, her mouth twisting in an adorable way. “I’ve always wanted to be taken out somewhere I can be shown off. Not in an over-the-top way, but I want to be on someone’s arm and have them be proud to have me there. It doesn’t even have to be anywhere fancy. We could go to a movie theatre to watch a cheesy film in the middle of the day or take a stroll through the park. I just want to feel wanted. Desired, I guess. Especially on a date.”

“I usually save the movie theatre for the second date, but I can make that work.”

Her eyes crinkle at the corners as she giggles. “You mentioned being older than me, but when you let loose enough to joke around, you seem younger. Like you don’t have so much on your mind.”

“You bring that out of me.”

“So, I should be thanking myself, then?”

I hum, burying a hand in her hair and massaging her scalp. “Other than knittin’, what do you do outside of work?”

“Hey, not so fast. You didn’t tell me whatyourperfect date looks like.”

“You want to know what I like to do on a date?”

She rolls her eyes. “Obviously.”

“I could crack a beer and sit in an empty room with you and be content. I’ve never put thought into that, considerin’ how little I’ve dated.”

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