Page 141 of All I Want For Christmas

It was getting harder and harder not to just blurt out, “I’m falling in love with you.”

Savannah was snuggled up next to Theo in the arm chair where they’d sat the night before. The fire was burning, they had mugs of cocoa again—this time with caramel vodka—and they were covered with a cozy blanket. But they were just cuddling now.

They’d had a magical day.

They’d made snow angels and built a snow man out by the Christmas tree Theo had taken her to. He’d let her ride on the ATV with him back up to the house afterward.

Then they’d showered together to warm up, had sex against the shower wall, then gone downstairs for lunch, and board games with other guests. They’d watched two movies snuggled up in bed, made love again, then come downstairs for dinner.

And now she felt sleepy, and so damned content she almost couldn’t believe it.

This was…more than she could have come up with if she’d scripted this trip. Better than a TV Christmas movie.

Theo Taggart sure as hell felt like her boyfriend. And she wanted that. She wanted it to last. She wanted it when they got back to Autre. She wanted it when she traveled home to New York next time. She wanted it no matter where she was. Even if he wasn’t with her every time, she wanted to call him to check in. She wanted to text with him. She wanted to pick up little souvenirs to take home to him.

She was in so much trouble.

She was on the verge of becomingveryclingy.

To a guy who not only seemed happily single but lived alone miles away from civilization on the Louisiana bayou in the dark with only alligators and mosquitos to keep him company.

Fuck.

“You okay?” he asked when he felt her heave a big sigh.

She looked up at him. “Yeah. I’m really…happy. Thank you for today.”

He leaned down to kiss her forehead. “It was my pleasure. Best day I’ve had in…a really, really long time.”

She loved hearing that. She loved the idea that she made him happy.

“Everyone!” Lucy called from the doorway that led to the main lobby. “The Lost Ridge Ramblers are playing next door in the pub. Everyone welcome!”

The Lost Ridge Ramblers were a four-person bluegrass band that was also stranded with them. Daisy, Isaac, Brooke, and Felix were a lot of fun and had entertained everyone with stories of shows they’d done.

“You up for a little party?” Theo asked.

But Savannah shook her head. “I’d rather it just be you and me.”

He gave her a smile that made her stomach flip. “Me too.”

They headed up to their room and Theo turned the fireplace on again. They settled onto the bed. He stretched out beside her, pulling her close, and Savannah happily moved against him, resting her head on his chest.

“What were Christmas Eve’s like for you as a kid?” she asked.

His hand stroked up and down her back as he started talking about growing up in Autre. Christmas at his house. Christmas with the Landrys. The different festivities in town over the season.

Savannah could easily picture it all and she found herself smiling and laughing.

“God, I love that place,” she said with a happy sigh.

Theo’s hand tightened on her hip. “Yeah?”

She looked up at him. “Of course.”

“I’m…” He cleared his throat. “Glad to hear that.”

She frowned slightly. He looked like he wanted to say more, but wasn’t speaking.

---