“What’s wrong, dearest?” Angela asked.
“The storm hit early,” he said.
Rayna and Angela joined him at the window, and Rayna stared in disbelief at Angela’s small backyard. “Holy crap. How long has it been snowing?”
“At least a couple of hours,” Isaac said as another blast of wind swayed the large pine tree at the back of the yard. “We need to go, Mom. I have a feeling it’ll only get worse.”
“Maybe you should stay in New Cassel for the evening,” Angela said. “The roads will already be terrible, and it scares me to death to think of the two of you driving all the way to Harmony Falls in this.”
Isaac glanced at Rayna. “We could stay at my place. It’s only about a fifteen minute drive from here.”
Rayna nodded. “I’d prefer that to driving home in this.”
“Perfect,” Angela said with a relieved smile. “I’ll pack up a few breakfast items for you before you go. I’m quite certain you don’t have any fresh food at the house and with how terrible this storm is, I don’t want you going out at all if I can help it.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Isaac said.
Angela reached up to pat his cheek gently. “You’re welcome, my boy.”
CHAPTER 40
“Did you talk to Emma?” Stark finished putting the last of the food in the fridge.
Rayna joined him in the kitchen and tucked her phone into her pocket. “I did. It was perfect timing, actually. She and Lucas were just finishing checking on Molly and the babies, and she said she’d take Bea back to her house for the night.”
“Okay,” he said.
“Molly is fine,” Rayna said. “She was all over Lucas while Emma fed her and scooped her litter box. They spent about half an hour with her and the babies.”
“Okay, good,” Stark said.
“Why are you acting like you already know this?” Rayna asked.
“I’m not. How would I know that?” He cleared his throat and refused to meet her gaze.
“Spill it, Stark,” she said, giving him a light poke in the stomach.
His cheeks hot, he said, “I installed a pet camera in the bedroom so I can check on Molly and the babies when I’m not there. I checked on her when we first got here and saw Emma and Lucas with her.”
He waited for her to tease him, but she gave him a sweet smile. “That’s adorable. I love that you did that.”
His embarrassment faded, and he leaned against the counter. “Are you hungry? Mom also sent some ‘midnight snacks,’ as she called them.”
Rayna laughed. “I’m not hungry, but are we allowed to have midnight snacks if it’s only nine o’clock?”
“Maybe not.” He pulled her against him, resting his hands on her hips. It was a little ridiculous how difficult it had been not to touch her while they were at his mom’s house. He’d come close to resting his hand on her leg during dinner more than once. Hell, twice, he’d almost leaned down to kiss her. When they’d moved to the family room, he’d deliberately chosen the armchair. His ability to resist touching her had worn away to non-existent by that point, and he didn’t want to give his mother the wrong idea that he and Rayna were dating.
Too late for that, buddy.
Rayna traced light circles on his chest. “Where’d you go just now?”
“Just in my head,” he said. “I feel bad that I got us stuck here in a snowstorm.”
She studied the kitchen, which featured high-end appliances, modern teak cabinets, and sleek marble countertops. “Oh yes, because it’s such an inconvenience to be trapped in your giant luxury penthouse. Remind me again, how many showerheads do you have in your shower?”
“Multiple,” he said before squeezing her ass. “Interested in trying it out with me?”
She leaned forward and kissed a slow path up his neck. “I thought you’d never ask.”