Page 42 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
Dahlia’s jaw grew tight, but she managed another smile and a nod for Rose’s sake. “So, what did you have planned for the weekend?”
“Oh, well, actually…” Rose turned beet red.
Dahlia’s eyes narrowed as her little sister squirmed in her seat.
“I, um, I thought… I thought maybe…”
Dahlia cocked a hip, amusement warring with suspicion. She’d only seen Rose act like this a handful of times in her life, and it was always when she’d been up to no good. “Rose, what are you up to?”
Rose stopped squirming and widened her eyes. “Nothing.”
She was the picture of innocence, but Dahlia had seen that look on Daisy enough times to know when she was being fed a lie. All she had to do was arch a brow and Rose’s shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Okay, fine,” Rose huffed. “I was wondering if I could sweet-talk you into spending the day with JJ.”
The sound of his name had her blinking in surprise. And then what Rose was suggesting registered.
A day with JJ.
The idea sent a thrill racing through her, but she willed herself to cover it. “Why?” It came out too snippy.
“Well, he’s been trying to get everyone to go ice fishing with him, and no one really wants to, and I feel bad for the guy. But I’m not about to go, and I was just wondering…” Rose’s eyes widened again, taking on a puppy dog look that she’d spent most of her childhood perfecting.
Dahlia frowned. “He seems like the kind of guy who enjoys his own company. I think he’ll be fine.”
“You should have seen his face,” Rose kept going. “And if he’s asking me, then you know he’s desperate. Right?” Her brow wrinkled, puppy dog eyes now tinged with an extra shot of pleading. “Come on, please?”
Dahlia sighed. She’d never been able to resist Rose’s cute face.
And yeah, fine, maybe she didn’t like the idea of JJ being lonely or rejected. Her lips hitched to the side. Did he really need company?
The back door opened, and JJ sauntered in. His gorgeous smile when he spotted her made her belly flutter in a way that went beyond disconcerting.
It was annoying the first time it happened. But every single time he smiled?
So he has a nice smile. Get over it already.
“You ready to go?” His husky voice made the tingle spread down the back of her legs, and she had to turn away so he wouldn’t see the effect he always had on her.
She gave Rose a pointed look. “You told him yes from me already?”
Rose winced. “You’re really good at not letting people down, so I just assumed…”
When she turned back, JJ was grinning at her, and she knew there was no way she could say no. Instead, she said, “Ice fishing, huh?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the counter. “Ever been?”
She scoffed. He was kidding, right?
His chuckle said yes, he was.
“Don’t I need, like, equipment or gear or something?”
He shook his head. “I’ve got everything you’ll need. You just have to put on your warmest sweater and your comfiest winter boots.”
“Won’t I freeze out there?”
JJ tilted his head to the side and shifted slightly until he was close enough that she could smell that heady scent of his. Woodsy and masculine, it wrapped around her and warmed her through.
