Page 117 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
But she could hear the laughter in his voice.
Her smile made her cheeks ache, and some part of her brain was desperately trying to shut down this crazy wellspring of joy.
It won’t last. It can’t last. You’re only going to be more hurt in the end…
She swallowed hard and shut her eyes. Her insides were at war. Her heart happy, her mind a whirl of terror, and her body…
Well, her body was too busy melting to putty in his arms to have much of a say in the matter.
“This doesn’t change things, you know.”
“No talking,” he joked. “Subway rules. See?”
He nodded to the row of seats beside them where everyone sat in silence, either engrossed in their phones or listening to something on their earbuds.
“I’m serious.” She shifted to face him. It suddenly felt urgent that she at least acknowledge reality before giving in to the sheer joy of having him at her side. “I’m happy to see you—”
He leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Same here, Lia.”
“But…” She suspected her silly grin was spoiling her attempt at seriousness. “This is still a bad idea.”
“Noted.”
“No, I mean it.” She started to turn in his arms, but he stopped her by burrowing his face in her neck and holding her even tighter.
“Lia, I know you’re scared and that sharp mind of yours wants to figure everything out right this second…”
She went still, her heart rate quickening. She both loved and hated how easily he read her.
“But I came here because I need you to know that I don’t care where you are. You are more important to me than Zion, or the ranch… or even my cabin.”
Her heart stopped, her lungs hitching dangerously. But before the emotions could swallow her whole, he hurried on in a more casual tone. “Now, I’ve never been to this big city, so I’m hoping you’ll show me around.”
She hesitated for a moment, her lips quirking with the urge to smile. “You’ll hate it.”
He chuckled. “Is that a challenge?”
“Maybe.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Bring it, Lia. All I care about is being with you. What we do or where, that’s up to you.”
Dahlia latched on to the challenge. Maybe it was her competitive side coming out, or maybe… maybe she just couldn’t let herself believe it might be possible. No man would give up everything just to be with her.
Not even JJ, with his big heart and his kind soul, would sacrifice the life he loved just to be with her.
And so…
“Game on,” she whispered as the subway slid into her station and the doors opened.
On the short walk to her apartment building, she called up the restaurant that her bosses regularly chose to wine and dine clients. They knew Dahlia well because of all the reservations she’d made with them, and thanks to that, they slipped her in for a late dinner.
She turned to JJ with a grin as they climbed the steps to her apartment. “Hope you brought something nice to wear, country mouse. This restaurant has a strict ‘no muck boots’ policy.”
His laughter made her grin, but she still experienced a surge of nerves when she unlocked her apartment door and ushered him inside.
He stopped short in the entryway. Her apartment was so small that he could see most of it just standing there.
Dahlia squinted slightly, trying to look at it from his point of view.
