Page 94 of Clean Sweep
The tips of my fingers rubbed against the smooth skin beneath his jaw. I missed the stubble from Christmas morning. He shivered when I wrapped my arms all the way around his neck.
“The most romantic date you’ll ever have.”
“Christmas was pretty romantic.”
“Ah, but it wasn’t a date.”
My lips twitched. “Fair, but that’s still a heavy promise.”
“Is it?” That intriguing eyebrow lifted. I pulled closer to him. His gaze darted to my lips. Our breath kissed, so close I could feel his heartbeat against mine. “My daughter has been helping me. She’s taught me the way of the romantic.”
“Kissing me under the snow?” I murmured. “I think you’ve got romance down.”
Our lips collided, magnets that could no longer be denied. His warm hands splayed against my back and slid higher, holding me close as he tipped me back. My hair fell away from my neck in a cascade, allowing a cool breath of air to calm my frazzled skin.
When his lips slanted over mine, hungry and eager and happy, I felt something settle all the way into my bones.
Romance.
Just like I had all along.
THE CEREMONY CAME TOGETHERwith utter perfection.
Landon returned to Starla’s side after his attempt to act like the man of the house and hadn’t left. Her energy remained high despite the constant flow of people to meet and greet. I watched her closely, like a new mama with a baby bird ready to leave the nest. She sent me warm looks of gratitude with every new iced coffee or treat I brought her way to keep her energy high.
By the time they officially tied the knot in front of half of Pineville, the gentle fall of snow had turned into a whopper of a storm. Slush turned to ice on the roads. Snow trucks hissed by, plowing mounds into mountains on the street corners.
The general ambience of the party waned as people made their way home, eager to return before the descending blizzard trapped them at the coffee shop.
Landon and Starla slipped away first, heading to a cozy little cabin tucked not too far away for their honeymoon. I’d packed a bag of her prescriptions, anti-nausea meds, some over-the-counter pain medicine, and a few other mom touches that I’d shoved into her hands as they left.
She’d wrapped her thin arms around me, promised to see me soon, and started her new life with my son.
I’d probably like her better than him within a year.
Dahlia, Katelyn, my boys, and Lizbeth helped me pick up the worst of the garbage around the shop. In the quiet aftermath of the party, my nerves soothed. Tanner kept drawing my gaze from the other side of the room, where he cleaned up with professional efficiency.
When the song shifted to one we had danced to on Christmas Eve, he looked up, caught my gaze. His expression softened, then he winked.
My heart smoldered.
“Storm is growing too fast,” I said to Dahlia, then glanced to Bastian, who gathered the last of the empty cups set aside. “Get back to your RV before you can’t see, all right? I’ll come back early and clean before customers arrive in the morning.”
Dahlia hesitated, then nodded. “Thanks, boss lady. I’ve been nervous about getting back. Jayson’s grandmother’s ranch where we’re parking the RV this winter is so far from here and a little treacherous when snow falls.”
“Go and be safe. Text me when you get there.”
Bastian sent me a nod and held out his hand for Dahlia. She accepted, and the two of them dodged into the storm, jackets zipped tight and hoods up.
I sent Blake, Nicholas, and Max on their way to their local friends, thankfully not far from our house. Blake coaxed Celeste into joining them. They’d have no problem getting home afterward, or in the morning after they finished playing video games all night.
Finally.
Tanner and I remained alone in the Frolicking Moose.
Through a maze of chairs, glittering streamers, and lines of tinsel, Tanner crossed the room and pulled me into his arms. Christmas music played gently in the background. I closed my eyes and leaned against him, content to let him take my weight for a bit. He hummed, swaying us back and forth.
When he linked his fingers through mine and stepped back to slide an arm around my waist, I instantly fell into step.
