Page 24 of Enticed by the Mountain Man
“Coffee. Morning. You.”
She smiles. “I like it too.”
I set my mug down and watch her for a long second. There’s something about the way she looks back, steady, certain, thatmakes me realize I don’t want this to be temporary, not for another week, not for another day.
I clear my throat. “You should stay.”
Her brows lift. “Stay?”
“For good.”
The words hang there. I don’t dress them up, don’t hide them behind anything fancy. I just mean them.
Her lips part like she’s about to say something clever, but then she softens, eyes shining a little. “You're asking me to live with you, Graham Hawthorne?”
“Guess I am.”
She sets her mug down and walks over to me, sliding onto my lap like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Her hands rest on my shoulders, her eyes searching mine.
“I already do,” she says.
I chuckle, wrapping my arms around her. “I guess you do.” I kiss her, slow and lazy, tasting coffee and her.
When she pulls back, she’s grinning. “You realize we’re gonna have to tell Connor at some point.”
“Yeah.”
“He’s going to haveopinions.”
“Probably,” I admit.
She raises a brow. “He’s your best friend, Graham. He might punch you.”
I smile. “He can try.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “You’d really take a hit for me?”
“I’d take ten,” I say simply. “I’d go through anything for you.”
Her smile fades into something softer. “You mean that?”
“Every word.”
She brushes her thumb over my jaw, tracing the faint line of stubble there. “He’ll come around. He loves me too much not to.”
“I know.”
“Still,” she says, her voice teasing again, “I’d pay money to see the look on his face when you tell him.”
I groan. “You’re gonna make me do it alone, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely.”
I shake my head, grinning. “You’re mean.”
“Honest,” she corrects, kissing the corner of my mouth. “Besides, I think he’ll take it better from you. You’re good at serious.”
“I don’t feel very serious right now.”
