Page 95 of Sassy Love
Carlie yawns, her hand pressing over her mouth.
“Bedtime,” I whisper into her ear.
“No, Grace isn’t leaving. So I’m staying. Even Hattie’s still up. I don’t want to be the one to not keep up.”
I chuckle. “It’s not a competition, Carlie.”
“I know, but it would be rude to leave so soon.”
As if on cue, Reed and Rubes waltz their way over. “Bedtime, Laws.” Reed wriggles his eyebrows at me like an absolute idiot.
“Thank you so much for bringing our favorite brother home to us, Carlie.” Ruby leans in for a hug, and I release the woman in my arms so she can hug my sister.
“You’re welcome,” Carlie says, the words wobbling a little. She’s still a little starstruck by Rubes. Completely understandable—the woman is the eighth wonder of the world. All three of my sisters are, if I’m honest.
“Night,” I say, wrapping Carlie back into my chest.
She laces a hand with mine for a beat before turning in my arms. “We should say our goodbyes, then.”
I lean down, pressing my forehead against hers. “Yes ma’am.”
With quick goodbyes and a questionable promise to visit Ma before we leave, we grab our coats and make our way back to the cabin. Carlie walks beside me.
“Geez, how did it get so cold in such a short period of time?” she asks, looking up at the star-studded sky.
Clear skies, cold days.
No one ever said Montana was the Bahamas. I open the door and hold it as she walks inside. I close the screen and pull the wooden door shut tight. The fireplace is crackling away as we step inside. No doubt Rubes would have made sure firelight was warming our cabin, and all the guests’ cabins, while we were all having fun at the dinner.
Flopping on the sofa, she slides off her heels. “The fire is bliss.”
I tug my coat off and hang it on the hook on the back of the door. “So, you’re sleeping there. Must be my turn to take the bed.”
Her mouth pops open on a gasp.
The grin splitting my face is ridiculous. “It’s only fair, after the bungalow.”
Removing her coat, she stands and closes the distance between us. “If I remember correctly, I gave you half of a king bed.”
Easiest catch of my life.
Hook, line, and sinker.
I resist the urge to claim her beautiful face with my palms and devour those pouty fucking lips as every drop of blood sinks south and the air in my lungs turns to ash.
I tilt my head and clear my throat, like that’ll damn well save me. “Yes, you did. But we’re having a pillow wall, can’t have you getting all handsy on me in your sleep.”
I walk toward the bed to set up the pillow wall. To see just how far she’ll let me take this before she stops me. I tug the hat from my head and toss it onto the chair in the corner of the room. I toe my boots off and remove my belt before grabbing the pillows and set them in a line down the center of the bed.
Turning back, I find her right where I left her. A look of desperation sits over the rise and plummet of her too-quick breaths... as her chest heaves. Her hands hang by her sides.
I know exactly what has her held to the spot. Because it’s been paralyzing me for weeks. It’s been responsible for every stupid emotion I’ve had to fight off, for the strings that tug at my heart gripped in her elegant hand.
Slowly, I pad to where she stands. Brown eyes lift to find my own.
“Lawso—” Her voice breaks.
I take her face in my hands. Without a word, I sweep her up and into my arms. “Bedtime, baby.”
