Page 11 of Merry'd to the Mountain Man
Cole and I exchange a look, and he shrugs like he doesn’t know what else to say.
“Well at least we will get that White Christmas that Bing sings about.” I chuckle, and Cole smiles back, but our guests give us nothing to try and ease some of the awkward tension.
Ryan just stares at me like he thinks his glare will break me, and Marnie— Well, Marnie is already on her second…no third glass of wine. She’s sipping on it like there’s a trophy at the bottom. And her glassy eyes are roaming over the cabin like she’s mentally redecorating it in beige and bordom.
My gaze shifts to Ryan and I find him still watching me.
“So,” he says, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. “How did you two meet?”
He smiles to try and dull the pointed question, acting like this is just a friendly conversation and not interrogation that would make a detective proud.
Cole and I exchange a quick look. We practiced this. Stick close to the truth—just polish it up for public consumption.
“Online,” Cole says smoothly.
Ryan’s eyebrows shoot up. “Online, huh? What was it on, one of those dating sites?”
“Something like that,” I reply with a polite smile, and glance lovingly over at my husband. “I messaged him, and we hit it off right away. I just knew I was going to marry him.”
The corner of Cole’s mouth ticks up, but it’s gone before Ryan can see it.
“And your first date?” He continues like he doesn’t buy a word of it.
“The diner in town,” Cole answers without missing a beat. “Over coffee.”
I can see the wheels turning in Ryan’s head, like he’s trying to find another angle to trip us up. But before he can fire off another round of questions, Marnie waves her empty glass dramatically in his face. “Sweetheart, be a love and get me another drink, would you?”
Ryan grumbles but gets up, and I take the chance to stand. “I should check on the roast.”
“I’ll help,” Cole offers, following me into the kitchen.
As soon as we are out of sight, I exhale. “That’s going well.”
“It’s definitelysomething.”
I rest my hand on his muscled chest, getting lost in this character I’m playing of the wife to this mountain man. “He seemed to buy the story, didn’t they?”
I can feel the beat of his heart, the rhythm picking up. “For now.”
I’m about ready to tease him, but before I can, Cole’s hand slides around my waist and he pulls me gently toward him. My breath catches in my throat.
“Cole, what are you—”
He doesn’t answer. He just kisses me.
It’s quick, unexpected, and warm enough to melt every coherent thought in my mind. My hands roam up his hard chest, needing to feel closer. And by the time I remember how to breathe, I hear it—
“Aww.”
It’s Marnie.
We pull apart instantly. Cole straightens, looking like a kid caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar. Ryan is standing in the doorway, arms crossed, and eyes narrowed like a hawk that’s just spotted something worth hunting.
“Don’t mind us,” he practically sneers.
My heart is doing cartwheels. I force a bright, too-loud laugh and clap my hands together. “Who’s hungry?”
Marnie raises the empty glass in her hand. “I could use a drink.”
