Page 40 of Whiskey Kisses For the Mountain Man
We both freeze until he laughs. It’s infectious, and I giggle, covering my eyes.
“Snowflake needs to live off more than chili samples, Christmas cookies, and candy canes.”
Still laughing, I rest my palms on his chest. “It seems so. You haven’t had a proper meal in hours either. We need to remedy that.”
Owen smiles. It’s an honest, storm-clouds-free smile. It’s mesmerizing. I run my fingers through his hair. Kissing me quickly, he rolls off and finds his jeans on the floor. Leaving them unbuttoned at the top, he rummages through his drawers and tosses me a flannel button-down.
Giddy, I crawl out of bed and put it on. He appreciatively stares with that seductive grin before taking my hand and guiding us to the kitchen.
Together, we bump hips, side to side, teasing the other, making grilled cheeses and tomato soup. Cozy and absolutely perfect. We settle on his couch that faces the window and the tree and eat. I cuddle up close.
“This tastes like the best grilled cheese and tomato soup ever,” I enthuse.
Chuckling, Owen swallows his bite. “That’s because everything tastes better after sex.”
I shrug. “Perhaps after great sex, yes. Because let me tell you, regular sex doesn’t make things extra delicious.”
“You saying I gave you the best sex you’ve ever had?” he teases.
I narrow my eyes, putting a spoonful of soup in my mouth. He quietly laughs, leans in, and kisses my forehead.
“That was the best sex I’ve had,” he says softly. So quietly, I almost miss it.
The grilled cheese bite I broke off hovers by my mouth. My eyes widen. I was prepared to accept only I felt that way, but is he being for real?
“You don’t have to say that just because,” I don’t finish.
Owen takes my bowl and plate, then sets them on the coffee table. Taking my face, my grilled cheese piece still in my hand, he stares deep in my eyes. My heart squeezes as goosepimples rush up my arms.
“Snowflake, I don’t lie about things like that. I try to refrain from lying, period. When I care about someone, I believe in brutal honesty. Even if it fucking hurts, I prefer we know where the other stands at all times.”
He’s been betrayed. Of course, he values honesty above all else.
“I feel the same way,” I whisper, wishing Trent had just ended our charade of a relationship before cheating on me and publicly humiliating me.
Owen nods once. “Good. So believe me when I tell you…what you and I did in there felt like nothing I’d ever experienced before with a woman. It felt…bigger. More intense. Like you instantly became a part of me.”
My eyes burn as they well up. I nod. “Yeah,” I continue whispering. “It felt exactly like that for me, too.”
His thumb caresses my cheek. I lean in, closing my eyes as a tear falls. Owen’s thumb catches it. His tender lips press against mine in a soft, gentle kiss. Opening my eyes, the room looks different. The soft glow of the tree, the cool light from the falling snow reflected on by the almost full moon, the blue-green of his eyes that I find hints of gold in…all heightened.
“I like you,” I confess, and immediately hear how lame that sounded.
His grin eases the embarrassment. “I really like you, Lettie Donovan.”
“Good,” I smile.
“Good,” he smiles back.
Yup. I’m absolutely one kiss away from twirling around in a mall singing,‘I’m in love, I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it!’a la my favorite movie of all time, Elf.
Pressing one more kiss on my lips, nose, then forehead, Owen brings back my bowl and plate, and we commence eating, watching the tree lights twinkle. I could easily live this life of a small-town girl with her reformed Grinch mountain man.
I just hope Owen is falling just the same and could see himself not getting sick of my festive spirit year-round. He says I’m not too much, but he’s still healing. For all I know, this is just casual for him.
The tomato soup sours in my stomach at the thought, but I shake it off. It’s too early to freak out. I’m going to live in the now and enjoy every moment.
CHAPTER NINE
