Page 16 of Merrily Mine
I groaned, letting my head drop against his chest.
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Do you guys still have the generator?”
“Yeah.” I nodded.
“Okay. I’ll go check on it and see if I can get it running, and then I’ll start a fire in the fireplace.” He looked pointedly at me. “You stay in here and donotgo outside.”
Still a little drunk from that kiss, I didn’t bother arguing with him. Instead, I plopped on the couch in the living room, swiping my finger over my tingling lips, trying to figure out if that had actually happened.
Was I hallucinating, or was Mason actually here? Maybe I’d hit my head when I fell on the ice outside.
Because that was the only thing I could think of to explain that hewanted me too.
6
mason
After locating the generator and making sure it was on—powering the stable’s heater and the house, I headed back inside, finding Emily curled up in a ball on the couch, her eyes shut and her breathing soft. I left most of the lights off in the house, wanting to preserve energy, and instead used the flashlight of my camera to find a few candles and a lighter, illuminating the room.
I watched her for a few moments, seeing her chest rising and falling, appreciating the sight of her pink lips.
Part of me couldn’t believe I was here. That I’d actually kissed her.
But she looked like she’d needed to be kissed, and who was I to turn her down? An idiot, that was who. Because after tasting her mouth, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t kissed her at the bar the other night. I should have asked her to dance. Twirled her on that floor, seen her cheeks blush with happiness, and then asked her if I could kiss her—the way a gentleman was.
But I wasn’t a gentleman. And I was a little rusty at the whole dating thing. It had been years since I’d tried, and I didn’t know what I was doing, clearly.
Pulling out my phone, I checked to see if I could get a message out to my parents, but it looked like whatever knocked out the power lines had also taken out the cell tower. There was no way I was getting home tonight. The storm roared outside, and my beard felt frozen after only a few minutes when I’d gone to check on the generator. Thankfully, the Sullivans hadn't skimped on the equipment, and after I’d heard the humming of the electricity flowing through it, I’d headed back inside.
Back to Emily.
I looked at the pile of wood that sat by the fireplace. I’d always loved their giant mantel in the family room, complete with a wood-burning fireplace. It wasn’t often that there was a fire going in it, but during the holidays—and their annual Christmas party—it had always been going, making it feel extra cozy and homey.
She finally stirred after the fire was roaring, embers crackling and warmth flooding into the room. I’d spread a blanket in front of the fireplace, lounging on it, tilting my head back and enjoying the feeling of the fire on my face.
Emily rubbed her eyes, letting out a yawn. “Sorry. I didn’t even realize I’d fallen asleep.”
“It’s fine,” I reassured her. “You looked like you needed it.”
She made a humming sound, stretching her arms over her head.
“Come here.” I opened my arms, spreading my legs for her. Selfishly, after our kiss, I just wanted to hold her. I ignored all the reasons my brain told me it was a bad idea.
She blushed. “What?”
“We have to keep each other warm.”
“Isn’t that… you know, the point of the fireplace?” Emily pointed to the fire.
I smirked. “Sure is, darlin’. Doesn’t mean I don’t wanna hold you.”
She crawled off the couch, leaving her blanket behind, and padded over towards me, a shy expression on her face.
Emily settled down next to me, and I shook my head. “That’s not your seat,” I insisted, pointing to my lap.
She worried her lower lip into her mouth. “Mason, I can’t…”
Ignoring her protest, I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her onto my lap until her back was pressed against my front. I kept my arm over her stomach, keeping her pinned against me. “Better,” I murmured against her ear.
