Page 74 of Tacos & Toboggans
“Right, a purest. More like a pourest. Pour the whole bottle in,” I teased.
It was his turn to snort, blowing eggnog out his nose. He swiped at it with his hand. “Thanks for that.”
“Hey, turnabout is fair play,” I cooed, leaning into his chest when he wrapped one arm around my waist.
“This has been the best date I’ve ever had.”
“It’s the date that never seems to end,” I agreed. “You can ask me to leave, and I will.”
“Not why I said that,” he promised, nuzzling my neck for a moment while I sipped my eggnog. “I’ve gone to parties with beautiful women on my arm to rub elbows with some rather influential people in the world, but none of them held a candle to standing in the dark with you by a Christmas tree.”
“Come now, Colonel Warren,” I said, shaking my head. “I find that hard to believe.”
“You shouldn’t,” he promised. “I’m happier here than I’ve ever been. There’s been this settling here.” He turned me and rested my hand over his heart.
“Like you finally found home?” I asked, and he let out a breath as though I’d punched him. Ready to apologize, he leaned in for a kiss that was sweet and spicy, though way too short.
“Those were the words I was looking for to describe this feeling,” he whispered.
At that moment, the wind blew snow against the panes as the lights flickered. We both lifted our heads and glanced around. “This is making me nervous.”
“When I was in the kitchen, I saw that they issued a blizzard warning. Let's get the flashlights and other supplies ready just in case the power goes out.”
“I don’t have any at the cottage. Do you have one I can borrow?”
He lowered his mug and tipped his head. “Why do you need to borrow one?”
“I could use my phone,” I said. “But then I risk losing charge if the power is out.”
“Baby doll, you’re not staying at the cottage tonight. You’re going to be safe right beside me. If we lose power, we’ll need to share body heat,” he said, wagging his brows. “As long as you’re comfortable with that.”
“I didn’t want you to think I was assuming,” I admitted. “But I don’t want to be anywhere but here.”
“Remember, you’re safe with me. Tell me your heart and I’ll tell you mine. Right?” he asked, running a finger down my cheek until I nodded. “Good, now let’s get those preparations done so we can snuggle under a warm blanket together.”
“I would, but I’m unsure of where they are.”
“Fair point,” he said, laughter tinging the words. “There are a bunch of extra blankets in my bathroom linen closet. I’ll grab the candles and flashlights.”
I turned and was rewarded with a gentle pat on my bottom before I headed down the hallway, smiling to myself. It was time to put my plan into action.
Chapter Twenty-Five
What I hadn’t told Jaelyn was that not only was there a blizzard warning, but they’d shut the highways and pulled all the plows from the road. That meant we weren’t going anywhere for at least twenty-four hours, and the likelihood of it being longer was high. There was no question that we’d lose power, and it wouldn’t be restored until the roads were plowed and reopened, allowing the repairs to begin. When I peeked out the back door while making the eggnog, it had become obvious she wasn’t getting to the cottage tonight. I could have gone out and shoveled, but it would have blown right back, possibly trapping her in the building. I wasn’t willing to take that chance. Not when I had come to the full realization somewhere between making out with her amongst the trees and contemplating buying her a ring in the farm store, that I was utterly in love with that sweet woman.
Sitting with her as she held a baby against her chest stole my breath in a way nothing ever had before. That was when I realized I’d never been in love before, despite thinking I had been multiple times. Yes, I cared about those women, but I never pictured myself standing by their bedside as they brought our child into this world the way I had with Jaelyn today. I saw the moment they laid the baby on her chest, and she smiled up at me as though we’d just done somethingextraordinary in the ordinary. I’d nearly blurted those three words right there in the middle of the farm store with someone else’s baby in her arms, but I pulled back at the last second, knowing she deserved more. She deserved wine, candles, and rose petals. Now, as I stood here in the bathroom doorway watching her, I decided she deserved eggnog, candles, and comfort. Luckily, tonight, I could give her that.
“I’ve never used it,” I said, startling her.
She’d been trailing her finger along the whirlpool tub, but she jumped and spun at my intrusion. “Sorry. I was lost in thought. Did you find everything?”
“We’re all set,” I said. “If the power goes out, I have a cooler ready to put the fridge contents in to set outside the door.”
“There is that advantage when the power goes out in the winter,” she said with a chuckle as she walked toward me. “The disadvantage is trying to stay warm.”
“Solid downside,” I whispered. “But not if you’re in my bed.”
“I was thinking that lovely wood-burning fireplace would also help, but the bed, definitely a solid choice.” She smiled, and my groin contracted. Her beauty was unmatched, leaving me breathless to think she even gave me the time of day.
