Page 63 of A Frosty Flirtation
“Nice trick.”
“Convenient, huh?” I shove my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching for her. “I love the smell of a wood-burning fireplace, but this one’s low maintenance.”
“I’d love that,” she says. “No ashes or waiting for it to burn out before bed.”
“It throws decent heat too.”
She studies the flames. “I like it here. It’s peaceful.”
“Most of the time. Until Reed decides to shoot hoops in my yard at midnight.”
She laughs. “I can picture that.”
“If you wake up to a basketball pounding pavement, you’ll know what it is.”
Her smile fades slightly. “Are you sure you want me to stay?”
“Yes, of course I do.”
She looks down, fingers fiddling with her sweater hem. I cross the distance and pull her into my arms. Her hands rest lightly against my chest.
“You’re freezing,” she murmurs.
“You could fix that,” I tease.
She searches my face. “You really think this is a good idea?”
“Nope,” I admit with a grin. “But I think it’s the right one.”
She squints at me. “What does that even mean?”
I shrug. “Hell if I know.” And then I kiss her without distractions. There’s no one to knock on the door and interrupt or come crashing in and find us in a compromising position. It’s just the two of us, wholly immersed in one another. When we finally break apart, we’re both out of breath.
She traces a finger along my jaw, her touch soft enough to wreck me in the best of ways. “I don’t want to ruin your expectations, but I want to be honest. I’m not sure how far I want to go tonight.”
“I don’t have any expectations,” I tell her. “I just want to enjoy being with you. How’s that sound?”
Her smile returns. “Perfect.”
I lace my fingers through hers and guide her to the couch. She curls into the leather cushions, tucking her legs to the sidelike she belongs there. I drop down beside her and drape an arm around her shoulders.
We sit quietly, soaking in the warmth and newness of this—of us. I’ve never invited another woman over. This house has always been mine alone, my private space. But, somehow, with her here, it finally feels like home.
Her head tips against my shoulder. “I like this. You and me. It’s nice.”
“Nice is an understatement.” It feels like finding a piece of my world I didn’t know was missing.
She looks up, searching my face. “Really?”
“Yeah. Being with you is easy.”
“It is. But it won’t always be this way. Once everyone finds out…”
“I know.” I brush my fingers along her arm. “But I’m not worried about them. My focus is on getting this right.”
Her lips curve gently. “You are.”
I pull her closer. The weight of her against me feels natural, like something I’ve been waiting for. After a long stretch of silence, she murmurs, “I should go to bed before I fall asleep.”
