Page 65 of Mine For The Winter

He bit down a smile. Of course she’d never admit to that. “There’s no need to be scared. I’m not going to eat you.” Unless you want me to. That unsaid part shimmered between them, and she swallowed hard.

“I need to ask you one question,” she said. “Before I get out.”

He tipped his head to the side. “Shoot.”

Kelly swallowed again, that vulnerability still softening her features. It was like she’d shrugged her armor off, just for a moment. So soft. So achingly beautiful.

“Did you ever love me?”

Kris blinked. What kind of question was that? “Of course I did.”

“Okay.” She nodded. “Okay.”

Her hand was trembling on the steering wheel. He reached inside to touch it. Damn, she was freezing. “Will you come inside now?”

She exhaled, her breath clouding inside the car. “I don’t think I can talk anymore. It hurts.”

“Then we won’t talk. Just come inside.”

Kelly nodded and she let him help her out, her suede boots hitting the frozen grass next to where she parked. Kris took the keys from her, closing the door and locking it, before leading her to his cabin and pulling her inside.

She walked over to the fireplace, her fingers touching the garland attached to the mantelpiece.

“You decorated for Christmas,” she said, surprised.

“Alaska did.” He lifted a brow. “She told me it was looking like the Grinch’s hideout. Sent her people in to do their thing.”

“It’s pretty.”

“Yeah.” His voice was thick.

“What do you do here?” she asked him. “In the evenings?”

“I help out Alaska at the Inn sometimes. Or I do some work.”

“You’re still working?” she asked, looking surprised.

“Yeah. Well kind of. I’m on a sabbatical. Leave. Whatever. But I still get emails that need to be handled. And I check in with the people who work for me.”

“I bet you’re a fun boss,” she said, walking back toward him. She tilted her head up to look him in the eye.

“I take care of my people,” he said, eyeing her as she came to a stop a few inches from him. He could smell flowers on her, the same aroma he’d inhaled as they kissed each other. It was soft. Pretty.

Kelly.

“You always take care of people,” she said softly, lifting her hand to cup his cheek. He put his hand over hers, not willing to break the connection.

“I didn’t take care of you.”

“You did. All the time. We took care of each other.”

He slid his fingers between hers, still holding her palm against his rough cheek.

“Do you ever wonder what would have happened if we’d been brave enough to admit we were attracted to each other?” she asked him. “Back when we were kids?”

“I was a hormonal mess. I would have fucked it up.” He smiled softly. “I mean I fucked it up anyway, but it would have been worse…”

“Because you would have fucked me, too.” Her eyes were dark. Her voice breathy. And now all he could think about was fucking her. Sliding inside of her, making her gasp like she did in the shed.

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