“Come on, Wiggy.”
Wiggins jumped up onto the end of the couch-bed, circled a couple of times, and lay down. She tucked her feet right against his warm back and adjusted her pillow under her head to a more comfortable position.
Tarr came out only seconds later, and he sighed as he pulled back the covers on his half of the tiny couch. She slept in a queen-sized bed, and while yes, Tarr had held her there many times over the past few months as she healed from her injuries, tonight definitely felt different.
He wasn’t her boyfriend—yet,her mind screamed—but he’d admitted that he liked her. He’d called her pretty. They had been on a date that day, and she had been holding his hand since last night. She’d invited him to stay here until more suitable housing could be found, and not only because she felt bad for him or because it was the right thing to do. She’d done it, because she wanted Tarr in her life. Why that was so hard for her to admit she didn’t know.
She’d brought in a queen-size comforter for herself and the one from Tarr’s air bed in the guest room. She wouldn’t have to touch him at all tonight. He’d just built up the fire, so when Briar reached and snapped off the lantern, plenty of light still filled the cabin.
With her back still to him, she asked, “Do you have enough room?”
“Plenty,” he whispered.
Briar closed her eyes against the flickering firelight, but it didn’t do much to dull the orange glow. Without thinking, she rolled over and piled her blankets behind her, creating more darkness. She scooted in closer to the middle of the couch, and in one effortless move, she lifted that side of her comforter and tossed it over Tarr’s shoulder.
“We’ll be warmer if we share blankets.”
Tarr said nothing, but he held out the edge of his blanket, and Briar took it and pulled it over her body as she slid ever closer to him. Within moments, he enveloped her in his strong, warm arms, and she nestled deep into the comfort of his chest.
A sigh moved through her whole body, and Tarr actually let it out of his mouth.
“This does feel like when I used to stay over when you were healing,” he said.
“Mm,” she hummed, but she didn’t know what else to say.
“Did you ever build a snowman growing up?” Tarr asked.
“All the time.”
“Maybe after we take care of the animals tomorrow,” he whispered, his voice entering her ears as well as rumbling through his chest and against her cheek. “We could make one. I’ve only ever made a couple.”
“In your whole life?” she asked.
He chuckled. “In my whole life, sweetheart.”
She tipped her head back. “If it stops snowing and we’re all dug out, I’d build a snowman with you.”
He pressed his lips to her forehead, and then she cuddled into his embrace again. “It does feel different, Tarr.”
“Yeah, it sure does.”
“I’m going to try,” she whispered, though pure exhaustion pulled through her and all she wanted to do was go to sleep.
“Try what, baby?”
“To talk to you,” she whispered. “To be nicer. To not panic about letting someone into my life.”
“Someone,” he whispered back. “Or specifically me?”
She thought about it for a few seconds, her brain so, so tired. “Someone,” she said. “It’s not you, Tarr, though it is you, because you’re the one trying to get closer to me. What you don’t get is…I don’t trust anyone.”
He ran his hand up the back of her arm and brushed her hair back off her face. “I’m really sorry about whatever happened to make you feel like that about everyone. Will you tell me about it one day?”
Briar didn’t want to, but something deep in her heart told her that if she really wanted to share her life with a man like Tarr, she would have to figure out a way to tell him everything, kick down every wall, and let him walk through every door. The very idea sent her spiraling, and Tarr’s arms tightened around her.
“Hey, it’s fine, honey,” he said. “You’re fine. It doesn’t have to be tonight. I’ll be as patient as I can, I promise.”
“I didn’t even say anything,” she said.
