“I’ll have to pull down those extra blankets from the closet. That’ll keep youwarm…”
"Hmm. It would…," she says plainly as if she's not driving me insane with lust. "But I'm sure you can think of other ways…"
“Damn right I can,” I mutter, earning a snicker from the object of my desires. I jerk my head in the direction of the bathroom. “I’m just goin’ to clean up now.”
She laughs and the sound makes my heart swell. “I bet you will.”
I get two steps away from her before she tugs on my arm, turning me around and crushing her lips to mine.
Grabbing her around the waist, I hold her to me, kissing her deeply and pouring everything I’m feeling, everything Iwantinto it.
“I like this,” I whisper against her lips as we come up for air.
“Believe me, Red. I do too.”
“It feels right, doesn’t it?” I say.
The way her face gentles is another one of my new favorite looks. She reaches out and grabs my hand, lifting it to rest over her racing heart. "It does,youdo. I think I gave up lookin’ because the universe knew I was meant to seeyou.”
“Damn, darlin’. You can’t say things like that when I can’t do anythin’ about it right now.”
“Soon, Redmond,” she says with a wicked grin. “Soon.”
24
MAGS
Dinner passes in a blur of delicious food and easy conversation as the storm rages outside.
After cleaning up the dishes together, Red suggests I take the opportunity to have a shower just in case the power goes out.
I use the time to calm my nerves and temper the anticipation building inside of me for what lies ahead. By the time I step out of the bathroom in my pajamas, I’m no longer worried about what I hope will happen, or the fact that I haven’t been with a man in years. I know Red will take care of me as much as I know I want to make tonight special for him too.
The cabin is lit with candles and the soft orange glow from the fireplace and just like that, my heart swells all over again. The man I love looks up from where he’s putting another log on the fire with a soft smile playing on his lips. He slowly rises to his feet, his eyes tracing over me appreciatively. “Hey, darlin’.”
"Hey," I reply softly, feeling a flutter in my chest at the way he looks at me.
Holding his hand out for mine, he laces our fingers together and draws me over to the couch, pulling me into his side. As I melt against him, both of us watching the crackling fire, we sit there just enjoying the moment.
After a while, he obviously decides he’s waited long enough and wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into him, draping my legs over his lap.Believe me, I’m not complaining.
A content sigh escapes me when he presses a kiss to the top of my head, his beard tickling my skin. “You comfortable, darlin’?”
I smile up at him, flexing my fingers against his chest. “Yeah. How ‘bout you?”
He studies my face, his eyes hooded and warm before his gaze drops to my mouth and he licks his lips.
“Never thought I’d have this with you until this trip. Now I’m wonderin’ why it took the Call to open my eyes and see you,” he murmurs. “Now I can’t see anythin’ or anyonebutyou.”
“We would’ve worked it out eventually, whether there was a cupid mountain spirit wantin’ to reward you or not,” I say with a wry grin.
“Maybe she’s rewardin’ you too.”
A snort escapes me. “Not likely. I haven’t done anythin’ special to garner the spirit’s attention.”
“Everythin’ you do is special, Maggie. It’s just the way you are. You’re always lookin’ out for people, you make them happy just by givin’ them a smile when they walk through those diner doors. And you’ve always been there for me. Waitin’. Carin’. Bein’ what I needed when I didn’t even know it was what I wanted.”
“Red…”
