Her eyes peek out from underneath her long, dark lashes and her pink lips open on a gasp.
I close my eyes to keep from leaning over to take her lips, claim them.
When I open them, her clear, dark gaze is on me, her dark brows furrowed.
My fingers reach out to brush along the delicate arch of her brow. That soft gasp of sound again, breathless and shocked.
“I promise you, Aspen. I’ve got you.”
Her chocolate eyes close and she shivers and then I reach over and tuck her into my side.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper softly, triumphant as she leans into me, innocent and sweet, trusting.
I thought I was in love with my ex-wife but it’s nothing compared to what I feel for this one small woman.
Nothing like I’ve ever felt before.
She rests her head on my shoulder and sighs and I fight not to pull her hard, up on my lap.
Charlie grunts as she sits down, peeking at me and grinning,
Shaking my head, I put a finger up to my lips.
Aspen is so relaxed right now that I have a feeling she’s close to sleep.
And if I can get her to stay the night somehow…as in she falls asleep on me, then I’m gonna do everything I can to foster that.
I want her where I can keep an eye on her. Where I know that she’s safe and happy.
The way she should be.
I watch her as her breathing slows and the bright lights of the tree dance on her clear, fair skin.
There’s only one word to describe her like this. To describe her at all.
Mine.
CHAPTER 5
Aspen
My eyes open, slow and heavy and my forehead creases.
“Where am I?”
Charlie pops up beside the bed and laughs. “You’re at my house!”
Jerking, I screech and scrabble at the soft quilt spread out across me.
The door slams open and I scream again. “Aargh!” I jerk at the blanket, trying to pull it over my head.
“Charlie! I told you not to wake Aspen up!”
Charlie giggles. “I wasn’t trying to wake her up.”
“Well, now you have. What do you have to say for yourself?”
My wide eyes peek over the top of the blanket. Charlie grins. “It snowed last night. You wanna build a snowman?”
