“Yeah,” I say, looking down at her. “I like that I matter enough for you to care.”
“Maybe I want to impress you,” she says, batting her lashes up at me.
“You already do.”
She smiles and I reluctantly release her.
I have no plan—just to see her, to be with her alone after a day spent skirting around one another.
“Do you want to watch something?” she asks. “Or play a board game?”
She steps further into the room and I follow, plopping down on the center cushion of the couch and resting my arms along the back.
“Oh, no,” I say. “I know how you are with board games. It’s brutal.”
“I’d give you a handicap.”
I laugh. “Way to bolster a man’s ego.”
“They say a man’s ego is the most fragile thing on earth,” she mutters softly.
“Probably so,” I agree. “So, tread lightly, Chuck.”
She laughs, walking over and finally sitting next to me.
“Are you nervous?” I ask her.
“A little. It doesn’t make sense. I’ve known you forever. We’ve been sneaking around, calling, texting, grabbing up time, even taking that sweet day away to Nashville.” She pauses, her eyes searching mine. “There’s just something about having you here—in my space.”
I nod. “I’d feel the same way if you came over to my place. It’s sure not as clean as yours.”
“Oh really?” Her voice is teasing.
“Yeah. I run from the station to the ranch and back again. Now that I’ve been seeing you, I don’t do enough cleaning of my cabin.”
“So it’s my fault?” She lightly shoves my arm.
“Yeah. And I’m good with that.”
She nestles down so her head is on my shoulder. “I’m good with it too.”
“I was going to light a fire and make cocoa,” she says.
“That sounds good. Why don’t I get the fire going? You can make the cocoa.”
She tips her head up and kisses my cheek. Then she runs her hand down my jaw.
“Don’t ever shave at night.”
“You like that?”
“Mm hmm. I like the stubble. Not all the time, but at night. I like it.” She runs her hand down it again and I swear I’d grow a mountain-man beard if she wanted me to.
She places another kiss on my cheek and stands to go into the kitchen. I start the fire while she putters around and returns with two mugs.
Something settles deep inside me when I glance up and see her standing there.
I rise to my feet, taking my mug and looking down into her eyes.
