Who the hell smells like cookies in the middle of a snowstorm?
Becca. That’s who.
She adjusted her position, moving even closer to me. My arm rested over her middle, and my face tucked into her neck. For warmth. That was why.
“Jeez, Harrison. You’re so warm. Good lord, how? You’re like a furnace.”
“I generate heat.” I wrapped my arm around her tighter, imagining what it would be like to do this under normal circumstances, and I found myself enjoying the embrace. “In the summer, I can’t even sleep with a sheet or I’ll burn up.”
“What a special talent. To just be warm.”
I snorted. “Never thought about it that way before.”
“Well, it’s perfect for this kind of weather. My talents are useless for surviving a blizzard.” Her voice had returned to normal, and relief rushed through me, easing the knots in my shoulders.
What began as a good-neighbor invitation had shifted into full-on protectiveness. The world needed more people like Becca, and the thought of anything bad happening to her filled me with rage. She was special.
A beat of silence passed, our bodies pressed closely together. After the longest time, my eyes finally grew heavy. I had no idea how I’d sleep with the blizzard raging outside, not to mention my sexy buddy pressed against me.
“So,” she said, her voice holding the same nerves it did after the radio announcement, “this doesn’t… we’re essentially cuddling, right? It doesn’t make things weird between us?”
My heart clenched in my chest. “No.”
“Good. Okay. That’s great. Groovy, even.” She swallowed hard.
“Is this weird for you?”
Don’t say yes.I wasn’t ready to end it. For reasons beyond my understanding, I liked holding her like this. It had been years since I’d done this with a woman—just cuddle together without an agenda. It was… comforting.
I swore I could hear her brain whirring as she fidgeted against me.
“Um, no? Like, cuddling with a guy I don’t knowisn’ton my normal agenda, but these are extreme circumstances, and I really don’t want to lose any toes or fingers.”
“You know me—at least a little.” I said, annoyed.
“I guess that’s true. Today could be like a second date, if you think about it. We ate together, asked questions, and are now cuddling.” She tensed beneath my arms. “I’m not saying this is a date. Or that I wanted a second date. Because I don’t. Well, I did. But that was years ago. It’s different now, I think.” She cleared her throat. “Look, this is new for me, and I’m telling myself this could’ve been a second date to ease my mind about cuddling you. I’m not a one-night-cuddler type of girl. Which is totally fine! Some people like that. No shame. You do you. But it makes me nervous, obviously. I can’t shut up. Literally, my mouth won’t stop making sounds, so just toss me outside and be done with it.”
My smile was so big that it hurt my face. She was cute and charming in a way that made me think of the Christmas ornaments my sister would send. Like the squirrel in underwear, or a grandma doing a cartwheel. At first, they’re a bit odd and different, but then… they sneak in and damn.I’m starting to like her.
“Question.” I ended her endless stream of chatter. “If today was the second date, then would tomorrow be the third? I heard that’s the best date with you.”
“I guess—” She stopped and smacked my hand resting on her stomach. “Harrison.”
“You’re the one who said the sexy underwear comes out for the third date. Just using your words.” I found way too much joy in teasing her.
She harrumphed but didn’t say anything else.
I snuggled closer. “I was teasing you, Becca. Sorry if I crossed a line. You seemed nervous so I thought a joke would help.”
“No, you didn’t cross a line.” She sighed this time, and her muscles relaxed against me. “I might be on edge about what you admitted earlier, about not wanting to put the effort into dating and about thinking I was too high-maintenance.”
“Again, I’m sorry. I’m not happy about the weather situation, but it’s nice spending time with you.”
Pressure built in my chest, and I chastised myself for being a dick to other people when my life got hard. It was a defense mechanism that served me well with an entitled brother and an ex-wife who liked to point out my negative qualities. That didn’t make it right, though.
“Mm,” she replied. “Youhavemade it more bearable than it would’ve been alone in that big house.”
I grinned into the pillow. “You wouldn’t have lasted half a day.”
