"Wait. Did you plan this?" His brow furrowed as his eyes darted around the room before settling on the candles on the table. "This is why Jake insisted I needed to ride out today to replenish the food we used this summer?"
She set the lighter on the table and tucked her hands into her back pockets. "It was either this or I get my brothers to help me kidnap you so I could whisk you away to the cabin at the lake."
She hadn’t been able to bring herself to return to the lake for a few months. But thanks to all the hard work she’d put in with Emily, Labor Day at the lake —surrounded by family —had been a blast. She now made it a point to choose love over fear every chance she got.
Daniel grinned as he closed the door and let the saddlebags drop to the floor. "What makes you think you'd have to kidnap me? You could have simply invited me."
"Considering the panic attack I had the last time we were here, I was afraid you'd refuse to come."
He locked gazes with her as he took off his coat. "You seem to be doing okay today."
"I'm better than okay." She grinned. "I'm doing great." She rounded the table, bringing her within a few feet of him. "I haven't been triggered for a long time, and I'm eager to get on with my life." She placed heavy emphasis on the last few words but wasn't sure her meaning came across like she intended.
"I'm glad to hear it. I knew you'd eventually get beyond what happened to you."
"Do you really believe I'm beyond it?" She took another step toward him.
"Only you can decide that. Though I imagine there will still be difficult moments now and then."
"But you agree that I shouldn't let what happened to me continue to dictate how I live my life?"
"Of course not. You should live your life however you want."
"I'm glad you agree." Taking the final step toward him, she closed the gap between them. "I want to live my life with you. Starting now." She rocked up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She leaned in to kiss him, but he pulled back.
"Right now?" Surprise filled his face.
"Yes, starting right now. I want you to kiss me like you did the last time we were in this cabin." She tugged him toward her again, but he resisted.
"The last time we were in this cabin, you had a panic attack. I didn't kiss you that night."
"Right, sorry. I meant that night three and a half years ago."
It was so vivid in her mind, it felt like only last week.
His hands finally settled on her waist and his lips turned up. "You want me to kiss you like I did the night we both admitted we'd been pining for each other for four years?"
"Exactly like that." She closed her eyes, expecting him to lean in and kiss her. They popped back open when nothing happened.
"Three and a half years is a long time." A teasing glint filled his eyes. "I'm not sure I remember exactly how I kissed you back then."
She grabbed his ear and twisted. "Daniel Evan Hamilton, you'd better kiss me right now, or you're not getting dinner tonight."
"Ouch!" He pulled her hand away. "Sheesh, such a bossy woman." The words sounded harsh, but he said them with a chuckle.
She reached for the other ear, but he grabbed her hands and pinned them behind her back.
"Careful, Pockets. You might get more than you bargained for." His voice took on a husky timber that sent a wave of warmth flooding over her.
Finally!
She bit back a smile and let her eyes drift closed as she leaned into him. His lips didn’t meet hers, however. Instead, his cold lips pressed first to one eyelid then the other before grazing her temple. Then his lips drifted lower. His warm breath —a contrast to his cold lips —tickled her ear when he spoke. “You need to learn a little patience, Pockets.”
“Patience is for losers.” The words came out with a shuddery breath as she struggled to fill her lungs with all the fluttering sensations swarming her chest.
Daniel gave a soft chuckle as he kissed the hollow below her ear. “This feels like winning to me.”
“Mmm..hmm…” RIley melted into him.
