“He took me up to Lyden Springs, but it started snowing pretty heavily. Instead of driving in those conditions, we stayed over.”
She faces me, clasping her hands together. “Please tell me there was only one room, because it would be a giant waste of the forced proximity trope if there wasn’t. I mean, what author would force a couple who are obviously attracted to each other together if there’s going to be more than one room? And there also better have only been one bed or I want a refund.”
“My life isn’t a romance novel.”
“Oh, really?” She crosses her arms in front of her chest. “You’re technically an innkeeper. Correct?”
“Yes.”
“And he’s trying to buy said inn from you, a place where the entire town comes to celebrate Christmas. Did he not?”
“So?”
“You swore he was your arch nemesis until he gave you a peek behind his hard exterior last week during dance lessons. Right?”
I shrug, not giving her a response.
“This is totally the grump who saved Christmas trope! It only follows that there was some only-one-bed action that led to incredibly hot sex. Am I right?”
I bite my lower lip, goosebumps prickling my skin at the reminder of Callum moving on top of me. Below me. Behind me. All the pleasure I experienced from his masterful touch.
When we got back here this afternoon and said our goodbyes without discussing anything further, I told myself it was probably best if I kept it quiet. Forget last night happened.
But I’m desperate to tell someone, if for no other reason than to relive one of the best nights of my life.
“The man made me see stars.”
“It’s about damn time!”
“Haley,” I warn through gritted teeth, glancing around to see quite a few inquisitive eyes looking our way. No doubt the headline in tomorrow morning’s newspaper will read something to the effect that a local innkeeper was found unresponsive due to multiple orgasms from a wealthy out-of-towner.
It wouldn’t be that far from the truth.
“You need to keep sleeping with him,” she says, not caring who might overhear. “One of us should be having good sex. Since I come with more baggage than most men want, it may as well be you.”
“I don’t know…”
“You enjoyed yourself, right?”
“More than I thought possible.” I fight to reel in my grin, my cheeks heating as a rush of exhilaration runs through me. “The things he made me feel…” I lean closer. “I had no idea sex could be so…amazing. With Callum, it’s not a question of if he can make me come but how many times.”
“How many times are we talking?”
“I lost count, Haley. Between last night and this morning, not to mention a few times on the drive home, it had to be at least a nine.”
“Nine?” she shrieks so loud people could probably hear her all the way in Reno. “That’s not something you walk away from.”
“But—”
She holds up a hand, cutting me off.
“Stop over-analyzing things. Live in the moment. Not five days from now. Hell, not even five hours from now. Just enjoy the getting while the getting’s good. And based on the satisfied smile on your face, the getting’s good.”
“So damn good,” I admit before I can stop myself.
“And based on the way that man is currently eye-fucking you from the veranda, the getting is just as good for him.”
“What are you talking about?” I whirl around, my core clenching when I notice Callum leaning against the railing, a bright red scarf adding a pop of color to his charcoal coat and dark jeans.
