Page 35 of Only Be Mine

John glanced at me. “Are you okay with that?”

I hesitated. Not because I didn’t want to be with him… but because I did, and I had been doing so good at waiting.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I’m okay.”

The room was ridiculous.

A massive bed with thick blankets folded at the foot. A stone fireplace, and a big window looking out over the snow-covered town.

“This feels suspiciously romantic,” I said.

“I swear,” he laughed, “I did not orchestrate this.”

I arched an eyebrow at him, “Okay, Romeo, if you say so.”

He just shook his head, but the smile never left his face. “Come on, I think I saw a restaurant downstairs.

We went downstairs to the restaurant where I couldn’t help but take in the wooden beams, low lights, and people in sweaters and ski jackets laughing over drinks. I had two glasses of wine while I waited for our food.

Then a third.

John watched me with quiet amusement. “Nervous?”

“Me?” I scoffed. “Never.”

But he didn’t miss anything. He never did.

Our food came a short time later, and I picked at it, afraid to eat too much in case things got… physical later. John watched me with a curious glint in his eye, and I was grateful when his phone buzzed on the table.

He picked it up with a shake of his head. “Seth,” he mouthed before answering.

“Yeah?”

A pause. Then, “No, we’re not back yet… We took a drive… Yeah, I know, I know… Can you keep her tonight?”

I glanced at him. “Everything okay?” I whispered.

He nodded, but continued his conversation. “Yeah. A snowstorm hit the mountains. We’re stuck for a while. Looks like you’re babysitting.”

Seth’s muffled protest made me smile.

“Be a good uncle. Buy her a toy,” John added with a laugh. “And don’t let her eat the couch again.”

He hung up, shaking his head. “Baby's going to be mad at me.”

I laughed. “She’ll forgive you.”

“I hope so. She holds grudges.”

Back upstairs, we lit the fire and sat on the rug, my back against his chest, his arms around me, warmth everywhere - the fire, his body, the slow rhythm of his breathing.

“I like this,” I murmured.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. It’s… safe.”

His chin rested on my hair. “You’re safe with me.”