Page 85 of Mountain Dreams

“What?!”

“You intimidated me with your obsessive organizational skills and straight A’s.”

She laughed, her eyes twinkling with delight. “I was a nerd.”

“No. You were the smartest, sweetest, most beautiful girl I knew, and I didn’t want to ruin you.”

She smiled up at him. “What about now?”

“You’re still all those things, but now I want to mess you up like crazy.”

“I like it when you mess me up.”

“Keep looking at me like that, and I’m going to scoop you up and carry you back to bed.”

“Maybe that’s what I want you to do.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

“First, you have to promise me something.”

“What is it?”

“No more hiding things, okay?”

“Okay.”

“That was quick. You’re not just saying that to get me into bed, are you?” he teased.

She stood and planted her hands on her hips. “No, but what if I was?”

“Who am I kidding? I’d follow you anywhere, anytime. Lead the way, my queen.”

They laughed and raced upstairs.

Twenty-Six

Two months later, tax season was finally over, and to celebrate, Maddie was hosting a girl’s night in. It had been Avery’s idea, and Maddie had been looking forward to it all week. Not that she hadn’t been enjoying her time with Cody these past eight weeks, but she could use some girl time. Plus, his sister, Dakota, was coming, and Maddie was anxious to see her too.

She was arranging a cheese platter in the kitchen when he came up behind her and nuzzled her neck.

“Mmm. Smells good.”

“You can’t have any. This is for the ladies.”

“I wasn’t talking about the cheese tray,” he said and nibbled her earlobe.

She laughed and turned in his arms to face him. “Shouldn’t you be leaving?”

“Um-hmm.”

He dipped his head and gave her what she thought would be a brief kiss, but she should have known better. They couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other, and brief kisses often ended up with them in bed. That couldn’t happen right now, though.

She broke their kiss. “Go.”

“Do I have to?” he whined.