Page 74 of The Jellybean Dilemma

“When do we leave?” I ran my fingers along the short hair at the nape of his neck.

“I’ll have to find snow gear for you, fuel for the snowmobile, and make sure it starts. But there’s something I need first.” He shifted closer to me, scooting me to the edge of the counter and aligning my center with his rock-hard erection.

“Oh?” I looked up, as innocently as possible. “Whatever could that be?”

He just grinned, his dimple appearing seconds before his mouth devoured mine.

It was a couple of hours before we had everything ready to go. I knew it was time, and I really needed to tell Avery about Kevin, but a huge part of me didn’t want to leave my little bubble with Greg. I forced my thoughts aside as I concentrated on prepping for the weather.

I had my own boots of course but finding other snow gear that fit me wasn’t easy. And going without wasn’t an option. After I’d put on all my layers, I tugged on my helmet then we tromped outside.

“How am I supposed to get on this thing?” I muttered more to myself than Greg.

“What?” he hollered, his voice muffled from the helmet.

I shook my head, but he gestured for me to wait. Removing one of his mittens, he fiddled with the side of my helmet. I heard a click, and his voice echoed in my ears.

“Can you hear me now?”

“We can talk to each other!” I beamed, loving the idea of helmets with built-in radios. They were state of the art, complete with tinted face shields to block out the sun. No squinting required.

He sat down on the snowmobile, pulling his mitten back on. “So, what did you say?”

“I just forgot how hard it is to move with all this crap on.” I grinned when his chuckle bounced back to me.

“Do your best.” He started the engine then scooted forward, waiting for me to climb on.

I awkwardly plopped down behind him, then wrapped my arms around him as best I could. My helmet hit his with a sharp thwack. “Sorry.”

Another chuckle. “Just hold on tight. There are handles on the side if that’s easier, not that I don’t like snuggling.”

Oh. I found the side handles and heaved a relieved sigh. “So much better.” I still scooted forward, so my chest was pressed against his back. I wanted him to miss me if I fell off.

“Remember what I told you? Lean with me. It’ll help keep your center of gravity if you don’t fight the turns. Use me as a shield. I’ll block most of the wind and snow for you. Ready?”

I swallowed hard, letting out a deep breath that fogged up my helmet. Dammit. “Yep, let’s go.”

The snowmobile lurched forward on top of the several feet of hardened snow as Greg steered us to the road. Good thing he was driving because I couldn’t even tell where the road was supposed to be. Scanning the yard, I realized I had no idea where our car was. Between the fresh accumulation and the wind, it was now just another lump under the snow.

Even when he said we were on the road, I didn’t see it. It didn’t seem to be plowed. He hadn’t been kidding about the cabin being in the middle of nowhere. The nearest town was a good thirty-minute ride, and we still wouldn’t be able to use our cell phones. We were in that remote of an area.

“How you doing?”

His voice startled me back to the present. “Good. I’m actually enjoying myself.” It was fun zooming along the wintry landscape, trees and bushes and snow flying by. “Maybe—” I hesitated.

“What?” He steered us around a big drift, and I leaned with him.

“Maybe we could do this again, for real. Have a vacation up here and do the tourist thing.” I held my breath, remembering how he’d brushed me off when I’d suggested this very thing over lunch at Raymond’s.

He turned slightly, as much as the helmet would allow. “You’d want to come back?”

I nodded, then rolled my eyes at myself as I realized he couldn’t see me. “Yeah, and again in the summer. I want to eat on Raymond’s deck while watching the sunset.” I almost didn’t catch his next words, they were so low.

“You were serious, at lunch.” His tone was oddly tight, and I wasn’t sure if I felt relieved or embarrassed that he’d remembered.

“Yeah. I was.”

Silence passed between us, the only sound the whine of the engine as Greg took us up a hill. “I’d love that, Jellybean. We’ll make it happen.”

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