Page 38 of Major Love

“You’re theworst,” she laughs, but she’s looking up at me like I’m the best, and I love it so much that I give her a gentle nudge of my own. Just a press of my thigh on hers after she takes the first sip of her cocoa, and even though it’s not skin-on-skin, heat explodes through my muscles.

Sunday hums happily as she cuddles her cup and strolls out of the kitchen, and I follow right behind her, only one question playing on my mind.

Is taking her to Hardy’s ranch going to count as a date?

She leans her shoulder against the doorjamb as I step out onto the front porch, the soft winter clouds lower than before, hanging heavy with the promise of snow.

“Pick you up Friday afternoon?” I ask, watching her as she takes another sip of her hot cocoa.

I’d rather hammer out the details now so that we’re not dependent on the area’s irregular cell service.

“If the elk can spare you for one day,” she teases, and my dimples tighten as I breathe out a laugh.

And then I’m walking backwards toward my truck because I don’t want to take my eyes off her any longer than I have to.

And from the way that she wraps her arms around the porch railing? It looks like she can’t take her eyes off me either.

I give her a jerk of my chin and she gnaws on her thumb to hide her smile.

Looks like I have the answer to my question.

This is definitely a date.

Chapter 9

Sunday

“This isn’t a date,” I say breathlessly as I toss my phone onto the bed, gripping my towel tighter above my cleavage and nudging the bedroom door closed behind me.

Then I drop the towel and pad over to where I’d laid out my clothes, slipping my lace panties up my thighs.

A noncommittal sound comes from my phone and I can’t help but roll my eyes, laughing quietly.

As soon as I pull on my lace bra and my baby blue shirt, I grab my phone from the comforter and say, “I’m being serious, Haven. This isJason freaking Colesonthat we’re talking about here. Just because he was, like, sweet with me back when we were in high school, doesn’t mean that I’m not aware that he’s a total stud in Phoenix Falls.”

I mean, if he’s offering to hang out with me on a Friday afternoon then I presume that Jason is currently single – but no way is a guy that handsome not getting propositioned by gorgeous women every Saturday night.

I drop my phone back onto the quilt, swallowing down the nervous flutter of jealousy as I ease my denim jeans over the curves of my hips.

Haven purses her lips before glancing back at me from the FaceTime call on the screen.

“So you’re just two hot single people, barebacking in the mountains on a Friday afternoon… as friends?” she asks innocently.

“Okay, so, first of all, this is the twenty-first century, so we’re going for a ride – not ‘barebacking’in the mountains.” At least, I hope that we’re not barebacking because I’ve never ridden without a saddle before. “Second of all, he’s Casey’s friend, and that deserves a forbidden category all of its own. And third? If he was interested in dating me, I think he would have been a little more obvious about it.”

Then I open up my little compact mirror and begin carefully brushing mascara up my eyelashes.

Haven lifts an amused eyebrow, and I know exactly what she’s thinking.

Do you usually wear make-up when you’re hanging out with ‘just a friend’?

“Uh-huh,” she says teasingly. “Definitely not a date.”

I meet Haven’s knowing eyes and we both burst into giggles when suddenly a loud banging sound captures my attention from the front of the cabin.

Three no-nonsense raps, and then nothing but my own gentle breathing.

I blink quickly down at Haven and she nods, blowing me a kiss.

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