Page 67 of The Hero + Vegas = No Regrets

TWENTY-FOUR

Sophia

When Worth saidcabin in the woods, I was expecting something rustic.

“You lied,” I say, gazing up at the impressive home in front of us. It’s huge and has a wraparound porch, complete with Adirondacks pointing out at the surrounding trees. The structure might have been made of logs, but that’s the only rustic thing about it. I can see through the window to a modern kitchen that would look right at home in some Scandi billionaire retreat.

“Lied because?”

“You said log cabin. Not log palace.”

He chuckles as he pulls our bags from the trunk. I follow him up the wooden steps to the porch.

“We need to get stuff for s’mores,” I say. “Where’s the nearest store?”

“We have everything we need inside. The place is stocked.”

“How? And wow!” I say as I step inside and look up at the eighteen-foot ceilings. The inside walls look like actual logs. It’s like where you imagine Santa would live, if Santa was a billionaire and not an oversized elf.

“This is the actual best,” I say. “It’s so peaceful.”

“It really is.”

“Do you come up here a lot?”

“Not a lot, but I get my use out of it.”

“And there are always s’mores packed, just in case?” How is it possible that I can feel jealous right now? Somehow I do. I feel regretful of the time Worth and I haven’t had together, jealous of the people who’ve gotten to have time with him other than me. “Do you come here with your sisters?” It’s not really what I want to know, but it’s what I ask.

He drops our bags on the floor and heads to the refrigerator. He pulls out two beers, takes the caps off of both and hands one to me. “Absolutely not. This is a place to escape.” He grins and takes a swig.

I watch his Adam’s apple bob. Everything this man does is sexy. I can’t even watch him drink a beer without wanting to mount him. What’s the matter with me? I wonder how many other women have felt the same way.

“You don’t talk about your exes,” I say, leaning against the counter and taking a swig of my beer.

His gaze dances between my lips and my eyes. “What do you want to know?”

“How many have you brought here?”

Confusion ripples across his face and he frowns. “None. I’ve never brought anyone here. Not even the guys. Bennett and Efa borrowed it once, but I only ever come here alone.”

“Until me?”

“Right,” he replies. “Until you. There are lots of things I’ve never done before you.”

A smile tugs at my mouth. I step forward and hook my fingers into his belt. “Oh yeah? Like what else?”

His chest expands as he takes a breath in. He slides his bottle onto the counter and takes my face in his hands, sweeping histhumbs over my cheeks. He drops his hands and slides his palms up my arms. “Well, I’ve never had a wife before.”

I laugh. “I’m not sure I count. We don’t even live together. And we haven’t known each other very long.”

“Legally, it counts. And if you want to move in, let’s talk about it. Your commute would be easier.”

I fix him with a look that says,You can’t be serious.

“We’d spend more time together that way,” he says.

“I’m not sure that would work,” I say, honestly. “I’d feel like a roommate. That’s your place, Worth. It’s always going to be your place.”

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