Page 36 of Take My Heart
‘I tried some on, but they’re all too big.’ She walks over to me. ‘If you want me to change, I can. I just didn’t know what to put on.’
‘What you’re wearing is fine. I just didn’t want you getting cold.’
‘Do you have a blanket?’
‘In the cedar chest.’ I point to it behind the couch. ‘Help yourself.’
Instead of going over there, she hops up on the counter. ‘I really appreciate you letting me stay here.’
‘It’s not a big deal. It’s just for a night.’
‘What if it’s still snowing like this tomorrow? Do you think I could get a hotel room?’
‘They’ll probably still be booked, but we can check.’ I’m trying not to look at her, but my eyes won’t let me. This is the first time I’m seeing her legs, and damn, she’s got nice legs. I force myself to look away.
‘I’ll check in the morning.’ She grips the edge of the counter and swings her legs back and forth, bringing myattention back to them. ‘If they don’t have any rooms, I might have to stay another night.’
Another night? With a girl who’s getting me this turned on? It’s not a good idea. There’s definite chemistry between us, which could lead to us doing something we shouldn’t. Kate’s fresh off a break-up, a broken engagement. She needs to deal with that before getting involved with someone else. Then again, sometimes sex can help you move on, or at least get a break from thinking about it.
‘This shit’s probably a year old,’ I say, stirring the hot chocolate mix into the water.
‘I don’t mind.’ Kate stops swinging her legs and jumps off the counter, looking like she just saw a mouse.
‘What’s wrong? What happened?’ I look around, because it’s highly possible there’s a mouse in here. I get them all the time because I haven’t filled in the cracks around the foundation.
‘I didn’t mean to sit there.’
I look back at her. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘The counter. I didn’t mean to sit there. I’ve never done that. It’s completely unsanitary. I wasn’t even thinking.’
‘I don’t care if you sit there. I thought you saw a mouse.’
‘A mouse!’ she shrieks, jumping back up on the counter. ‘You have mice?’
‘No. Forget it.’ I hand her the mug. ‘Seriously, Kate, you gotta relax. Look around.’ I motion to my house. ‘Does any of this look fancy? Like I’d care if you touched something or broke something?’
‘No.’
‘Have I given you any hint that I’d get angry if you did something without asking?’
‘Um, no, but I don’t really know you.’
‘Trust me, it takes a lot to make me angry, and you sitting on the counter? I don’t care. In fact, I like it.’
‘You do?’ she asks with a slight smile. ‘Why?’
‘It’s hot.’ I turn away from her and go to the fridge to get a beer. I feel like I need it, although drinking could get me into trouble so I really shouldn’t do it.
‘You think me sitting here is hot?’
‘We probably shouldn’t talk about this.’ I pop the cap off the beer and take a drink.
‘Why?’
I turn to her, leaning back against the counter. ‘It’s not appropriate. A few hours ago you were going to get married.’
‘But I didn’t.’
