Page 5 of Snow Much Trouble
She’s lying. “Show me the text then.”
“I didn’t save it.” She lowers her lids and stares into the glass. “I like a clutter-free device.”
We’re both full of shit.
Which makes me like her even more. “We’re even. One point for me for proof of the offer, one point for you for getting here first.”
Lauren takes another tiny sip of her bourbon and then shudders a little when it goes down her throat. "I suppose wecould flip a coin. Winner gets the cabin, loser drives back down the mountain and finds somewhere else to stay."
"In this weather?" I gesture toward the window where the snow is already starting to stick to the glass. "I don't think so."
“Scared of a little snow?”
“No. Uh-uh. You’re not going to trick me into leaving by appealing to my male ego.” I’m more amused than annoyed.
“Damn,” she murmurs. “I really thought that would work.” She gestures to me, hand waving up and down my body. “You seem like you have a big…ego.”
That makes me chuckle. “It’s healthy, let’s put it that way.” I glance out the window again. In the mere minutes we’ve been talking the branches are already covered in a dusting of snow. “I’m not letting you drive anywhere in this weather either. Neither of us are leaving tonight. Hell, we’re lucky we both got here when we did.”
Lauren makes a big show out of going over to the window and peering out at the weather. She tosses her thick dark hair over her shoulder. “The driveway is covered,” she acknowledges. “It looks slippery.” Then she goes on her tiptoes and leans forward to gaze to the left. “It’s a beautiful view though.”
It is a beautiful view.
Because now I know exactly what her ass looks like and it’s a damn fine ass. Full, high, with a delicious bounce when she drops back onto her heels. An image of Lauren naked with my hand on her backside pops into my head. I can’t control it. It’s just suddenly there and it’s fucking tormenting me. My mouth goes dry.
"We're both adults who can share a space for one night without it being weird,” she says. "Strictly platonically, of course."
Then she turns and catches me staring at her ass.
Her jaw drops.
I shrug, because what the hell can I say? I have no doubt myappreciationis written all over my face.
"Of course," I agree easily, though platonic might be easier said than done. "I should probably warn you that I have very strong opinions about thermostat settings."
"And I should probably warn you that I have strong opinions about everything.”
That makes me laugh. I take another sip of Pappy. “I also sleep walk.”
“I’ll lock my door. But you should know, I talk to myself when I'm writing. And sometimes I sing. Loudly."
“I snore.” I’ve had more women complain to me about that than possibly anything else I’ve ever done in my entire life. Which hardly seems fair since I’m asleep while I’m doing it.
“You’re sleeping upstairs. It will be fine. If you can handle watching me eat break and bake store bought cookies without baking them first.”
“You just break it?”
She nods. “And eat it. Raw.”
“Raw has its own appeal.” And yes, I’m aware of how that sounds. “Are they chocolate chip?”
“Sugar. I also brought frosting in case I decide to bake them after breaking them. And marshmallows for my hot chocolate.”
“I think I can handle it. Are they in Christmas shapes?” I’m restraining myself from being really dirty. I have to remember that Lauren is a friend of Jolene’s. Not one of my hookups from the latest dating app I’ve downloaded.
We’re here together by coincidence, not lust.
Which suddenly feels very unfair.
