Page 55 of Maybe This Christmas
No sooner than the dining room doors closed behind him did she reach for him.“I apologize in advance if my breath smells like crème de menthe and bourbon.”
He laughed.“Somehow, on you, I think I wouldn’t mind.”
He looped an arm around her waist, bringing her close.She let out a little yelp as he brought her off her feet.He lifted her as though she were nothing.
They stumbled a bit down the hallway until they reached the rear elevator.Caleb forced himself to put Emma down.
“My room is just upstairs.Or we can go to yours—?”
She wasn’t sure if she could wait another minute, let alone the time it would take them to put on their coats and walk back to her cabin.
The elevator could sense their urgency as it arrived within seconds of being called for.Once they were inside, Caleb gathered Emma into his arms again.But only for a hug.
“There’s cameras,” he whispered into her ear.“And you know my nosy-ass family will be checking them in the morning.”
She laughed against his chest.“Thank you for mentioning that.”
Their short journey ended, and they arrived at the second-floor staff quarters.Caleb’s room was only steps from the elevator.
With one quick swipe of his key card, they were inside.He fumbled for the light switch.Emma kicked off her shoes and took a moment to look around the small space.
There was a simple twin bed, a couple of dressers, and a TV opposite the bed that looked like a leftover from the 1980s.
“The staff quarters are kind of low on the priority list.Sorry if it smells kind of mildewy in here.It kind of ruins the mood.”
She grabbed the front of his shirt.“Not on your life.Now come on, already, Caleb.”
She drew him in for another kiss, pulling him backward to the bed.It didn’t matter if this place smelled like an old summer camp or that they’d have to find a way to fit on this little bed.
She was with Caleb.That was all that mattered.
* * * *
He wanted nothing more than to sleep with his body curled around Emma’s.Given the twin-bed situation, though, that wasn’t going to happen.
“You roll over once, and I’m going to be on the floor,” Emma said.
He watched her as she dressed in the dim light.He was exhausted, happy and satisfied.
“Fair point.Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you back?”
“No,” Emma said.“You need to be up in four hours.I don’t.I think I might get room service for breakfast and stay in bed for a while.”She slipped her shoes on.“Just an FYI, in case you finish up early.”
He grabbed her by the wrist and tugged her back onto the bed.“Don’t give a man ideas.”
She leaned forward, her hair cascading over him.“I’ll try not to.Have a good day.I’ll see you later today.”
He drew her in for a kiss, but she ducked away before he could deepen it.
“We both know where that will go.And we’re too old to stay up all night.”
She brushed another kiss across his brow.He was asleep moments after she’d slipped out of the door.
* * * *
Because it was midweek, there were few activities to keep Caleb busy.Most of the guests were at the ski resort or doing their own thing during the day.Sabrina had him working on smaller repair projects around the lodge.
After checking the leaky roofs, he ripped out the shag carpeting from one of the last cabins to be renovated.He had his headphones in and was living the introvert’s dream—working with no human interruption.
