Page 47 of A Cozy Holiday
Heat floods through me, different from before. “I really like you too.”
His smile could power the entire state.
Then he’s gone, footsteps disappearing down the upstairs hall.
Chapter 11
A Vat of Lube
Twenty-three Days Until I Can Go Back to Work
I havesome serious pep in my step after the…events of last night, so I decide to wear something extra cute for helping Jamie in the barn.
I know I’ve chosen correctly the moment I open the front door of my cabin and see Jamie waiting for me. He hands me my usual snowman mug, and while I take a sip, I watch him ogle my form-fitting, deep maroon snow jumpsuit.
I love how no matter what I’m wearing, he looks at me with that quiet awe that makes me forget the insides of my nostrils are freezing.
“Peppermint marshmallows. That’s new.”
“Don’t tell me you hate marshmallows.” He cocks an eyebrow at me.
“No, it’s nice.” I hesitate. “After last night, I wasn’t sure if we’d do the whole…normal morning thing. Or if it would be strange.”
“Why would it be weird?” His voice drips with sarcasm. “We made out on my couch. I came in my jeans like a teenager. Now we’re about to muck stalls. Seems pretty normal to me.”
I choke on air. “Jesus, Jamie—”
“Don’t make it awkward, Doc.”
“I just don’t know the protocol here. Do we talk about it? Ignore it? Rate it out of ten?”
He doesn’t even hesitate. “Solid eleven.”
Heat floods my face. “I was joking.”
“I wasn’t. Look, I had a really good time last night. All of it. Lunch with the girls. Watching you nap. Andafter.”
“After was good,” I admit.
“Just good?”
“Okay, fine. After was really good.” I take another peppermint sip before shutting the front door and starting our walk to the barn. Sometime in the last week, he fixed the porch railing, and he’s been salting the porch steps for me each night. “Though, for the record, I did not fall asleep. I was resting my eyes.”
“You were drooling.”
“I was not—” I spin around, and he’s right there, close enough that I can smell coffee and hay and him.
“You absolutely were.” His hands find the hem of my coat. “It was cute.”
“I don’t drool.”
“You snored a little too.”
“Okay, now you’re just lying.” But I’m smiling, and he’s smiling, and suddenly his mouth is on mine. His lips are cold but soft, peppermint and espresso tangling between us. One of his hands moves up to grip my jaw.
“Good morning.” He kisses my nose.
“Yeah. It really is.”
