"Holy crap. Thank you for doing that," I say, touching my lips and trying to steady myself on my feet. "But shit, now what? She expects us to host Thanksgiving."
"All right, let's do it," Soren says, grinning at me. "I don't mind helping you out."
"You've got to be kidding me. I can't ask you to spend Thanksgiving with my Aunt Griselda!"
"Seriously, I don't mind, Celia. It definitely seems like it will be fun."
"It'sThanksgiving," I say, emphasizing every syllable.
The mountain man laughs, saying, "I promise you, it's okay."
"Wait," I say, running my fingers through my hair. "Are you serious about this? Are you sure?"
"I wouldn't have stepped in if I hadn't wanted to help."
I sigh with resignation.
"Alright. I think she'll probably spend a couple of nights here," I say, walking into my kitchen and looking around as if I can find the answer to this crazy situation somewhere on the counter.
"It's a good thing I still have a few more projects to do for you," Soren says, sitting down at my kitchen table.
"Yeah. But we should probably also hang out and get to know each other better, too, don't you think? It's not like we are talking up a storm while you work," I say, drumming my fingers on the counter.
"Okay. Well, how about we go to Raven's Perch Lodge and Hearth this Friday for dinner? They have amazing butternut squash ravioli every autumn, and I haven't been yet this season. My treat."
"No, my treat, because you're the one doing me a huge favor."
"We can argue about it over dinner," he says, giving me a grin that makes my pussy jump up and take notice.
Although I see Soren a few more times during the week while he finishes up the projects in my cabin, the two of us don't truly hang out until that Friday night when he picks me up for dinner. He shows up at my front door wearing a button-down and dark jeans, looking even more gorgeous than usual. I can't help but feel pleased when I see his eyes travel down my form-fitting black dress.
"Ready?" he asks, smiling.
Thirty minutes later, we are seated in the lodge's restaurant, surrounded by winter holiday decorations they have already started putting up for the season. He orders the butternut squash ravioli he's been dreaming about since last year, but I get the salmon. When dinner arrives, I notice that the light snowfall that started when we arrived has now gotten heavier, but I'm soon distracted by the deliciousness on my plate. My date gives me a bite of his ravioli, and my eyes roll back in my head.
"Okay," I say, grinning at him. "I can see why you like that." The crispy sage on top gives it extra flair.
When we finish our meals, I sit back with a satisfied sigh. The snow continues to fall outside, and it is a beautiful November night. The live band begins to play, and Soren stands, offering me his hand.
"Would you like to dance?"
My head spins with desire when I take his hand, and soon I am in his arms, swaying on the dance floor and soaking in the electricity that his touch gives me.
We get lost in each other, and I dare to rest my cheek against his muscular chest. He smells of wood-smoke and spicy cologne. Lost in his arms, I don't know how much time passes while we dance together, but I hear him whisper, "Oh, shit," so I look up at him.
"What?"
"Look outside," he says, turning me toward the window. I see that the beautiful snowfall has turned into quite a heavy snowstorm.
"We should probably leave," I say regretfully, looking up at the handsome bearded man.
"Yeah," he says, looking at me, and my stomach flips at the sight of his heated eyes.
Since we're in a rush, I argue only briefly about paying for the meal, but he insists, and we are soon grabbing our jackets fromcoat check and walking out to the valet. A hotel worker stops us at the door.
"Sorry. The valet is closed, and the road leaving the lodge is closed as well because of the storm."
"Oh, shit," I say, looking at the handyman.
