Page 8 of Six More Minutes
His breath caught at the majestic sight. Tall trees with patches of white stuck to the sides, covering long thick and thin branches. The snow-covered ground broke off about twenty feet ahead into a perfectly round lake now covered with a sheen of gray-blue ice.
“This is amazing. It’s like something out of a movie.”
“I know, right.” She sighed and leaned into him. “We used to come here to ice skate. I don’t think the lake is completely frozen over yet. They usually have signs around here somewhere to let you know when it’s safe.
Myles didn’t see any signs, then again, he wasn’t looking for them. They weren’t equipped to go ice skating anyway. Still, just the sight of this magnificent piece of nature and the crisp tingle of wintry air moving through his nostrils filled him with a feeling of rejuvenation and newness that he couldn’t quite explain.
“Come on, I want to show you something else.”
Reminding himself to never doubt Gemma’s word again, he followed, this time taking her hand to help navigate them both through the thicker patches of snow. When they came to an unexpected incline, she lost her footing and drifted back. He was right there to catch her, but the slope was slippery and soon they were both falling to the ground with a laughter-filled thump.
He didn’t notice she’d rolled over and come to her knees while he continued to laugh and when he finally sat up it was to a snowball smacking him square in the chest. All laughter stopped.
“Did you just throw a snowball at me?”
She feigned innocence. “What? Who me?”
He bit back a grin. “There’s nobody else out here.”
“Oh,” she said with a nod. “Then I guess I did just throw a snowball at you. What’s the matter, Myles Donovan never got hit with a snowball before?” She was already coming to her feet, bending down to swipe up more snow in the process.
“Oh I have,” he said, getting to his feet as well, before kneeling again to gather up some snow. “But nobody who dared to throw one at me has ever lived to tell about it.”
She hurled the next one, but since he was expecting it, he ducked in time to avoid it, then let the one he was holding soar until it splashed against her right breast.
“Ooop.” She made the adorable sound and looked down at her chest. “In my titty. You hit me in my titty with a snowball?”
He was already taking full advantage of her shock and ignoring the quick jump of his dick at her words and where the snowball had landed. Throwing another one, he almost yelled bullseye as it smashed into the left breast.
Her mouth formed another shocked “O” before she shook her head and grinned. “Oh, it’s on now!”
Of course, she threw numerous snowballs aimed at his groin throughout the rest of the battle, none of which quieted the heat building in the form of his erection. When she ran to hide behind a tree as he pummeled her with one snowball after the next, he couldn’t help but chase her. In a sense he felt as if he’d been chasing Gemma Taylor all year long, trying to catch up with the woman who’d intrigued him from the start. Coming around one side of the tree as she peeked around the other side, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back to him. The action held enough force that it sent them to the ground once again. This time Myles rolled on top of her, staring down into her grinning face—her rosy cheeks and still glossed lips, long lashes wet from snow, eyes filled with happiness.
He didn’t hesitate but lowered his face to hers to kiss her chilly lips. “Thanks for coming this weekend, Gemma.” He kissed her again this time letting his tongue slip past her lips to glide along hers.
She kissed him back, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him down until the heat of their desire cocooned them from the chilly day. Myles closed his eyes to the kiss and to the feeling that he was sinking fast.
Seven
By eleven o’clockon New Year’s Eve, Myles and Gemma had eaten a terrific dinner of fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas and cornbread all courtesy of the additional groceries Myles had ordered and had delivered at Gemma’s request.
“Have you heard from anyone in your family?” he asked when he came into the living room holding a mug in both hands.
They’d watched movies all evening and decided against viewing any of the televised New Year’s celebrations. Instead, they’d put fluffy fleece blankets on the floor with pillows in front of the fire. The Christmas tree was lit with warm bright lights and silver and gold decorations. Another courtesy of Myles, or as he’d informed her his assistant who’d hired a holiday decorator when he told her he would be staying there throughout the holidays to work.
“Just text messages,” she said accepting one of the mugs he offered and watching him sit on the blanket beside her. “They’ll all start calling at 12:01 no doubt. We used to plan a conference call at midnight but then when everybody was in a different time zone we decided on a text right at midnight for everyone no matter where they were and then a call so that we each spoke to one another at some point during New Year’s Day.”
“I’m surprised they didn’t want you to stay through the new year.”
She held her mug in both hands loving the feeling of warmth and marveling at the pretty fluff of whipped cream with something gold sprinkled on top. “I’d already told them when I arrived last week that I planned to return home in time to schedule clients for the holiday rush. And we were all together for Christmas Eve and Christmas which has only happened consistently for the last two years so that was amazing. What about you, was your family upset about you working through the holiday?”
He shook his head. “Nah. My parents are actually in Vegas. My dad had a couple of shows booked out there, so they won’t be back in Chesapeake until the second week in January. Cee-Cee’s on a girls’ trip as she put it and Kendra’s working, just like me.”
She reached out a hand to touch his thigh. “Well, you aren’t actually working right now.”
“Um, you’re right about that.” They both chuckled.
“So what’s this? I smell butterscotch but I thought you said you were making hot chocolate.”
