Page 23 of Sold on You

“Is she as cute as you?” he asked in a teasing tone.

“Heis amazing.” She glanced up at Ace. “You’ll love him, and I bet he’ll thinkyou’recute.”

Ace shook his head. “I suppose I deserved that.”

“Yep.” She examined his hair. “You are looking a little shaggy. I suppose I can cut your hair here.”

He rubbed his hand over his head, causing tufts to stick up in the most adorable way. “I’ll take you up on that.”

They laughed and chatted over the next hour as they played each hand—every tile, for that matter.

She felt so relaxed and, well,happy. She kept telling herself to stop enjoying Ace’s company so much, which she figured was a pretty dumb thing to think. Having fun with Ace was a nice break from the real world. When they returned to everyday life, things would go back to normal.

Right?

The final Mexican Train hands went quickly. Charlee annihilated him and won the game 126 points to his 431.

“Ha.” She gave him a triumphant look.

She met his gaze and tried not to look at his muscular chest, which only gave her thoughts about seeing him cook dinner in only an apron.

Oh, lordy. She couldn’t wait.

CHAPTER6

Ace’s shoulder brushed Charlee’s as they stared out the window. Snow weighed down branches on the pine and juniper trees. Mounds of snow covered the brush so that few signs of bushes and other plant life existed.

He glanced down and took in how the soft blue sweater hugged her breasts and clung to her lovely figure. It seemed like every time he was close to her, he grew hard.

His throat worked as he swallowed. He had to get his mind off of stripping layers of her clothing away until all that was left was smooth, supple flesh. Her nipples would be soft but firm to his tongue. He would suck first one nipple, then the other, teasing them with his tongue and lips.

He had to have her, had to be inside her. He shut his eyes tight and ground his teeth. Damn, but it was hard to stop picturing her body beneath his as he moved between her thighs…

“Everything is so hushed, so silent, when snow covers the landscape and snowflakes drift lazily from the sky,” she said softly, pulling him away from his fantasy.

He rested his hand on her shoulder, enjoying the heat of her body through her light sweater to his palm. He squeezed and she looked up at him with those vivid blue eyes that were so beautiful it made him ache.

They’d have blue-eyed babies, the girls as cute and sweet as their mom.

Ace dropped his hand away and took a step back.What the hell?Why was he visualizing Charlee and him having kids? His skin prickled. It had been great thinking about her, being with her, even for the rest of his life.

But kids? Would she insist on having them?

“What’s wrong?” A worried expression crossed her lovely features. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Ghost of the future,Ace thought then chased it away with,I don’t plan on having kids.

He wouldn’t make a good dad. His own father and his brothers were great parents, but Ace knewhewasn’t cut out to raise kids.

Fear of failure? Fear of his life revolving around children and no longer being free? Fear of being trapped?

He mentally shook his head and made himself smile. “Nothing. All good here.”

She frowned. “You don’t have a good poker face.”

Damn.

He settled his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her to him, catching her off guard. He kissed the top of her head. “All’s good.”

---