Page 77 of Beastly Mountain Man

I pointed my fork at him. “Both were excellent choices. I’m simply acknowledging the cost.”

“That seems fair.”

I cut another bite from my slice.

“You’re smiling.”

“I’m eating cake.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

“It answers every important question currently before me.”

Lucky leaned against the island beside me, shoulder brushing mine.

I didn’t move away.

Neither did he.

We left both plates on the counter when we carried our water into the great room.

The fire had settled into a steady burn. Bear sprawled across the rug with one rear foot extended into the walkway, forcing me to step over him to reach the couch.

I sat down beside Lucky and tucked my feet beneath me.

For a while, we talked about nothing important.

Bear’s inability to understand personal space.

Lucky’s belief that my Audi would be fine once the resort cleared the route properly.

My strong professional objection to the phrase fine when used about transportation.

Eventually the conversation slowed.

I rested my head against Lucky’s shoulder.

His arm settled along the back of the couch behind me, not pulling, just there.

I looked across the room at my laptop.

Closed.

Still exactly where I had left it.

“My mother would hate that.”

Lucky followed my glance. “Your laptop?”

“The fact that I can see unfinished work and I’m sitting here anyway.”

He didn’t answer immediately.

I had told him almost nothing about my family.

He knew I had a brother. That was about it.

“My parents are good people,” I said.