Page 23
“Oh, come on. Don’t do that.”
“I was just expecting…something more.”
Taking her hand, he led her over to look at the view. “They predicted snow. And technically, it is snowing.”
“Barely,” she said, pouting.
He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You get snow in Oregon. What’s so special about it here?”
She leaned back into him. “I just like it. The cold, the quiet…” She shrugged. “And I may have been imagining being snowed in with you.” Turning her head, she smiled up at him. “The setting feels perfect for that.”
He laughed softly. “If we get hit with a blizzard, all those outdoor activities you booked won’t happen.”
“I know,” she admitted. “But then we’d be forced to stay inside, drink cocoa by the fire, and try all the indoor stuff I picked out.”
“Only time will tell,” he said.
“I guess.”
They stood there for a few minutes, watching the soft flurries drift past the window. It was quiet. Easy.
But then, everything with Alesha felt that way.
It was crazy how, in just two weeks, he could barely remember what life felt like before she came back into it—only that it hadn’t been nearly as good.
And with just over two weeks left…
Yeah. Not going there.
Not tonight.
Stepping away, he crossed the room and flipped a switch. Flames leaped to life in the stone fireplace.
“This is my biggest complaint about my place.”
Alesha joined him. “The fireplace?”
He nodded. “Gas. I grew up with a wood-burning one. They don’t allow those in my neighborhood, so I went with stone to make it feel more traditional. Still…” He shrugged. “It’s not the same.”
She smiled knowingly. “I get that. We had a wood-burning fireplace growing up too. After that, every place I lived without one felt like something was missing. Even the gas one I had in my last apartment just didn’t compare.” She nodded toward the flames. “It’s still pretty, though.”
“Yeah,” he admitted. “Just doesn’t do much for warmth.” Reece slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. “But that’s what I’m here for.”
She laughed softly and wrapped her arms around his waist. “This is nice.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Yeah, it is. And we can enjoy it from the bed too. Definitely can’t do that at home.”
Alesha tilted her head back and smiled. “I like the sound of that.”
“So,” he said, “restaurant or room service?”
“Ooh…room service,” she said immediately. “I’ve never done that before. But…isn’t it a little early?”
They had checked in early, so yeah—technically it was.
“Then we’ll save that for later,” he said, kissing the tip of her nose. “Tomorrow, we hike, eat at the restaurant, play trivia, and end the night with s’mores by the fire pit. How does that sound?”
“Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
