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She starts to look around as Charlotte takes a seat on the couch and tries to open the box of graham crackers. I get the fire started and then head over to the thermostat on the wall and turn the air up so that we aren’t all sweltering in a few minutes.
“Ready to make your s’more, bunny?” Caroline asks and Charlotte nods, jumping off the couch.
I help her with the supplies as Caroline picks up the towels and hangs them over the back of a kitchen chair.
“Have you ever toasted marshmallows before?” I ask and they both shake their headsno. “No worries, I’ll show you how to make the perfect one.”
We open the bag of marshmallows and I put one on the stick before I hold it over the fire. I make sure that Charlotte doesn’t get too close to the fire. Once the marshmallow is the perfect golden brown, I ask Caroline to pass us some graham crackers and chocolate and we slide the marshmallow between the crackers.
“There you go,” I say, passing the s’more over to Charlotte.
She grins at me, taking a big bite of the s’more and immediately getting chocolate and marshmallow all over her face.
“It’s good!” Charlotte giggles and takes another bite as I laugh and get started on the next s’more.
I pass the second s’more to Caroline and watch as she takes a bite. She licks a stray smear of marshmallow off her bottom lip and I have to look away before I embarrass myself.
The rain starts to lessen outside, but by now it’s pitch black out, and I know that Caroline and Charlotte shouldn’t be driving in this weather. I’m also just not ready for our time together to be over. It feels like I’m finally getting Caroline to see me.
“Why don’t I get your bags from your car and you can get out of your wet clothes.”
There’s a beat of awkward silence as we both think about her wet clothes clinging to her in certain places and I clear my throat, looking back toward the fire.
“Okay,” Charlotte says happily.
“Thanks,” Caroline adds and I could swear that she’s blushing.
I grab the car keys from Caroline before she can say anything else or I can get any other ideas, and I head out into the rain to grab their things. I just grab the two small duffle bags from the back seat before I hurry back inside.
Charlotte is looking tired and I pass the bags to Caroline and point them toward the bedroom to get changed. While they do that, I put the fire out and clean up all of the s’mores stuff.
Charlotte pads back out a few minutes later, dressed in her pajamas, and curls up on the couch.
“Are you warm enough?” I ask her and she nods sleepily.
I get up to grab her a blanket from the hall closet and by the time I’m back, she’s fast asleep. I cover her up with the blanket and turn to see Caroline watching me.
“There’s only the one bedroom. I’ll grab Charlotte and you two can take the bed. I’ll sleep out here on the couch.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to kick you out of your bed after you were nice enough to let us stay here.”
“I’m sure, Caroline. It’s no problem. Really.”
She nods and I gently pick Charlotte up and follow her into the bedroom. Caroline pulls back the covers and I lay Charlotte down, smoothing her hair away from her face before I cover her up with the blanket.
Caroline follows me back to the door and we stare at each other for a moment before I give her a small smile. I lean down and I could swear that Caroline holds her breath as I brush my lips against her cheek.
“Goodnight, Caroline.”
“Goodnight, Heath,” she whispers back as I straighten and head out to the couch.
I lay down with a smile on my face. Sure, my feet might be hanging over the end of the couch and I can already tell that I’ll have a crick in my neck tomorrow morning, but the woman of my dreams is asleep in my bed, and it feels like I just took one big step toward making her mine.
Now to make sure that I don’t do anything to mess up my progress.
ChapterFive
Caroline
