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“This one was time-sensitive,” he said, handing her an envelope with her name on it.
With his entire family watching in anticipation, she took it and opened it slowly, glancing up at him nervously. She still hadn’t made up her mind about going overseas with him. She was still confused and conflicted, so she hoped this wasn’t a plane ticket…
Instead, she found a hotel confirmation slip inside and frowned as she read it. Her gaze shot up to his. “Mountain Top Resort in Big Bear?”
“A reservation for three nights. We leave tomorrow morning. What do you say, Jess? Take that road trip with me?”
Take a road trip with him? Not a life-changing journey overseas, but a three-day vacation in a winter wonderland with a man she was falling in love with. How could she possibly say no to that?
“Yes! Of course she’ll go!” Lia said in her prolonged silence.
Mitch shot his sister a look and Jess laughed, feeling tears burning the back of her eyes. “Yes. What Lia said,” she said, taking Mitch’s hand in hers.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he pulled her in closer and held her tight. His mother turned on the holiday music, and his father lit a fire. Across from them, Lia and Malcolm looked blissfully content as Lia examined the beautiful bracelet her husband had given her.
Jess smiled as she observed the family scene around her, feeling as though her heart might explode out of her chest. Not only was she falling hard and fast for Mitch, but the acceptance from his family, especially Lia, was the best Christmas gift ever. No more hiding anything from anyone. Including each other.
Maybe this trip to the mountains would be the perfect opportunity to tell him exactly how she felt.
Chapter Twenty-One
December 21st…4 Days Until Christmas…
Parked in Jessica’s driveway the next morning, Mitch was sweating despite the mid-December chill in the air.
When was the last time he’d gone on a vacation with a woman? His overseas trips didn’t count. This one was all about relaxing, enjoying the holidays, connecting on an even deeper level.
He didn’t regret asking her. Not one little bit. But he knew this trip could change things, and he wasn’t sure he was ready for what those changes might be.
When she exited her house, her overnight bag in hand, his heart raced for a completely different reason. Dressed in jeans, low-cut leather winter boots, and a thick cable-knit sweater, her new red winter jacket over her arm, he suddenly couldn’t wait to get to the mountains. He just hoped he’d have the strength to pull himself away from the lodge to actually enjoy the outdoor activities. Knowing their time together was getting shorter each day had him craving every second of touching, kissing, holding her…
Climbing out of the vehicle, he met her on her step and took the bag. He leaned in to kiss her cheek, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer for a more passionate kiss.
He closed his eyes and suppressed a moan as she sunk into him. She tasted like cinnamon-flavored lip gloss, and her kiss held all the passion he felt surging within himself. She reluctantly pulled away. “I missed you,” she said softly.
He swallowed hard. He’d missed her, too, and it had only been twelve hours since he’d dropped her off after early Christmas dinner with his family. How was he going to survive the next trip overseas? “Well, we have three full days and nights together,” he said, taking her hand and heading toward the car.
He opened the door for her, then put her bag in the back next to his. Seeing the two bags together created an involuntary tug at his chest.
Man, he needed to pull it together. Otherwise, it was going to be impossible to leave his hometown in a few days.
…
“Snow! It’s snowing!” She must sound like a four-year-old, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t remember ever being this excited over the weather, but as she sat staring out at the big, soft-looking flakes falling outside the window, her eyes widened. The beautiful scenery of the snow-capped mountains in the distance was breathtaking.
Mitch laughed as he squeezed her hand quickly, then resumed gripping the wheel on the slightly slippery roads. “This is really the first time you’ve seen snow?”
“Yes.” She sat back in the seat and glanced at him. “I always talked about making this trip someday, but Christmas being one of my busiest seasons, I never did.” She didn’t add that a romantic, Christmas trip to the mountains wouldn’t have been as magical alone. She’d only ever spent one holiday season with a significant other, and the relationship hadn’t lasted long after the new year. “I’m happy that I waited,” she said.
Taking this trip with him made it that much more special.
“Me too,” he said, glancing at her quickly before turning his attention back to the road.
They drove in comfortable silence up the rest of the mountainside, and when he pulled into the lodge’s valet parking area, her pulse raced. Three full nights together. All night.
This was going to be a whole new level of intimacy. One she hadn’t shared with someone in a very long time. But she was more than ready to take this next step with Mitch. She wouldn’t think about what it meant or where the relationship was headed beyond the next few days.
She’d focus on the moment and this incredible time together.
