AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her blue eyes roll heavenward. “Is that why you like to drive me so crazy?”
“Oh, baby. Let me list the reasons.”
Light laughter draws from her lungs as she strokes her nails along my jawline. “Don’t worry, Hotshot. Only a natural disaster would’ve stopped me from getting on that plane this morning.”
I hook my hand behind her head, capturing her lips. For all the years I’ve wanted to kiss her without obstacles, this is surreal. She’ll struggle to keep my mouth off her for the next five days.
Screw five days. For the rest of our lives.
After landing in Anchorage, we’re exhausted from the eight-hour flight, but we pick up the SUV I reserved and begin our two-and-a-half-hour drive south.
“It’s like the Dells all over again.” Nova nestles into the passenger seat. “You’re really not going to tell me where we’re going?”
Giving her a sidelong glance, I focus back on the snow-speckled highway. “I like the way you squirm when you don’t have a plan to follow.”
“Forever pushing my buttons.” She turns on the seat warmer and raises the heat.
I laugh. “Cold?”
“Look, I’m not a wimp when it comes to freezing weather, but Alaska is pushing my limits. What is it out there?”
The temperature on the dash lights up near the speedometer. “Seventeen degrees.”
A shiver works through her limbs. “It was ten degrees warmer in Burlington, but it might as well be fifty. We’re in a literal ice box.”
“Embrace the chill, Dimples, because it won’t get much better, but I’ll enjoy every minute of warming you up.” Reaching across the console, I rub her jean-clad thigh.
Nova’s cheeks flush as she tucks her hands into her winter coat. “How are you fine right now?”
With a small smile, I shrug. “Wisconsin wasn’t much different than this growing up, and I’ve gotten over the heat. I’ve been craving colder weather.”
“So, this was your self-indulgence and didn’t have anything to do with Alaska being my last state to visit?”
“Your fourteenth state.” Her forehead creases, and I wink. “We’ve got thirty-six more to see together.”
“Ahhh, so nowhere I went before you counts, huh?”
“Of course, they count. Just not officially.” When I glance at Nova, she’s side-eyeing me. “Hey, you should be excited. I’m giving you a new list to conquer. First the U.S., then the world.”
“Wow. The world now? That’s like two-hundred countries.”
“I’m game if you are. Anything’s possible now that we’re together.”
Nova’s head falls back with a musical laugh. “Oh my gosh, when did you turn into such a cheeseball?”
I’m tempted to pull over and kiss the deep rivets in her pink cheeks.I missed those dimples.“Sorry to say I’ve always been cheesy. I just kept it hidden from you while trying to impress you.”
“So you’re saying you’re done trying to impress me?”
My tongue peeks out, wetting my bottom lip. “Nah, I plan on working really hard to impress you this weekend, just not with words.”
The heat of her blue gaze warms my skin. “I think I’m gonna enjoy that.”
“Oh, baby, I know you will.”
Her bubble of laughter makes everything right in the world.
“Seward,” Nova interrupts her telling of work stories and reads aloud a wooden welcome sign on the side of the road. “Is this where we’re staying?”
