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Pleased she’d told me what she liked instead of pretending she was something she wasn’t, I said, “I can start the fire, make some hot chocolate, and we can read together on the couch.”
She raised a brow. “You read?”
I held up my hands. “I like to read before bed. I have books on my nightstand.”
She laughed softly. “I believe you.”
I wanted to hear that sound all the time. “Go get into your cozy clothes.” I leaned over to kiss her softly on the lips. “Maybe not those lace pajamas if you want me to keep my hands off you.”
She smiled, soft and pliant in my arms. “I’ll see what I can come up with.”
I pulled on sweats and a tee before grabbing the recent thriller off my nightstand. In the kitchen, I heated milk on the stove, then mixed in the cocoa powder, pulling out marshmallows, candy cane shavings, and whipped cream.
“Wow. You go all out,” Alice said when she returned wearing a soft gray tee over slim-fitting black sweats and fuzzy socks on her feet.
“With a four-year-old in the house, I need all the fixings.”
“I can see that.”
I pushed the steaming mug across the counter toward her. “Pick your poison and join me on the couch.”
She added whipped cream, a few marshmallows, and candy cane shavings before joining me. “You read print books?”
“I prefer them. I’m not a fast reader. It will take me a few months to get through this one.”
“A thriller?”
“What does that say about me?”
She chuckled. “I have no idea, but it’s cool that you read.”
I leaned closer. “Do you find it sexy?”
A slow smile spread over her face before her gaze dropped to my lips. “It is pretty hot.”
I grinned because she said it without any forethought. It was rare for her to relax and let go. I loved that she was starting to do it with me.
I leaned closer. “We’ll have to try reading in bed.”
She sucked in a breath, and I took advantage of her reaction to kiss her. I licked the seam of her lips before diving in. Kissing her was like coming home, and we’d only kissed once before.
I intentionally slowed the kiss, giving her a few soft ones to end the connection. “What are you reading?”
Her cheeks flushed. “A romance. I like the happy endings.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.” I tipped the cover of my book so she could read it. “These give me nightmares sometimes.”
She leaned back on the cushion. “Why do you read them, then?”
“I love mysteries, and the thrillers are just more heart-pounding, if that makes sense.”
“Absolutely.”
“I almost forgot the fire.” I stood to grab the remote for the gas fireplace. Within minutes, the fire was crackling, filling the room with warmth.
I sat next to her as she lowered her mug. A dollop of whipped cream remained on her nose.
“You have something—” I said as I sat next to her. At first, I raised a thumb to wipe it, then thought of a better idea. I leaned forward to lick it off. “There.”
