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She moved to place her mug on the coffee table. “I’m not sure I’m going to survive this reading session.”
I winked at her. “That’s the idea.”
She laughed, tucking her feet underneath her. I took it as a win that she was leaning in my direction and not situated on the far end of the sectional. I threw my feet up on the coffee table and ran an arm over the top of the couch.
“You can snuggle up if you want.” I held my breath, wondering what she’d do. If she’d stiffen and say no or melt into me. She surprised me by moving closer and resting her side against mine.
I resisted draping my arm over her shoulder. It was baby steps with her. Stolen kisses and arranged moments like this when I could ease her guard down.
I opened the book to the page I’d earmarked last night, and she opened her e-reader.
We sat like that for a while, each reading our own book. At some point, she rested her head on my shoulder, snuggling in closer.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d held a woman in my arms. It was nice. I enjoyed unwinding like this at the end of the night. I savored every minute, having difficulty getting into the story.
She shifted to see my face. “You haven’t turned a page in a while.”
I smiled. “I’ve been distracted.”
She tipped her head to the side. “By what?”
I knew what she was thinking—other than the crackling of the fire, the room was silent.
“I have a beautiful girl on the couch next to me.”
She blushed.
I set my book upside down on my thigh to save the page, cradling her jaw in both of my hands. I held her like she was a precious butterfly that would fly away at any moment, a part of me expecting her to bolt at any second.
She eased back. “You make me feel cherished.”
Pleasure bloomed in my chest. “That was the goal.”
She gestured at the room. “This is sweet.”
“What? The hot chocolate and the fire?” I wanted to know her thoughts and how she was feeling about things.
She nodded. “The books and kissing too. I like it.”
I caressed her cheek. “Has no one ever done anything like this for you before?”
The thing was, it wasn’t much. I’d wined and dined women before. Women who expected it. Who wanted more than a contractor as a future husband.
“I dated when I was younger. Boys who lived with their parents, and then later, it was still younger guys. They didn’t have any game. They probably didn’t feel like they needed any. When you’re a producer on a popular TV show, you think everyone wants you because of who you are and what you can do for them.”
I leaned forward. “You dated a producer?”
“He was one of the show’s producers. He’d just gotten promoted to the position and was big on himself.”
I wondered if she valued guys like that. Ones who were ambitious. I was driven but not to be on a TV show. That felt like an empty kind of success, not one where you were building something or making something better.
“He’d never do something like this.” She turned and settled back into her original position.
I was glad I could give her something she hadn’t experienced before. I loved that she enjoyed the simple things. A quiet night in front of the fire. I didn’t need the TV on for entertainment. I was too engrossed in her.
“This is the perfect night,” she said softly, and not exactly to me. It was more to herself. I wondered if she even meant to say it out loud.
I draped my arm over her shoulder. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
