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Mitchell looked up at her, eyes heating immediately.
“Food and outside,” she said.
He grumbled low and skimmed his hands along the outside of her jeans before he rose.
“Let’s go then.”
There were plenty of looks from her friends as she walked into the main room with Mitchell beside her, his hand resting on the small of her back. Wendy waggled her eyebrows and pointed to a spot beside her.
After getting the pancakes, bacon, eggs, and fruit she wanted, she took a seat by her friend.
“Morning, Wendy.”
The woman grinned even as she chewed her bite, moving her fork in small circles.
“Before you say anything, I heard the bed in your room as well.”
Her friend’s eyes grew wide and her face flushed red.
“That’s what I thought,” Hope said as a cup of coffee was placed next to her right hand. Mitchell took a seat with only a cup of coffee. Turning her head toward him, she blinked. “Not eating?”
He flicked his tongue over his lips as he ran his gaze along her face. “Had some earlier. I’m sure I’ll eat something later.”
It was winter, right? Because holy crap, she was certain she was at the equator with the heat in his gaze and words.
Wendy kicked her under the table and she tried to shoot her a glare but fell short of the mark.
“Are you coming outside with us, Wendy?”
“Definitely. I think we could all use some time outside. Maybe a snowball fight.” Her eyebrows bounced.
More people, Collette included, filed in and joined them after loading up their plates. Hope had a difficult time concentrating on the conversation floating around her. More like conversations, but all she managed to think about was Mitchell and how he’d watched her with such passion when he’d mentioned that he was going to eat something later.
They cleaned up and once everyone was bundled up, they went outside, the cold crisp air taking her breath immediately.
The sun shone down with a vengeance. Didn’t cut the chill but it sure as hell made everything sparkle. With an absent smile at David’s cheer, she walked to the corner of the porch and rested a shoulder against the post.
He didn’t say a word, but she knew Mitchell was behind her. He had this presence about him that her body couldn’t ignore any more than she could command her heart to stop beating.
“I get the Norman Rockwell paintings now. And why so many photos are of the northeast.” Her breath puffed in the cold air.
Mitchell didn’t press up against her. She had mixed feelings in regards to that, but he gripped the railing before him as he stood next to her.
“It is beautiful here.”
“Then why do you look like you’re about to come out of your skin?”
“What are you talking about?” He turned his head to her.
She didn’t meet his gaze but kept hers on the barn before them. I’m sure this looks fucking stunning at night with soft yellow light reflecting off all the snow. “You’re tense. Almost like you’re regretting having to leave whatever cocoon this place has created for everyone.”
“Offering to help me relax, Flykra? I would definitely take you up on it.”
Deflection.
She knew it as surely as she knew she was standing in Vermont with a man she wouldn’t ever forget, not as long as she lived. However, as positive as she was with that bit of knowledge, she was the same with another tidbit. He wasn’t her man. Mitchell was not hers to protect or worry about.
If he wanted to redirect, she wasn’t stressing.
Angling her body toward his, she rested her head against the post, grateful for the dark pink knitted skullcap she wore to help retain her heat. Too bad her boots weren’t insulated against winter weather, but Mitchell’s socks helped keep her toes warm.
And she’d not even gone down in the snow yet. Unlike some of the others.
“Sure thing,” she replied, pushing down her personal desire to wrap him up tight in her arms and beg him to share with her. Hope closed the few steps between them and placed her left leg by his on the rail, close enough to touch but she didn’t. “How would you like me to help you relax?”
He sliced his gaze to her and she was snared, unable to look away. His was magnetic and she apparently had the opposing pole because she was drawn right in, ready to do anything and she did mean anything he requested of her.
“Not going to push as to what you think is bothering me?”
“No.” Yes! Tell me! Let me help you. Beyond him, she watched David come along the stretch of porch, his small gloved hand running along the railing, balling up the snow as he moved.
“So if I said sex?”
“I’d say it’s too cold and probably a lesson a young boy doesn’t need at his age…or we could go up to the room.” She didn’t blink, didn’t waver.
