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“And this is Theo, my…”
His attention immediately snapped back to the moment and Savannah stumbling over his introduction.
“Boyfriend,” he said, extending a hand toward the man she was introducing him to. Theo had no idea what the man’s name was, but he knew whohewas. “I’m Savannah’s boyfriend.”
“Nice to meet you Theo,” the man said, taking his hand. “Sorry your trip got interrupted.”
It seemed that while he’d been thinking about traveling the world with Savannah, she’d explained their situation. Theo grinned and slipped his hand around Savannah’s waist, hugging her against his side. “It’s not a big deal. As long as I’m with my girl, I don’t really care where we end up.”
He felt Savannah’s surprise, but he liked the way the other man looked them over and clearly bought the story easily.
“Okay, everyone! We’ll do this buffet style,” Lucy called. “You can start here,” she said pointing. “Then go along, fill your plates, and find a seat at the table.”
Dinner was delicious. It wasn’t the same as sitting around at Ellie’s with the Landrys and filling up on gumbo. There was no shrimp or sausage or oysters. But the food was delicious and there was a lot of it. There were also a lot of people and friendly conversation. There were only a few people present who had actually intended to be here tonight. There were four other couples who’d been stranded by the storm. All of the rooms were now full and from what Lucy was telling them, it sounded like they were all stuck together for the next couple of days at least.
Theo looked down at Savannah. She was right next to him. He had his arm draped over the back of her chair and she was leaning into his side slightly. He loved the feel of her against him and he didn’t want to make any large movements in case she hadn’t noticed how close they were.
She had a glass of wine in hand, and she was smiling at something a woman named Piper was saying. He didn’t know Piper’s story or what the deal was with her and Dylan, the guy with her. Theo hadn’t been really paying attention to anyone but Savannah. But this felt…good. Comfortable. Savannah was a natural when talking with people she’d just met, getting to know others easily. She was warm and sweet.
He almost laughed at that thought. Six months ago, warm and sweet were two of the last adjectives he would have used to describe this woman. He’d gotten to know her as they’d hung out with the Landry family and their friends and sassy and sarcastic seemed more the ‘real’ Savannah. But now he knew these were both genuine sides of her. And he loved that he knew both.
He could imagine doing this over and over again as they traveled and met new people. It was actually even more fun sitting here next to her, watching her be polite and friendly, but knowing just how naughty and even bitchy she could be.
He loved all of her sides. He loved that she’d let him see all her sides. He wanted to cuddle with her, try new things, have sweet memories full of multi-colored lights and delicious desserts. But he also wanted to see her after a bad day, hold her through the bullshit with her mom, fight with her, and fuck her.
Do not tell her all of that, he reminded himself. He was moving way too fast. He needed to just let this trip prove to her that he was willing to get out of his bubble and show her that they could have a good time together. The rest would come. He just needed to be patient.
Eventually, the whole group moved into the great room of the lodge where the gigantic woodburning fireplace was blazing.
The storm was still raging, the roads wouldn’t be cleared for at least another twenty-four hours, and everyone had resigned themselves to Christmas together at Merry Falls Lodge.
“I miss everyone in Autre,” Savannah admitted as Theo claimed a spot in a huge armchair.
There was room for them both—kind of—but no one else would join them. He pulled her into his lap.
She settled across his thighs without protest, and he felt his heart squeeze hard. She smiled up at him as he wrapped one arm around her back and settled the other on her thigh. Then she reached behind him and pulled a fleece blanket over them.
He lifted a brow. “I’mnotreally missing anyone at the moment,” he told her with a grin.
She laughed and wiggled her butt against his thighs. “I just mean that being here with a big group like this reminds me of them. We’d be having a lot of fun if we were snowed in with everyone there.”
She was sitting sideways on his lap, and he ran his hand up her thigh under the blanket. “I think we’d be having a different kind of fun,” he said. “You know we wouldn’t get away with sitting together in a big chair and making out without them all making a big deal out of it.”
Savannah put an arm around his neck and snuggled closer. “We’re just cuddling. But you’re right that we couldn’t do that in Autre without some big proclamation. Here everyone just thinks we’re already a couple.”
He wanted to make a big proclamation. Dammit. He gave her thigh a squeeze. “I think we’re already a couple too.”
She looked up at him. “You do? I thought the ‘I’m her boyfriend’ thing was just our cover story.”
Go easy. Don’t push. Don’t freak her out.
“I’m not interested in anyone else. I’m very interested in you. I think we should spend more time together,” he said. There, that sounded pretty…casual.
“Naked time?” she asked.
The rest of the group was settled around the fireplace as well, but the couches and chairs were spread out enough and everyone was into their own little conversations, so no one was listening in on them.
Theo focused fully on Savannah. She looked…worried.
