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Valerie sat forward, hand darting out to grab the DVD case just as Clark entered, carrying two steaming mugs of tea.
“I thought you hadn’t seen any of my movies?” she asked, grinning as she held the case up for him to see.
“I hadn’t,” he explained, plopping down next to her, and handing her one of the cups. “But I thought it was time that I changed that. I watched about half of it earlier before I had to leave to meet up with you.”
He paused for a moment, and Valerie watched as his face turned hesitant and slightly embarrassed.
“Do you want to finish it with me?” he asked, his voice unsure.
She pursed her lips, amused by the idea. “Are you sure?”
He nodded, and Valerie couldn’t stop her answering smile.
“All right,” she answered, bringing the warm mug up to her mouth and taking a sip, allowing the steaming liquid to heat her up from the inside out. “I actually haven’t seen this movie since the premiere years ago. So it’ll be nice to watch it again.”
Clark’s answering grin lit up his face as he picked up the remote and switched the TV on, getting everything ready and then pressing play on the movie. They both settled back into the couch, and not even five minutes had passed before Clark threw his arm around her shoulders and allowed her to snuggle into his body.
Valerie leaned her head on his shoulder, relishing in how good it felt to be that close to him.
“You’re an incredible actress, you know that?” Clark mused, his voice filled with awe.
She was glad that he wasn’t looking at her, not as she felt her cheeks flush with joy.
“Thank you,” Valerie murmured.
She had been complimented on her acting skills plenty of times in the past, but for some reason Clark’s words seemed to hold more weight than anyone else’s ever had. She felt it when he shifted next to her, turning his body so that he could glance down at her. Slowly, his hand came up to her chin, tilting it up so that they could meet each other’s eyes.
And as if in slow motion, Clark bent down to kiss her. Valerie couldn’t stop herself from leaning into the kiss, from allowing it to heat her all the way to her very soul.
Just like the first time they had kissed, Valerie knew that it was likely a bad idea. She had no plans to stay in Snowy Pine Ridge, and part of her suspected that she was just setting herself up for heartbreak. But she couldn’t pull away from Clark. Not when the feel of his lips against hers felt so good and so right.
So she let the kiss continue, assuring herself that if she was going to hurt her own feelings, then at the very least, she could make sure that she took advantage of every second before the fall.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
“Dad, you’re going to break your neck,” Clark called, climbing out of his truck. He pushed the door shut and then strode across the yard toward where his father was struggling to hang the Christmas lights.
“You mind your business, son,” his father grunted, but he didn’t protest further as Clark steadied the ladder.
He stood below his father, who was reaching to one side to hang a string of lights as he hung on to the ladder with one hand. Clark gripped the metal ladder tightly as his father finished the strand he was working on, and as soon as it was safe to do so, his father climbed up onto the roof. Clark quickly followed behind him, eager to help.
“Is that Clark I hear?” His mother’s voice floated up from the yard, and the two men paused to look down as she came into view.
Maureen and Kenneth Mitchell, Clark’s parents, had been high school sweethearts. And after so many years together, they knew absolutely everything about each other, and loved nothing more than some good-natured prodding at each other.
“I’m sure he was about to hurt himself,” Maureen called up. “Thank you for helping him. I’m sure he hasn’t said it yet.”
She smiled affectionately at her husband, just as Kenneth grunted, “I was getting to it!” Clark couldn’t help but laugh at his parents, happy to see that nothing had changed since he had been around for dinner the week prior.
He and his father made quick work of the rest of the decorations, working in tandem easily as they had for Clark’s entire life. When they were finished, they climbed back down the ladder and admired their handiwork.
“In a bit of a competition with the neighbors,” Kenneth admitted, dipping his head to indicate the house to the right. “But don’t tell your mother.”
Clark laughed and mimed locking his lips as they both turned and headed into his childhood home. The moment he stepped through the doorway, the familiar scent of the home enveloped him, and he inhaled it deeply.
“Dinner is coming out of the oven now,” Maureen called the moment she heard the door snap shut behind the two Mitchell men. “Go ahead and get settled at the table.”
Clark and his father did as they were asked, pausing only long enough to take off their coats and to kick off their boots at the door. Both of them knew that his mother would have their hides if they tracked snow through the house.
