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“I am hungry.”
He went to the kitchen while she continued working. She put greenery on the windowsills along with a bow. The fat candle she bought went on the table beside his chair with a bow around it. She placed a quilted Christmas pillow on the bed. The only thing left to do was add wreaths to the front door and the chimney.
Taking the wreath frame she bought, Laurel wrapped it with greenery using wire. She fashioned a bow and added it. Going outside she hung it on the nail already in the door then stepped back to admire her handiwork. With smoke coming out of the chimney and the bright red of the bow, the cabin reminded her of a Christmas card. One that she would like to live in.
That thought shocked her. She’d always been such a city girl but somehow the cabin, Brandon had grown on her.
At the spit of moisture, she looked up at the sky. It had darkened since she’d gone in. She would have to leave soon not to be caught in bad weather.
“That took you long enough.” Brandon turned from the stove when she entered.
“I took a few moments to admire my efforts.”
He raised a brow. “What did you think?”
“Pretty as a picture.”
“I’m not surprised.” He looked at her. “Pretty is as pretty does.” His attention went back to the pan he stirred.
Heat ran through her. Brandon thought she was pretty.
Laurel picked up the other wreath frame. Soon she had it ready to go above the mantle. She pulled one of the kitchen chairs over close to the fireplace, she stepped up in it, and positioned the wreath over the mantle.
“My grandmother used to hang a wreath there too.”
She looked over her shoulder at Brandon. Losing her balance, she grabbed the mantle, but her fingers slipped across the wood. Her foot shifted and the chair tipped. Strong arms caught her, pulling her against a hard wall of chest. She clung to Brandon’s neck as her gaze locked with his, their mouths inches apart.
“I’ve wanted to do this again since I left you in town.” His lips found hers with a pressure that heated her from the inside out. His arms tightened around her waist pulling her flush against him from chest to toes. He teased her mouth until she opened for him. Her fingers dug into his hair as she returned his desire. Tightening her arms around his neck, she hung on for the dizzying ride Brandon was taking her on.
Slowly his kisses turned tender. His lips traveled over her cheek to her neck then back to her mouth where he kissed her deeply, once again leaving her weak. All she could do was hold on and enjoy all he offered. Laurel moaned. She wanted more. More kisses, more Brandon.
The smell of something burning made her jerk away. “Food.”
He said a harsh word under his breath before he let her go and hurried to the kitchen.
Laurel sank to the chair, her knees too weak to stand.
ChapterSeven
Brandon was tornbetween aggravation at and appreciation for Laurel. He liked her despite her pushy ways and her probing questions. Here she was in his home again. She should’ve been long gone. He had wanted to turn her away at first, but he couldn’t stand the thought of hurting her feelings. She’d looked at him with so much expectation. What she had done to his place was nice. He particularly liked the moments before, when he’d been kissing her like there was no tomorrow.
He placed a bowl of soup in each of their places and added a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches between them. “Lunch is ready.”
She picked up the chair.
“I’ll get that.” He hurried to take it from her. She said nothing. The last few minutes had been the quietest she’d ever been. Had he scared her? That’s the last thing he wanted.
“This looks good. I hadn’t planned on you feeding me. I was going to be gone before you got home.”
“I’m glad you weren’t.” Brandon took his chair. “What’s this?” He picked up a small present tucked under the Christmas tree.
“You need a little something to open on Christmas day.”
His chest tightened. She had thought of everything. No other woman outside of his family would have shown him that much attention.
She shrugged. “I saw it and it made me think of you.”
Now he would think of her when he saw it. He wasn’t sure that would be a good idea. “I don’t have anything for you.”
