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She nibbled on his lips. “I like the way you say good morning.”
He watched the way the sunlight lit up her pretty face. “Thank you.”
She blinked. “For what?”
“For bringing me back to life. For loving me.”
Her face softened. “You don’t need to thank me, Boone. You make it easy.”
He kissed her again, his mouth traveling down the side of her neck. “I think we should head back to bed for a bit and warm up. It’s pretty cold this morning.”
She made a humming noise. “I like your thinking. Safety first and all.”
A thunking noise made them look down. Atlas had knocked over the hot chocolate mugs and was lapping at the spill.
Gemma laughed. “That dog is way too smart.”
“Atlas, no,” Boone said. “That’s no good for you.”
The dog sat back and gave them a sad look.
Gemma pulled something from her pocket. It was a baked dog treat. “A carob treat just for you.” She tossed it.
Atlas nabbed it fast.
“That’ll keep him busy for a bit.” Boone hitched her higher and carried her toward the cabin.
* * *
Gemma pulledthe tray of freshly baked cupcakes out of the oven. Mmm, they smelled good. Next, she pulled out a tray of dog treats too. These were a new flavor for Atlas to try—peanut butter and pumpkin with bacon glaze. They were shaped like little dog paws.
After Boone had carried her back to bed for an hour this morning—a very pleasurable hour for both of them—he’d headed out to the barn. Declan had organized for Boone’s uncle’s truck to be shipped back from Denver. Boone was repairing the bullet holes in it himself.
She loved popping out there to watch him. She could picture him now, leaning under the open hood, denim cupping his magnificent ass.
She laughed. Fantasizing about Boone, and then making those fantasies a reality, was one of her new favorite pastimes. She touched the stubble burn on her neck. She had it in a few other places too.
She was so in love.
So happy she could burst.
Her gaze dropped to the cooling cupcakes and her belly clenched. Okay, there was one little niggle.
She had a business plan for the bakery done, and she had a bunch of recipes prepared and ready to go.
But she was still dragging her feet.
Butterflies took flight in her belly. It was easy just to stay busy, settling into her new home in Vermont, and enjoying her time with Boone.
Deep down, she was still afraid of taking a risk and failing. Not financially. She was fortunate that wasn’t something she had to worry about. No, she was afraid of putting her passion—something she loved—out there, and people not loving it back.
She heard the back door to the mudroom open, then Boone stomping snow off his boots. He appeared, the red flannel shirt she loved hugging his chest.
“Smells good in here.” He saw the cupcakes and his face lit up.
“They’re not ready yet,” she told him. “I need to make the frosting.”
A wicked smile crossed his rugged face. “I could help.”
