s to finish it. Placing the carrot as the nose, she looks down at my junk and smirks.
I pull her into my arms as we stand and admire Dahlia’s handiwork.
“We need a selfie with our snowman.”
She takes my hand and drags me over to the frozen guy and tries to get us in position to snap some shots. Her arms aren’t quite long enough to get the three of us in the shot.
“My arms are longer.” I take the cell from her hands and realize I’m not going to get anything done with my gloves still on.
With one glove removed, I hold her cell out and snap a few memories before taking the few steps that separate us and pulling Dahlia into my arms. We stay glued together, and smiling at the cell, I take what turns out to be an amazing photograph of us both.
Passing her cell back to her, I suggest, “Let’s go inside and warm up with some hot chocolate and marshmallows if there’s any left.”
“Sounds good, and there are plenty left.” She pinches my ass.
“You’ll pay for that later.”
“Oh, I can’t wait.” She smirks.
I wrap my arm around her neck and start walking toward the cabin.
This is the first time in years that I’ve felt so carefree. While I’m here I’m going to concentrate on Dahlia and everything else can wait until we get back home.
This week is for my girl and me, and I don’t want anything or anyone coming between us.
My heart has felt heavy ever since I visited Brittany, but arriving back home to Dahlia had made me realize what I have to look forward to. She’s amazing. How she looks at me makes me feel ten feet tall. No matter what she thinks, I haven’t been oblivious to her desire for me from the first.
I’d catch her staring with a wistful look on her face through the mirrors in the bar, and on the odd occasion when the sun was shining just right through the windows, I’d see her through the glasses on the shelves.
The longer I leave talking to Dahlia about Brittany, the more unsettled I feel. Everything I see reminds me of the whole situation and I’ve wondered—not for the first time—if I was a coward for not making that clean break. Dahlia has no idea that I think there’s something else going on with Brittany and I still haven’t called Ryan to start the ball rolling. I feel guilt toward Dahlia for holding off. I just couldn’t bring myself to call him. I need to, and hopefully, I’ll feel better knowing it’s in motion.
Stomping up the steps to the cabin, Dahlia offers me a wry smile before heading inside. I stay outside and turn to rest my arms on the balcony rail, looking out at the view but not really seeing anything except my thoughts.
Shaking the gloom that has suddenly hit me in the gut, I pull out my cell and call my lawyer. I can’t be here with Dahlia without making this right. I can’t make love to her for the first time when the divorce hasn’t even been started.
Dahlia
Making sure my outdoor things are out of the way and in a position to dry, I head for the kitchen to start making the hot chocolate.
I left Ryder outside when I felt a shift in his mood. He’d had fun watching me build the snowman, and I found him amusing with the whole carrot thing, but I’d looked up at him on our way back to the cabin and saw the worry in his eyes. Even though his arm was slung around my neck, he wasn’t really with me.
He’s been like this a couple of times since yesterday and it has me worried. I wish he’d talk to me about whatever is bothering him.
Hearing the door and then the bashing of his boots against the outside wall to dislodge the snow, I glance up and . . . sigh.
Ryder is one sexy guy, and when he reaches to hang his jacket up, his tee shirt and sweater ride up, causing me to drool, and then fidget when I remember having him in my mouth yesterday.
“What has that look on your face?”
I’m startled and just stop the chocolate powder on the spoon from going all over the place.
Feeling a blush working its way onto my face, I admit, “I was thinking about yesterday.”
His eyes go molten.
“About how hard and thick you were.”
“Oh babe, if you don’t stop, we’re going to be skipping the hot chocolate.”