Even if she’d been a previous girlfriend, it was clearly from several years ago as Taylor’s hair was a lot longer now.
After setting the photograph down and getting the fire started, I took the little opportunity I had to get a proper look at the place. The kitchenette was small enough to fit one person at a time with a slim island positioned between it and the rest of the cabin. The room that had the fireplace in it was the largest. According to Taylor, it was also where we’d spend the night as there were no bedrooms.
Not that I minded. Hell, we’d been sharing a room for months, so this would be no different. Except you have a huge fire to keep you warm. Not to mention the fact our beds weren’t on separate sides of the room anymore.
Maybe we should’ve stayed back with her folks after all. I could hide my feelings for her back at the dorm with a bit of effort, but here? Now?
I probably wouldn’t be able to sleep at all.
I was jolted from my thoughts the moment Taylor opened the door, her boots and pants caked with snow as she stomped off as much as she could. A fair dusting covered her things, but even as she set her boots inside the door, the snow had already started to melt.
“Lovely outside, isn’t it?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow at her from my place in front of the fire.
“It is, actually. The snow’s tapering off, so it should stop in a few hours.” She fumbled with the zipper to her coat, grimacing when it didn’t budge. “Damn zipper always gets stuck.” Before I could offer to help, she pulled the thick downy coat up
and off, leaving it in a heap on the floor.
“You haven’t changed yet,” she said, gesturing to my still-damp clothes.
I shrugged. “I got sidetracked looking at old photographs. I also might’ve left my stuff back at the house.” I’d realized we’d left them behind as soon as we reached the cabin. I’d
hoped my things would’ve dried off in front of the fire, but instead, my clothing felt heavier than before.
“That’s easy to fix.”
At first, I thought she was talking about getting my clothes from the house, which would’ve meant another long walk in the snow. Instead, she gathered up her wet things, retreated into the back room, then came back out with a drying rack.
Her discarded clothing was draped over it, and under her arm was yet another spare change of clothes.
Handing them to me, she said, “They may be a little big on you, but at least they’re dry. You can change in the back, then hang your things on here. They should dry pretty fast in front of the fire.”
I smiled my thanks, then retreated to the adjoining room.
Hugging the clothes to my chest, I caught the faint smell of Taylor. These are her clothes. My heart skipped. I was wearing her clothes—clothing that smelled like her.
As my hands shook with nerves, I managed to get the clothes on without too much trouble. Well, aside from the zipper on the jeans. It kept getting stuck and took some time for me to dig out.
With that out of the way and feeling more comfortable now that my wet clothes were off, I made my way back to the main room.
Taylor smiled as I rounded the corner, sitting up from her place on the sofa where she’d placed a large blanket on top of her. “Oh good, they fit.”
I laughed at that. “Once I got the zipper to work.”
“I’d let you wear my sweats, but they’re kind of my favorite.” She kicked a leg out from under her blanket to show off the gray material before covering herself back up again.
“Come on and sit down for a bit. We can work on your ornaments later.”
You don’t have to ask me twice. Taking my place beside her, I practically sunk into the sofa, releasing a contented sigh
as the fire crackled in front of us. “I gotta tell ya, I’m not a fan of that walk.”
“But?” she urged.
I turned my gaze, losing myself in her eyes. “I love this fire. These cushions.” And the company. I kept the last bit to myself, dropping my gaze as I tried to think of something else to say.
Practically reading my thoughts, Taylor said, “And what about me? Do you like being here?”
“With you?” I asked, slowly meeting her gaze. “I think that’s the best part.”