Kiss by Kiss (Riggins Brothers 3)

“You’re too damn cute.” I kiss her forehead and pull away. Keeping one of her hands clasped in mine, we skate around a little more. “You hungry?” I ask after a few laps.

“If you are.”

I stop, and we both almost fall, but I’m able to correct us before it happens. “Aurora.” My voice is stern. “Are you hungry?”

“A little.”

“Don’t hide from me, baby.” I wish I could beat the hell out of the fucker who hurt her. He better run if I ever meet him. Jackass. “I’m starving, and we need to get you warmed up. Your nose looks like Rudolph.” I let go of her hand and grin at her. “Wanna race?”

“I don’t know.” She begins to ponder the request, when out of the blue, she takes off, skating as hard and as fast as she can. I don’t rush after her, not when I’m enjoying the view of her ass in those jeans.

When she’s almost to the edge, I take off after her and almost eat it, making us both laugh. “A little rusty, Riggins?” she teases.

“Hush it, woman.” I chuckle. “Come on.” I pull back the side of the tent so that we can enter. It’s not as cozy as a house, but it sure as hell takes the chill off. “Have a seat, and I’ll grab our dinner.”

“What are we having?”

“I had to bring Mom in on this one. She makes the best homemade vegetable soup. I thought something warm would be ideal. We have homemade biscuits too, and triple chocolate cake for dessert. Her specialty.”

“Did you help?” she asks.

“That would be a negative. No way am I attempting to bake for my hot-ass baker girlfriend. I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life.”

She grins. “Come on. I think it would be sweet.”

“You want me to bake for you?” I ask her.

“Maybe one day. Not now. It won’t mean as much with me telling you to do it.”

“Women.” I shake my head, and we both laugh.

“So, how are things at the bakery?” I ask, after serving us both a cup of soup.

“Great.” Her eyes light up. “Better than I could have expected. I was worried the newness would wear off, but the numbers are steady, and it’s been a little over two months, so I’m happy. I hope it stays that way.”

“You’ve tried your treats, right?”

“Treats?” She laughs.

“What else am I supposed to call them?”

“Warm Delights,” she fires back with a smirk.

“My girl’s got jokes.” I know I’m smiling like a fool, but I couldn’t care less. This woman sitting across from me makes me happy. I can’t not smile knowing she’s mine.

“There they go again.” She places her hand on her belly. She must see my confusion. “The butterflies,” she adds.

“I gotta admit. I like that I have an effect on you.”

“I don’t understand why some woman hasn’t snatched you up yet.”

“She did.” I point to her.

She rolls her hazel eyes. “I mean before me.”

“It’s simple,” I reply with a shrug.

“Care to enlighten me, old wise one?”

“I was waiting for you.” Her eyes widen, and she squirms in her seat. “Now, eat up. We still have dessert, and if you want to go back out on the ice, we can do that. I also need some Rory time, so we need to pencil that in before I take you home as well.”

Her laughter is the sweetest sound. “What’s Rory time?” she asks, taking a bite out of her roll.

“Rory time is you in my arms. It’s me kissing you, and if I’m lucky, holding you too.”

“It’s getting late, and I have to be up early. Rory time might be cut short.”

“I’ll take whatever time you’ll give me.”

“I’m your girlfriend now, so my time is all yours.”

“Music to my ears, baby. Now eat up.” I shove the rest of my roll in my mouth, making her giggle. Conversation lulls as we finish eating.

“Where do we start?” she asks once she has her skates off and her boots back on.

“I’m just going to pack up the generator I used for the lights and load up the food and the heater. I’ll come by tomorrow after work and take down the tent.”

“Can we do it now? That way, you don’t have to do it tomorrow?”

“You’re cutting into my Rory time.” I give her a heated look. “It will be easier to take down in the daylight anyway. I’ll have one of my brothers come and help me. It won’t take us any time at all.”

“Are you sure?” She looks around. I can see that leaving all of this out here bothers her.

“Hey.” I offer her my hand, and she takes it, letting me pull her into my chest. “Am I sure that I want more Rory time? Hell yes. Am I sure that leaving this out here tonight is okay? Yes, again. Nothing will happen to it. We’re taking the generator, the heater, and the food. Everything else is minor.”