Touch by Touch (Riggins Brothers 4)

“We’re just going to check out the snow.”

“Oh, no, we’re doing more than that. It’s been too damn long since I’ve had a snow day with snow like this. We’re making the best of it.”

“I’m afraid to ask what that means.” He grins at my comment and winks. “Get dressed,” I tell him. What I don’t say is that I’m excited to spend the day with him frolicking in the snow. It’s been ages. I was a kid the last time I’ve done anything like this.

Ten minutes later, we’re on the front porch looking at all the snow. It’s still falling hard, and I send up a silent prayer that this doesn’t stop my sister’s wedding.

“What are you waiting for?” Conrad asks.

I pull my attention to him, and he’s now standing at the bottom of the porch, his deep footprints in the snow that comes to his knees. “How tall are you?”

He tilts his head to the side. “Six three.”

“I’m five-three.”

“Okay?”

“I’m a foot shorter than you, and the snow is to your knees. I can’t walk in that. And how did this happen? How did the weatherman not know this was coming? Aurora is going to freak the hell out when she finds out about this.”

“I think you’re doing enough of that for the both of you. It’s Mother Nature, Aspen. It happens. I promise you this won’t stop the wedding. As long as it stops,” he adds. “And as far as the snow, you’ll be fine, and I’ll be right here with you. I’ll go grab the shovel and make a path for you, but we are going in that.” He points to the side of the cabin. “And we are going to build a snowman. Hell, we might even build an igloo with all of this snow. My brothers and I did that plenty of times growing up.” His eyes light up with happiness at the memory.

“Yeah, Aurora and I did too. It’s been years since we’ve had this much snow.”

“And we’re making the best of what we are given. We can’t do anything else, not until the snow stops, so we might as well have fun and enjoy it.” He points to me. “You stay there. I’m going to grab the shovel.”

I watch him walk away, and even bundled up, he’s easy on the eyes. Maybe a day in the snow to distract me is exactly what I need. I can’t be fantasizing about him if my entire body is too frozen to function.

Chapter 6

Conrad

When I was growing up, Dad used to tell us that the heat was in the tools. We would gripe and complain about shoveling the sidewalks when, in reality, we were thrilled to be outside in the snow. As an adult, I get it. He was telling us if we move, we’d stay warm. However, what dear old Dad forgot to mention is that the gaze of a beautiful woman also brings the heat and lust, desire, want, and need. I could go on, but I’m trying like hell not to think about it. Not to think about her, even though I can feel her watching my every move.

I don’t get it. I’ve known Aspen for a while now. She’s been to countless Sunday dinners with my family, and we’ve hung out a fair amount of times. Our siblings are getting married; that’s to be expected. I’ve never had this kind of reaction to her before. Sure, I’ve always thought she was beautiful; so is her sister. So are Sawyer and Layla, for that matter. My brothers have chosen well for their wives, and they’re all three lucky bastards. I just wish I could understand why now? Is it because it’s only the two of us? I don’t think that’s it. Whatever it is, it’s pushing me to my limits. I crave to have my hands on her.

“You need some help?” Aspen asks when I glance up at her.

“As a matter of fact, I do. You and I are going to build a snowman.” Her eyes light up, and it does something to me. It’s like my heart misses a beat or something, but that doesn’t make sense. Right? I don’t understand what’s happening here, but I know that I want more time with her. I know that I’m going to give my mother the biggest fucking hug on earth for sending me here early. Did she know? No, how could she have known?

“Hey.” I feel her hand on my arm. I can literally feel the heat through her gloves and my layers of clothing. “You okay?”

“Fine. Just thinking about our next move.” My next move is more like it, but I’m not going to tell her that. I just want to enjoy spending time with her, and we’ll see where it goes. I still have her all to myself today and tomorrow. Surely, whatever this attraction is will be settled by then.