Merry and Bright(36)

“Hmm,” was all she said, and kept moving, those thin cotton pants sagging even lower on her hips, making him wonder if she wore anything beneath. He didn’t see how, which didn’t help, and he gripped his towel tighter. Not that it mattered, she’d seen everything he had to see.

Plus she was already gone.





The storm had dumped four feet of fresh snow overnight, rendering Danny’s car completely useless and also temporarily closing the roads.

Since Hope had made it clear what she thought of him being around, he decided to get some work done while she cooked up a breakfast for her guests. Problem was, the Internet connection was shoddy. The only place to get a steady connection was at the kitchen table, which apparently put him in Hope’s way because every time she passed by, he felt her boring holes into him with her eyes.

“The roads are closed,” he told her lightly, not looking up from his laptop. “I can’t leave.”

“Which apparently is karma’s idea of a joke.” With a sigh, she moved through.

“Don’t worry about her.”

Danny turned to Lori, who came in the back room door taking out the trash. She was taller than Hope, darker skinned and brunette. Beautiful, and simply dressed in jeans and a hoodie sweater. “She’s all bark and no bite. Well, mostly.” Lori held out a mug of coffee, which he gratefully took.

And then moaned in sheer pleasure. “That’s good.”

“Better than Starbucks.” It wasn’t a question, and Lori smiled confidently when she said it. “It’s Hope’s homemade blend.”

“She’s amazing in the kitchen.”

“She is. She wants her guests to go back to their life and wax poetic about their time spent here.”

“You just need more of them.”

“True,” Lori said on a laugh. “She’s working on that. Working her ass off, actually. We’re having a big paint party next week—a bunch of friends are coming out, painting for her by night, skiing by day. And she’s placed a bunch of strategic ads for after the first of the year, which should be just about when we get the plumbing upgrade finished.” She nodded confidently. “She’s going to make it, Danny.”

“She’s had all this time.”

“Yeah, well, it’s been a rough year.”

“Rough how?”

“None of your business.” This from Hope herself as she came into the room and gifted Lori with a frosty look.

Lori didn’t back down or apologize, just smiled sweetly and handed over the second mug in her hands. “Have some caffeine, honey. You need it.”

Hope rolled her eyes, but sipped the brew, then sighed in what could only be deep pleasure. Her eyes were slightly less chilly as she turned to Danny, who was still quite certain her next words would be “get out if you have to fly out.” Except Lori subtly intervened, crossing directly between the two of them to walk up to a guy who’d appeared in the doorway.

“Ben,” she murmured warmly, sliding her arms up around his neck and kissing him.

And kissing him.

“Ah, man. Get a room.” Hope set her mug down on the counter before sighing and looking at Danny. “They’re saying the roads might be cleared by four. But honestly? Probably not. Might have to stay another night.”

“Let me guess. For quadruple the going rate?”

She shrugged. “Depends on how big a pain in my ass you are.”

“I’ll try to control myself,” he said dryly. “How about we go over your books and—”

“Sorry. I have other things to do.”

Lori came up for air and smiled into Hope’s eyes. “It’s a snow day, honey. Take a day off.”

“You’re the boss now?”

Ben headed directly to the refrigerator. “Lori likes to be the boss. Hey, baby, you can be the boss of me.”

Lori laughed. “Already am, big guy.” And she gave him another kiss.

“Oh, good God,” Hope said.

Lori leaned into her husband with a silly laugh that somehow warmed Danny. Watching them banter was like watching a really great old movie. It gave him both an odd sense of comfort—they were a family, one who cared about each other—and also an even odder sense of longing.

This. This was what was missing from his life. His family lived back East and there weren’t a lot of visits. His friends were nice, but they weren’t a replacement for family, not like these guys clearly were.

Ben took a big bite of the bagel he’d taken from the refrigerator, squeezed his wife’s ass, and sighed. “I’ve got to run. The gas station’s electricity’s on the blink.” That said, he leaned in and kissed Lori again. And then, grinning, turned to Hope, who rolled her eyes but gave him a smacking kiss.

“Hey,” Lori said to her. “You never kiss me.”

“Maybe Ben kisses better than you do.”

“Kiss,” Lori demanded.

With another laugh—God, she was beautiful when she laughed—Hope leaned in and kissed Lori right on the grinning lips. “There. Now can we all get to work?”

Ben’s mouth had fallen open. “I’ll be able to work all day on that alone.”

Yeah. Danny, too.

Hope took in the dazed expression on both men’s faces and shook her head. “Men.”