Only Mine (Honey Mountain #5)(64)

He barked out a laugh. “Undercover shenanigans? That’s new.”

“Well, you haven’t told me anything specific, so let’s go with that.”

“Fine. No, it doesn’t bother me. I knew this was the plan. I was ready to go when I left. Tired of traveling. Tired of losing friends. Tired of all of it. So, this has been a good change. And there’s nothing normal about this job because I work with this little vixen, and she keeps me on my toes.”

“You’re sleeping with the enemy,” I teased. “You found a way to make it exciting.”

“I sure did.” He looked away for a minute as if he were gathering his thoughts. “So, how are you feeling today?”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “Is this you trying to be thoughtful?”

His mouth fell open. “What?”

“You’re acting all awkward, like you shouldn’t be carrying me off to the shower and having your way with me. Do not make me regret having a very unusual meltdown in front of you. I’m not that girl. You don’t have to treat me like I’m made of porcelain.”

He fell back onto the bed, and I pulled my legs out just in time to keep them from being crushed. “I was trying to be a decent guy. It’s okay that you were upset about your dad. I’m not treating you like you’re a porcelain doll. I’m treating you like you’re a human being.”

I wrapped the sheet around myself and lunged forward, straddling his hips as he lay sprawled out across my bed. “Don’t insult me by calling me human.”

He chuckled a deep, throaty laugh, and it bellowed around the bedroom. His fingers intertwined with mine. “I didn’t come here to fuck you, if that’s what you’re thinking. I wasn’t expecting anything.”

“Bummer,” I whined. Something in the distance caught my eye, and I cranked my neck and gasped. “It’s snowing!”

I jumped off the bed and reached for his hand, hurrying to the window.

“Where the hell did that come from?” he asked as he stared out at the flakes falling from the sky.

“Welcome to Honey Mountain. The ski resorts don’t open for a few weeks, but we can get snow in October.”

“Weren’t you wearing short-shorts two days ago?” he teased.

“I was. And even with tights underneath them, I still froze my ass off. But beauty comes at a price, right?” I turned to face him, pulling the sheet tighter around me. “Let’s get dressed and go get pancakes and hot chocolate. I’ll take you to my favorite place.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’m starving.”

“You’re always starving,” I said, moving toward my dresser and pulling out some panties and a bra. I dropped the sheet and got dressed as Wolf dug into his duffle bag and pulled out a pair of dark jeans and a gray sweater. He moved to the bathroom with his toiletry bag; the guy was so effortlessly put together, it was almost comical. I pulled my favorite black turtleneck sweater from the hanger and then tugged on a pair of distressed jeans and my black booties. I stood beside him in the bathroom as we both brushed our teeth.

I found my hairbrush and caught him staring at me in the mirror as I brushed through my long hair. “Thanks for washing my hair last night.”

“It wasn’t a big deal, Minx.” He turned so he was leaning against the counter as he watched me tie my hair up in a bun on top of my head. I rubbed some moisturizer on my face and then added some mascara to my lashes and some gloss to my lips.

“Let’s go.”

I could barely contain my excitement about the snow as Wolf drove us toward town. It wasn’t sticking, but it was starting to come down pretty hard.

“I always loved the first snow. I used to count down the days until the ski resorts opened.” I pointed toward Sunshine Coffee Shop, and he pulled in front and parked.

“Are you a skier?” he asked as he unbuckled and rubbed his hands together in front of the heater.

“Ummm… is the pope catholic? Is the sky blue?” I raised a brow. “Are penguins the cutest animal on the planet?”

“Well, the last question is somewhat subjective. But I take it you ski.” He pushed out of the car and came around to open my door. It was a gesture that normally annoyed me, but I liked seeing Wolf Wayburn hustle around the car to get my door. It worked for him.

I stepped out. “I do. How about you?”

“Yes. Never met a hill I didn’t like.”

Suddenly, I had thoughts of him skiing down the Honey Mountain ski slopes wearing nothing but his boxer briefs with his biceps bulging and beautiful ink on display before he gets to the bottom of the hill, then drops to his knees because he can’t go a second longer without tasting me.

My face hit the restaurant’s front door so hard I literally bounced back, and Wolf had both hands on my shoulders to steady me.

“Jesus, Minx. Are you okay?” He turned me to face him, and the concern in his gaze made me feel slightly guilty for my dirty thoughts.

“I’m fine. I went to dirty town.” I shrugged as I rubbed my nose. “And let me tell you, that one should definitely go into Ash’s next book.”

“I don’t know what we’re talking about, but you just slammed your face into a glass door.”

My head fell back in laughter. “I’ll explain it over breakfast. Come on.”