A Snow Country Christmas (The Carsons of Mustang Creek #4)(22)

“But you do?”

“In the context of maybe running my fingers through it, I do.”

“Feel free.” He certainly meant that. Time to carefully consider your next words, Branson. He studied the flames in the fireplace for a moment. “I don’t think it’s a secret I’d really like to spend the night making wild, passionate love with you, but that’s entirely your call.”

“Are you wild and passionate, Mr. Boardroom?”

“I was more thinking about you being that way. I’ve thought about it quite a lot. After making a spreadsheet detailing your personality traits and comparing them to mine, I’ve come to the conclusion that you are in the lead in those departments.”

She almost spat out her sip of wine and swiped her mouth with the back of her hand, laughing. “Damn you, Branson, don’t do that to me.”

“Do what?” He put on his most innocent face, but he was laughing as well.

“We could be the most unlikely couple in the world.”

“Maybe,” he acknowledged. “But I never did like doing the predictable.”

She set aside her wine. “I think your hair might be pretty messy in the morning.”

*

What was she doing?

It could be foolish, but it didn’t seem like that. Maybe she’d regret it in the morning, but Raine really wanted to lie in his arms as the snow fell softly outside.

And tumble head over in heels in love.

Not too much to ask, right?

Maybe it had already happened.

She had to admit that Mick was deliciously male lounging on her couch, and she’d never before been tempted to stray over the line she’d drawn for herself.

Nothing casual.

No males who would love her and leave her. That was for her own well-being.

No long-distance relationships. They didn’t work as far as she could tell.

No one who would break her daughter’s heart if he decided to decamp. It wasn’t like Daisy didn’t have a grounded support system, but still she had parents who lived separate lives and introducing Mick into the mixture was a risk. Mick could be all of those things. A love-’em-and-leave-’em sort, a potential scoundrel, as her grandfather would have put it, but maybe something else also...

“Do you have the manuscript I gave you in your car?”

“Of course.” He looked like Daisy had when Raine had asked about the infamous purse on the snowy ride. “Why?”

“I need to see it.”

“Sure, fine, if you’ve changed your mind about giving it away—”

“No, I haven’t changed my mind. I just need to look at it.”

He seemed baffled but obligingly went out in the snow and a minute or two later returned with the box. Flakes of snow glistened on his hair and dusted his shoulders. He set the manuscript on the table. “It’s still just coming down lightly and there isn’t even a breath of wind but I get the feeling it’s going to really snow. I think they’ll enjoy their midnight excursion.”

Daisy would love it. Her sense of adventure had made her a handful as a young child, but Raine had that same enthusiasm, so she could hardly fault her daughter for her eagerness to experience new things and maybe take a risk now and then. “I would bet on it. She’s a pretty happy kid and Slater is a wonderful dad.” She gestured to the box on the table. “Pick a page.”

“What?”

“Just pick one at random out of the manuscript and hand it to me.”

“Raine. Why?”

“Because I asked you to?”

“Fair enough.” He shuffled through the manuscript. “Any page?”

“Yes. Just pick one.”

He flipped through the manuscript, selected one and shrugged. “Here.”

She stepped to him, plucked the page from his fingers and read the first line: He kept his emotions close, like a beloved jacket, worn and well-used, the one he would wear out into a howling storm. He was not a man easy to read, yet she trusted him.

So she should.

Raine handed back the page. “That was what I wanted to see.”

“A random page?”

“It sure seems that way, doesn’t it? Kiss me.”

He’d fallen into a dream.

There was Raine, pressed against him, her mouth soft against his, warm arms around his neck and he couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the idea. This wasn’t like the brief kiss at the cabin either, or the more arousing one as he’d left the night before. It was hot, and he didn’t need the encouragement.

At all.

What made her go from wary to passionate he wasn’t sure, but he wasn’t going to argue, either. She kissed him back with sensual promise and he didn’t miss the signal.

He tightened his arm around her waist to bring her body more fully against his so he could feel every curve, every nuance. She did like vanilla. Her hair held a sweet scent of it, and was like fine silk under his fingers.

“Bedroom?” he murmured against her mouth when they both came up for air.

She whispered back, “I think that’s the best idea you’ve had all day.”

“You lead the way.”

Her choice the whole time. This was what he wanted, hands down, but she needed to be on the same page.