Shelter Mountain (Virgin River #2)(75)

Mel jumped up on a stool beside him and said, “Morning, buddy. How are you?”

“Mmm, good,” Christopher said, paying attention only to the page.

Jack poured her a mug of coffee. “Christopher, tell Mel what you told me this morning.”

“What?”

“You know. About how big you’re getting.”

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m getting big.”

“You are,” Mel agreed.

“And…?” Jack prompted.

“And John says I should have my own bed. My own room. Because I’m getting so big.”

“Well,” Mel said. “I suppose you should.”

Paige popped into the bar from the kitchen. “Hi, Mel,” she said brightly. Her cheeks were chafed pink, her eyes twinkling behind sleepy lids, and her smile was a tish secretive. Her lips were ruby, maybe a little swollen from kissing all night long. She seemed to flow into the room, serene. Mel thought, How amazing that you can always tell when someone’s had sex. Lotsa sex. “How are you doing on that cereal, kiddo?” Paige asked Christopher.

“Hmm,” he answered, coloring.

“I think he’s done,” Jack said. “He hasn’t touched it since the last time you checked on him.”

“Okay,” she said, picking up the bowl. “But please drink your juice,” Paige said, taking the bowl back to the kitchen.

Mel looked up at her husband. Jack lifted one eyebrow and gave her a half smile. Mel leaned across the bar and grabbed a fistful of Jack’s shirt, drawing him to her. She whispered, “What’s going on here?”

“That should be pretty obvious.”

“I want you to take me home this minute and…”

“I can’t,” Jack whispered back.

“Why not?”

“Because we have company. And you’re a screamer.”

“God, this is ridiculous. I’m so jealous I could spit.”

“It isn’t fun, that’s for sure. Well,” he said, throwing a look over his shoulder in the direction of the kitchen. “Some of us are having fun. Finally.”

Within a few minutes, Mike made his entrance. He said good morning to everyone, ruffled Christopher’s head of floppy hair and accepted a mug of steaming coffee from Jack. “How’s everyone doing this morning?” he asked.

“Beautiful morning,” Jack said, sipping from his cup.

“Sure is. I had a pretty decent night last night.” He leaned his cane up against the bar and went to the kitchen. He poked his head in and found Paige and Preacher in a serious lip-lock. Feeling somewhat the author of this hot embrace, he watched for a minute. Paige had her arms around Preacher’s neck while he had both his big hands on her bottom, holding her close against him. They were completely oblivious to being watched and he couldn’t resist. He cleared his throat.

Paige jumped and withdrew her arms, but Preacher refused to release Paige, not moving his hands. He looked over the top of her head with narrowed eyes.

“Beautiful morning,” Mike said. “Whenever you get a second, could I have breakfast? I’m starving.” He grinned and left them.

When he got back to the bar, he hoisted himself carefully up onto the stool and picked up his mug. “Things are working out pretty well around here,” he said. “I don’t think I’m the only one who had a good night last night.”

“That a fact?” Jack asked.

“I just hope I get breakfast before noon.”

Preacher had taken apart his weight bench and put it in the storage shed behind the bar, keeping back barbells and a couple of weights. There was a small tree there instead, as well as one in the bar. He had taken Christopher out into the woods to chop them down and they decorated them together. Beneath the one in the apartment, ready for Christmas morning, were gifts thoughtfully chosen by Preacher and Paige, some bought together, some individually.

Mel and Jack left for Sacramento for a big Sheridan family gathering a few days before Christmas and Mike could not be convinced to join them. Neither was he interested in going home to L.A.—not yet. He’d only been in Virgin River a few weeks and promised he would be fine at the cabin, so Mike would be with Preacher and his new family for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Preacher was still in a state of shock and euphoria at the turn his life had taken. It had been more than three months since Paige had happened into his life and a matter of days that they’d been intimate. Nothing could have prepared him for the joy he felt. Working by her side through the day, he found in her a partner in full. They shared everything from the managing of the bar and cooking to the parenting of Christopher with complete compatibility. She was ever at his hand, looking for ways to help him just as he was always near, taking care of her every need.

And at night, when the little one was asleep, Preacher found he had become a master lover, something that had never in his wildest dreams seemed possible. He had never even considered it. And especially not with a woman like this—a young woman of what he considered stunning beauty with the disposition of an angel.

In no time at all he had learned every way to draw a sigh from her, to make her cry out. Preacher, so easily embarrassed and quiet, had become bold and daring with Paige. Experimental. He had begun to trust his hands, his instincts, much to her satisfaction. And this idea of paying attention to details, memorizing touches and sounds, asking her what she wanted, what she liked—well, this was pure genius. If he didn’t find this amazing thing he had with Paige to be so private, he might even thank Jack for the advice.