“What I want and what I should do are two different things.” His eyes moved to her lips. “Like, right now, I want to drag you down into the soft sand and kiss you until neither of us can see straight.”
She chuckled. “Why don’t you?”
“Because it’s easily below ten degrees out here and we’d get soaking wet, not to mention I’d want to remove some of those layers you have on.” His hands moved to just under her shirt, touching her skin. He felt her shiver when the wind snuck under her clothes.
“Okay, good point,” she said, wiggling free of him and pulling her shirts back into place. “How about we go in, have another cup of hot chocolate, and build a really hot fire?”
“Now I could go for that.” He took her hand and they started walking back across the beach. The snow had picked up and was now falling in even larger clumps. The wind had grown stronger as well and by the time they hit the mouth of the pathway, he was gripping her hand tightly.
“I don’t think I can feel my toes.” She laughed as she stomped the snow from her Uggs on the covered front porch. He shook the snow from himself and opened the door.
He’d left the embers burning in the fireplace and welcomed the warmth as they shut themselves inside again.
Their extra layers disappeared quickly, and he tossed a few logs on the fire while she made them each a hot chocolate.
By the time the fire was roaring again, they each had a cup in their hands as they sat on the sofa in front of the fire. He’d pulled the blanket around her shoulders again.
“What did my brother really say?” she asked once she was settled.
He thought about it for a moment. He’d never really lied to Chris. They had come up with a code a few years after claiming they were officially best friends. He’d lived up to that code and was pretty sure Chris had as well. Mutual respect, which he also had for Alice. He’d never lied to her before and had no intention of starting.
“He pretty much said that we had his blessings.” He sipped his drink.
“Really?” She turned slightly to him.
“What did you expect him to do?” he asked, knowing full well that he’d believed that Chris would disown him as a friend after punching him a few times.
She shrugged and set her cup down. “I don’t know, maybe threaten to hit you?”
He chuckled. “My thoughts exactly. But he shocked us both and told me it was about time.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “He said that?” Eric nodded and set his own mug aside.
They remained silent for a moment, watching the fire lap at the new logs. “This is nice.” She sighed and leaned against his shoulder. Automatically, his arm went around her and pulled her closer to him.
“Yes,” he agreed, feeling nervous all of a sudden. His desire for her had been so strong over the years. He’d had plenty of fantasies about what it would be like being with her. Touching her. Kissing her. Making love to her.
None of those fantasies had been in front of a fireplace when they were trapped in a snowstorm.
He glanced down at her as she looked up at him. Their eyes locked and just as he was leaning closer to taste that sweet mouth of hers once more, there was a knock on the door.
Sighing, he got up from the sofa and opened the door.
Todd Jordan stood on the other side, a bundle of chopped wood in his arms. “Morning.” He smiled. “I was just checking in to see if you needed anything?”
“No,” he said, eager to get back to Alice.
“Good.” Todd nodded. “I’ve brought you guys some more wood.” He motioned to the armload. “I’ll bring the rest up and leave it here.” He motioned to the wood stack that Eric had been getting the wood from.
“Sure,” he said.
“Looks like you two enjoyed a walk on the beach.” Todd motioned towards the wet boots they had left sitting outside.
“Yes.” He smiled.
“Just a tip—you might want to bring the boots inside. We have a few young dogs and they like to chew on boots.” He motioned to his own worn boots. One of them had teeth marks in the top of them.
Eric laughed. “What kind of dogs?” he asked as Todd set the logs down and moved to get the rest.
“A lab mix and a mutt.” He laughed. “No matter what I do, both of them love the taste of feet.”
Eric leaned against the doorjamb. “My folks had a lab mix with the same issue. Apple cider vinegar. Just spray it on your shoes a few times and make sure there are plenty of treats around.”
“I’ve tried that. In the house it works like a charm,” Todd said putting down the next load from the wheelbarrow. “It’s a lot harder to spray on the shoes our customers leave outside. Hence the warning.” He smiled.
“I’ll move them in.” He bent and set the shoes inside, thankful that they appeared unharmed.
“Thanks. The boys sure do love playing in the snow.” He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. “With our third baby due any day now, I’ve been so busy getting things ready, I’ve neglected training them.” He sighed.
“Wow, three kids?” Eric smiled. “Boys? Girls?”
“One of each so far,” Todd answered proudly.
“What is this one?” he asked.
We’re hoping for a boy, but my sister swears it will be a girl.”
“You don’t know? I thought everyone always found out?”
“Megan likes surprises.” He smiled. “I’ll let you get back inside.” Todd nodded to where Alice was sitting on the sofa, watching them. “Have a good day. Remember, if you want, dinner is up at the main house.”
“Thanks,” Eric said before shutting the door.
“Three kids,” Alice repeated once he sat back down next to her.
“Yeah.” He looked at her sideways. “What’s wrong with three?”
“Oh, nothing.” She smiled. “I was just…”
“What?” he asked when she didn’t finish.
She looked him directly in the eyes and shocked him by saying, “I was just imagining what my children would look like.”
Chapter 9
She held her breath as she waited for him to respond. Here she was, moments away from finally getting what she’d waited her entire life for with him, and she was pouring out the rest of her heart.
What would she do if he laughed at her? She couldn’t imagine being stuck in a small cabin if he turned her away because she had dreams.
“I was thinking the same thing,” he said softly. “Well, I mean, I think that everyone dreams about it at one point or another. Don’t you?”
She nodded as he moved closer to her. “Yes.” It came out as a whisper.
“But I’m not quite ready for kids, yet.” His eyes moved to her lips.
“Me either.” She smiled. “Besides, my father would kill me if I told him I was pregnant.” She’d meant it as a joke but seeing the look on Eric’s face had her mentally kicking herself.
“For a moment, I’d forgotten about your dad,” he said with a slight frown.
She hadn’t meant to bring her family into the mix. “Eric,” she started, but he shook his head.