Kira: As nice as that sounds, it’s late and I wouldn’t want to put you out. You have to work in the morning.
Nate: What if I want to put out?
Kira: Has this conversation just gone south?
Nate: Would you believe I’m right outside your tent?
Kira: You’re kidding.
The zipper cuts through the quiet, and a second later, Kira peeks her head out.
“Get in here,” she whispers.
I climb into the warm tent. “Looks cozy.”
“Better now that you’re here.”
“Did you have fun tonight?”
“So much fun,” she says, her voice low. “But I think you being here is against the rules.”
“I’m just here to get you warm,” I say. I take off my coat and boots and climb into the sleeping bag. “Come here.” She crawls in with me, and it’s snug for the two of us, but her body stops shaking as I press mine to hers.
“Mmm, this is nice,” she says and snuggles in closer.
Man, she has no idea how nice this is for me, how I could so get used to this.
“What happened with the cow?” she asks, her voice low and drowsy.
“We got her home. She’s safe. Sam wanted to keep her.”
That pulls a chuckle from her. “He needs a pet. Remember you talked about getting a cat to hunt the mouse?”
“Uh-huh,” I murmur.
“I should have said yes. He’d probably pretend he wasn’t a cat person. But I bet I know where kitty would sleep every night. I think that man needs something to love.”
“Or someone.” I run my hand up and down her arm. “Warming up?”
“Yeah,” she says groggily. “Nate…”
I press my lips to the side of her neck, my heart beating a little faster as she melts against me. Goddammit, it’s getting harder and harder to remember this is just about sex. “Yeah?”
“You’re…I…” A long pause and then, “It’s quite possible that I’ve eaten too many s’mores.”
I scoff and shake my head. It’s not like I was hoping she was going to say she felt more for me, that maybe we could try a real relationship out for size.
Nope, it’s not like I was hoping for that at all.
Chapter Seventeen
Kira
“Like this,” Nate says to Brett as he loads his roller with paint and puts it on the wall. “Got it?”
“Got it,” Brett says, and mimics the position. Nate turns to Liam, who is working with a brush and going around the edges.
“That looks great, Liam. Gram would be so proud of you two.”
They both beam up at him, and as I stand back and watch, I stifle a yawn. This week had been a roller coaster of emotions. From sadness at Gram’s gravesite to having a blast camping. Who knew? The best part of the week—Nate slipping into my tent, holding me and keeping me warm as I slept.
As I watch him now, working with the two boys, a smile on his face, my heart pumps a little harder in my chest. For a man not interested in relationships, he sure has a way with kids. The way the boys look up to him is a true testament to his kindness and strength of character. They wouldn’t let me help, even though it’s my responsibility, not theirs, but Nate insisted the boys do it, under his supervision, so they were held accountable for their actions. Now right there, is some good parenting.
Jason comes barreling in through the back door, followed by Sam. “It’s fucking cold enough to freeze your balls off,” Sam says, as he pulls off his mitts. He shoves his hand between his legs. “One, two, whew. Both accounted for.”
The man really has a thing for his…parts.
I grin despite myself and put my finger to my lips. “No swearing. Brett and Liam from next door are here painting.”
“Shit, sorry,” Sam says, and Jason punches him in the shoulder.
“Dumb ass,” he says. Sam gives him a blank look then his eyes widened.
“Oh shit, I get it, I can’t say shit.”
“Then stop saying it.” Jason laughs, and I laugh along with him.
“Have you guys eaten?” I ask. “I made a pot of soup.”
“Sounds good,” Sam says and shrugs out of his winter coat. Cold radiates from his body. He rushes to me and puts his arms around me. “Warm me,” he says, and I rub my hands up and down his arms.
“I put that load of laundry on that you left in the basket,” I tell him.
He grins. “Thanks, sis.”
“You owe me. I had to put a clothespin on my nose just to get near your clothes.”
“That’s what we call man stick. The good kind.”
“There is no good man stick,” I say as I continue to warm him. “Better?”
“No.”
“Then go stand by the fire, I just added a log. Get warm, and I’ll heat up the soup for you both.”
I turn him and nudge him toward the fire, but find Nate staring at me. It gives me pause because if I didn’t know better, I’d think he was jealous. Which is ridiculous, right?
Jason darts upstairs, and the bathroom door closes with a bang, snapping Nate from his trance. Jeez, I thought I was the only one who spaced out. Nate reloads his roller and goes back to painting.
“Don’t trip on anything,” I say to Sam. He walks around the pile of furniture and paintings in the middle of the floor. The art won’t be going back on the walls. I’ll be distributing it to a few of the galleries in town.
“Where’s Izzy and Cody?” I ask.
“At the Anchor,” Sam responds. “It’s Friday night. Jason and I are headed there in a few. You guys coming?”
“No, we need to get this painting done,” I say, but the truth is, I’m looking forward to having the place alone tonight.
“If you change your mind.”
I head to the kitchen, take the pot of soup from the fridge, and put it on the burner. I turn on the gas and reach for the baguette to slice off a few pieces for the guys. Jason comes back downstairs and looks over my shoulder.
“Smells delicious.”
“It’s minestrone.”
“You made it?”
“Yes, I made it, and I didn’t burn down the house. It’s Gram’s recipe. I found it in one of her books.” I point the wooden stick at him. “Now, grab the bowls and sit.”