“Fictional ones.” She covered her eyes with one hand. “They were so bad. The worst fan fiction ever. About how she dreamed of you and her...” She moved her hand to gesture. “Together.”
A rough rumble of laughter shook his chest, jostling her. She opened one eye to find him still laughing, throat bobbing, and was that...yes, she believed it was. She swiped a tear from the corner of his eye. He’d laughed himself to tears.
“That’s...” He swiped his own eyes and sniffed. “I don’t know what that is. Damn funny.”
He was so appealing when he was this relaxed.
“At first I thought maybe she was a jilted ex-girlfriend, but then it was clear she’d never met you.”
“What tipped you off?” He grinned, loving every second of this.
“She brought up having sex with you on a horse and—”
That brought forth another crack of laughter as fresh tears sprang to his eyes. She laughed with him, the hardy, happy sound as infectious as he was. He recovered quickly, rolling toward the back of the couch and wedging her between the leather and his hard, warm body.
“How do you know that isn’t true?” His tone was sober, his eyes narrowed and assessing.
“Other than you don’t seem the type to attempt sex on a horse,” she said with a small giggle. “The day I invited you horseback riding.”
His gaze swept to one side. “How come I don’t remember that?”
“I asked if you wanted to go riding and you said you didn’t trust a beast that large with your bodily safety. It stood out in my mind because you were from Texas. I thought all Texans were brought up riding horses.”
“I remember that conversation now. Horses are smart. I imagine they don’t always like to be ridden. And once I’m up there, there’s only one way to go.”
“Down.” She ran a fingertip along his bristled jawline. “They are smart animals.”
“On that we agree. Horses are very smart and deserve our respect.”
“So, we’re on the same side of the fence on one more topic,” she whispered against his lips. He was close enough to kiss, his delicious weight pressing her deeper into the couch’s cushions. “Does that bring our grand total to three?”
“I can think of one more.” He took her lips hostage, making out with her long and slow. One hand gripped her hip before sliding under her shirt to tickle her bare skin.
Her mind melted, her body doing a good job of following suit, as he made love to her mouth with his. He wasn’t wrong. Sex was another topic both their bodies and minds agreed on.
They’d always been physically compatible. They’d proven it time and time again during many summer nights past and they were proving it again in the winter wonderland of his massive mansion. Earlier he’d claimed her against the wall. Now he seemed bent on reclaiming her.
She couldn’t think of a single reason to argue.
* * *
“This is incredible.” Miriam lounged in the hot tub, bubbling water tickling her bare breasts and liquefying her sore muscles.
Chase had done a good job of liquefying them earlier today—a few times.
He sat on the other side of the round tub—in-ground like the pool—and let out a long, gruff hum. A hum of satisfaction and relaxation. She liked being with him—yes for the sex, which was amazing but also for the moments that followed. She hadn’t been apart from him for more than a handful of minutes today and she didn’t care to leave his side until she officially walked out of this mansion.
Crazy? Possibly. But she could handle a brief affair with him. She was no longer a carefree twenty-three-year-old whose life had been overwhelmed by the sexy city boy from Texas. She was a grown, independent, responsible woman with people who counted on her—both professionally and personally. She was old enough and wise enough to understand that what had kept them apart years ago was alive and well. Their interests were as different as a Dallas oil field and a Montana nature preserve.
If, say, they had a shot at coupledom—an insane thought, but she allowed herself to have it—it’d mean her moving to Dallas and leaving her family and her beloved job behind or Chase moving to Montana where he’d...what? Run for mayor here? Take a seat on the county board? Fall back on his law degree and hang a shingle in town?
It was preposterous, the idea that Chase the famous mayor and oil tycoon would move away from his beloved state to live in the wilderness.
They were doomed.
Which made things easier. Back when they were together she hadn’t known they were doomed. Or rather, she’d been the last to know. Knowing up front meant no castle-building on the clouds. She could enjoy what they had at face value and walk away with some really great memories.
“It is incredible.” His agreement interrupted her deep thoughts and she opened her eyes to find his closed, his head resting back, arms spread out and resting on the edge of the hot tub.
She saw no need to share her thoughts with him. With anyone other than herself. And that certainty—along with knowing they were doomed—also felt really, really good.
She would let any thoughts of what happened next between them rise and swirl and disappear like steam from the hot tub. But she wouldn’t deny herself the treasure of being with him while they were stranded.
Later, when Chase took her hand, she allowed him to lead her upstairs and into his bedroom.