“You should know by now that you can ask me anythin’.”
“We haven’t talked about it, but I think… I mean… would you like to stay with me this weekend instead of at the B&B?”
“Em. I know I should try to play it cool but screw it. I’d love to stay with you this weekend. There ain’t nothin’ in the world that could keep me away.”
“Hmm,” I hum. “I’m not sure you sound enthusiastic enough, hubby.”
“It’s too late wifey. There ain’t no takebacks when it comes to you and me. I’ll ring and cancel my bookin’ right now.”
“OK. Thank you.”
“What’re you thankin’mefor? You’ve just turned this Thanksgivin’ upside down. I couldn’t stop thinkin’ about you before this, now there’s no hope for me gettin’ anythin’ done. Right now I wish I could just take you in my arms and kiss you breathless.”
That has my stomach flipping and my body turning warm all over. “Two more days,” I whisper after we’ve ended our phone call.
Then all will be right in my world again.
Lucky for me, Jude obviously had a better idea. Something I discover the moment I turn into my street and spot Jude’s truck parked in my driveway.
Suddenly my morose mood all but disappears and it takes everything I have not to jump out while the engine is still running.
Because as much as I wanted to see Jude, I would never have asked him to give up time withhisfamily. Yet here he is, doing that exact thing.
You never have to walk or feel alone again if you choose not to.
The minute he opens the door for me, I’m met with his gorgeous smile. When he says ‘surprise’, I launch myself at him.
And just like that, all is right again in my world.
Chapter 16
Jude
The moment Em kisses me, I know I’m exactly where I should be.Where I always should be.
After talking to her this morning and sensing how sad and lonely she was feeling, there was nothing that could’ve stopped me from driving to Palmer.
I apologized to my family–even though theytoldme to go–and hit the road, not stopping until I was pulling into Em’s driveway.
Thankfully, I remembered where the spare key to her house was, which meant I could let myself in and get to work on an impromptu Thanksgiving meal. Since it was short notice, I had to make do with what I could bring from home and grab from the gas station. That left us with a menu of roast turkey breasts and vegetables from my garden back on the mountain, along with some boxed stuffing. I also brought some of Isla’s bean casserole from the ranch to reheat and I managed to scrounge enough ingredients together to make two small chocolate lava cakes for dessert.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” she murmurs against my lips. “But I’m so glad you are.”
Moving my hands between us, I cradle her jaw, gently easing her backward to look into her shimmering blue eyes. “I needed to see you. Seems I can’t stay away for long anymore.”
I dip my head and kiss her soft and slow, relishing the experience as she melts into me. In the end, we eventually tear apart to suck in some much-needed air. Wrapping my arms around her back, I glide them down to her hips before lifting her off the ground, swinging her into the house and kicking the door closed behind us.
Resting her back against the wood, I press my body into hers and take her mouth again, unable to stop myself from kissing her again and again, loving the way her fingers tangle in my hair and hold me in place while she moans against my tongue.
When we pull apart again, I touch my forehead to hers and just breathe her in, feeling whole again after being out of sorts since I left.
Em’s hands go still on my back. I lift my head. “What’s wrong?”
“Did you cook?” she asks, her voice full of wonder.
“Yeah. Wasn’t goin’ to turn up empty handed and I figured you wouldn’t have planned to cook a Thanksgivin’ meal just for one.”
She cocks her head. “So you made one for two?”