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“Thank you.” He smiled, backing away from the door. “Come in.”
His room was as large as hers. Same wooden beams in the ceiling; textured walls a warm cream; velvet linens of soft denim blue. A painting of Tux hung above the fireplace. She walked over to the expanse of windows and looked out at the vast landscape. “We got more snow.”
“Yeah,” Tanner said from behind her. “You won’t be seeing the grass again anytime soon.”
“What about the cows?”
“What about them?”
She turned toward him. “What will they eat?”
“Hay.” Chuckling, he patted the empty space beside him. “What is it you think we do every morning?”
“I dunno.” Arien shrugged. She sat down on the bed. “Ranch stuff.”
“You should come out with us and find out.” Draping his arm across her shoulders, he pulled her closer. “And Daisy misses you. We could go for a ride.”
His brow raised, the corners of his mouth kicked up. Tanner had the most amazing smile, and he showed it to her often. Kellan hardly ever smiled at all.
She reached for him, combing his still-damp hair from his face. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
His gaze locked on hers, green eyes drinking her in, he dropped his hand from her shoulder to squeeze her waist. Maybe seeing his brother naked had her all flustered, because she was looking at Tanner differently now.
Arien slowly pulled her hand from his hair, fingertips sweeping down his cheek. Lowering her lashes, she took in the swift rise and fall of his chest. She bit her lip, not allowing her eyes to wander below the waistband of his jeans.
“I would too.” With a gentle nudge of his finger, he lifted her chin. “Do you want me to open my present?”
“Oh, yes.” She nodded. “Please do.”
Tanner took his gift out of the shiny, little bag. Chewing on her fingernail, Arien watched him tear away the tissue paper.
“I didn’t know what else to get you.”
A framed selfie of the three of them, sitting together on a log at Brooks Lake. She didn’t have the foresight to bring her camera that day, but she had brought her phone.
“Look at us.” He smacked a kiss to her lips. “I love this.”
“Got one for your dad—Kellan, too.” Glancing to the door that went to the bathroom he shared with his brother, Arien sniggered. “He’ll probably burn it.”
“No, he won’t.” Tanner got up, standing the framed photo on his dresser. “Why would you say that?”
“I don’t think he likes me very much.” Brushing a piece of lint from her leggings, she stood with a shrug.
“Oh, he likes you.”
“How do you know?”
“He’s my brother. Trust me, I know.” Tanner wrapped his arms around her. “It matters to you, doesn’t it?”
“What?”
“Kellan.”
“We live together. Course, it matters.”
“I like you, pretty girl.” He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering on her skin. “A lot.”
“You do?”
