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He pushed the door open and gestured for me to go first.
“So you don’t even lock your doors around here?”
“Who would bother me this far up the mountain?” His lips quirked up into a reassuring smile.
I couldn’t imagine living somewhere I felt safe enough to not lock my door. I’d even added a couple of locks to the front door of the flat I had in London. Knowing we lived such different lives made a knot of nerves tighten in my belly.
“What do you think?” Nate nodded toward the far wall.
I switched my attention from worrying about our differences to check out the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. Tall picture windows flanked the massive structure, providing a sweeping view of the snow-covered peaks.
“This is amazing.” Natural light filled the room. I tried to take it all in, from the rack of antlers hanging over the mantle to the soft, fluffy blanket draped across the back of his giant sectional sofa. His place was warm and welcoming, with signs of him everywhere.
Being in his space felt like stepping into one of his huge hugs. It felt like coming home.
“Thanks. It took a couple of years to finish everything, but I think it was worth it. There are two bedrooms upstairs, along with a room I use for an office. Do you want the grand tour?”
“Show me everything.” I kicked off my boots, then linked my arm with his.
Nate walked me through the cabin, pointing out little details along the way. He’d put so much thought into this place. It was just like him to do that, though. He’d always been the kind of guy who took his time making decisions. While some of his brothers tended to be impulsive and jump into things before thinking them through, Nate was more deliberate.
He’d saved the bedroom for last. The vaulted ceiling made it feel much larger than it was. A king-size bed took up most of one wall. My heart squeezed tight as my gaze stopped on the blanket he had draped over the foot of the bed. The hodgepodge of colors looked out of place, but I recognized it right away.
“You kept that?” I moved closer and reached out to run my hand over my first knitting project. It was full of mistakes since I had no idea what I was doing when I tried to teach myself how to knit. The gauge was uneven, and there were too many missed stitches to count. Nate had encouraged me to keep going, so I’d gifted him the misshapen rectangle that loosely resembled an afghan.
“Of course I kept it.” His lips ticked up in an embarrassed grin. “I kept everything, Ainsley.”
My heart filled with warmth. He’d always been my biggest supporter, and I’d missed having someone I could count on. Grief over how things could have been between us threatened to suck me down, but I reached for him instead. There was no point dwelling on the past. He’d done what he thought was best for me at the time. Even though I disagreed, he’d done it out of love. I could spend my time letting regret eat me up from the inside out, or be grateful we’d found our way back to each other.
“I’ve missed you so much, Nate.” Tilting my head back, I stared into his eyes. I could get lost in him again if I let myself. It would be so easy to pick right back up where we left off.
“I’ve missed you too, Firefly.” His hands went to my waist, immediately finding their way under my sweatshirt to skim over my bare skin.
I’d never been able to get enough of him back when we were together. Nothing had changed. If anything, the time we spent apart made me even more desperate for his touch. My fingers went to the waistband of his jeans.
Last night, I couldn’t wait to feel him inside me. This morning, we took our time getting reacquainted with each other’s bodies. I’d put on weight since college. My hips had spread and my chest had filled out, making me self-conscious about baring myself to him.
Nate kissed down my neck, then broke contact to lift the sweatshirt I had on over my head. “You’re even more beautiful now than you were then, Ainsley. I can’t get enough of you.”
My inhibitions faded. He’d always made me feel like the only woman he wanted. As his lips moved down between my breasts, I reached behind to unclasp my bra.
“So fucking gorgeous.” He pulled back and met my gaze as his rough hands reached up to cup my breasts. The pad of his thumb brushed over a nipple. It immediately hardened and sent an aching need pulsing through my core.
“I thought you were going to show me around town this afternoon.” Cocking my head, I offered up a sassy grin. I was more than okay with a change of plans. Spending time with him was the only thing I cared about.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you to town this afternoon. First, I need to remind you what you’ve been missing out on.” Then he nudged me back toward the bed and worked my pants down my hips.
“Come here.” I reached for him, but he shook his head.
“This is all about you, Firefly.” He got down on his knees and lifted my legs up to rest on his shoulders.
Anticipation rushed through me as he bent his head between my thighs and circled my clit with his tongue.
CHAPTER9
NATE
Three big “Os”later, Ainsley and I held hands as we walked down the sidewalk in downtown Mustang Mountain. It was a Sunday afternoon, and the shops along Main were filled with folks getting a head start on their holiday shopping. Ruby’s Friendsgiving took place the first weekend of November and marked the start of the winter season. Store owners had swapped out their Halloween decorations for turkeys and pumpkins. It wouldn’t be long before they’d be hanging stockings and putting up trees with tiny twinkle lights.
