generous landscape of mountains and tall evergreens. Drake pulled the car around and silenced the engine.
He got out and inhaled the cold mountain air. Kelly opened her door. Drake took her hand, helping her to her feet. He took her backpack and slung it over his shoulder, steering her to the edge of the driveway.
Twinkling lights winked at them from below. Drake leaned into her, feeling her heat against his cool cheek.
“That’s the ski resort down below. They’ll start making the snow in about a month,” he said softly. Her face turned to his. Her eyes gleamed, her lips parted. Drake waited for her words. Strands of hair blew across her fine features. He traced her lower lip, loving how full it was. “I’m so happy to have you here with me,” Drake said. His admission gripped him with an emotion that was becoming harder to contain. It was all so new and unexplored. The sentiment soaked into his soul, fueling his urge for her. The excitement was mounting, all he wanted to show and share.
Her eyes fluttered. “I still don’t understand it,” Kelly said.
“I know.” Drake smiled. “To be honest with you, tonight I don’t want to try to explain. I just want us to relax, enjoy our dinner, talk and absorb one another…you okay with that?” He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. She nodded. It appeared that Kelly was already taken aback, and Drake hadn’t even gotten started.
* * * *
The view was magnificent. It was peaceful and all his. The sharp scent of pine shot into her nose, colliding with the chillier air of a higher elevation. He took her hand in his, his palm unusually soft, and escorted her up a brick walk. Drake fumbled with a set of keys and opened the front door.
The pleasant odors of browned bread and smoldering wood blanketed the air. Kelly took in Drake’s defined profile before his dark eyes caught hers.
“Let’s set this down here,” Drake said, placing her backpack at the foot of the stairs. I’m here for the night! The reality of it blinded her eyes with a white light. Her heart drummed behind her ribs, her stomach tight. “We’ll start with dinner. Emily has everything ready for us.”
“Who’s Emily?” Kelly asked, tipping her head to gaze at the lavish surroundings.
“She’s a lovely woman who helps me from time to time,” Drake told her.
Everything was rich, dark, and masculine, with just the right touch of warmth. Glossy oak floors and planked walls gave way to the timbered beams of a vaulted ceiling, everything joined with large joists. A fieldstone fireplace ruled the room. A rectangular table gleamed, lined with high-backed leather chairs, the color a light caramel. It was rustic and rugged, but charming. Large windows gave her a generous view of the woodlands below. Drake’s voice pulled her from her astounded state.
“Everything all right so far?” he asked, slipping his arm around her. His body brushed up against hers. Kelly’s thoughts gravitated to the kisses they’d shared in her tent, how their bodies had responded to one another.
“It’s beautiful, so elegant, but comfy.”
“Come, let’s eat,” Drake said, tugging her into a kitchen that she’d only ever seen in magazines. The lighter shades of wood that she assumed were maple greeted her. Brass and copper accented the cabinetry and brown granite countertops. A long island sat in the center. Drake sat her down on a cushioned stool, the red leather cool.
She watched him remove covered dishes from a warmer and set up their place settings. He handed her two stemmed glasses and turned to retrieve a bottle of wine from what looked to be a specialty refrigerator.
“I hope you like the selections I have,” Drake said, lifting off the covers of three chafing dishes.
“It looks incredible,” Kelly told him, her voice struggling for an audible tone. Her mouth watered at the steaming, scented entree. Drake took the tongs and placed a bed of linguini on her plate, then nestled in
He got out and inhaled the cold mountain air. Kelly opened her door. Drake took her hand, helping her to her feet. He took her backpack and slung it over his shoulder, steering her to the edge of the driveway.
Twinkling lights winked at them from below. Drake leaned into her, feeling her heat against his cool cheek.
“That’s the ski resort down below. They’ll start making the snow in about a month,” he said softly. Her face turned to his. Her eyes gleamed, her lips parted. Drake waited for her words. Strands of hair blew across her fine features. He traced her lower lip, loving how full it was. “I’m so happy to have you here with me,” Drake said. His admission gripped him with an emotion that was becoming harder to contain. It was all so new and unexplored. The sentiment soaked into his soul, fueling his urge for her. The excitement was mounting, all he wanted to show and share.
Her eyes fluttered. “I still don’t understand it,” Kelly said.
“I know.” Drake smiled. “To be honest with you, tonight I don’t want to try to explain. I just want us to relax, enjoy our dinner, talk and absorb one another…you okay with that?” He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. She nodded. It appeared that Kelly was already taken aback, and Drake hadn’t even gotten started.
* * * *
The view was magnificent. It was peaceful and all his. The sharp scent of pine shot into her nose, colliding with the chillier air of a higher elevation. He took her hand in his, his palm unusually soft, and escorted her up a brick walk. Drake fumbled with a set of keys and opened the front door.
The pleasant odors of browned bread and smoldering wood blanketed the air. Kelly took in Drake’s defined profile before his dark eyes caught hers.
“Let’s set this down here,” Drake said, placing her backpack at the foot of the stairs. I’m here for the night! The reality of it blinded her eyes with a white light. Her heart drummed behind her ribs, her stomach tight. “We’ll start with dinner. Emily has everything ready for us.”
“Who’s Emily?” Kelly asked, tipping her head to gaze at the lavish surroundings.
“She’s a lovely woman who helps me from time to time,” Drake told her.
Everything was rich, dark, and masculine, with just the right touch of warmth. Glossy oak floors and planked walls gave way to the timbered beams of a vaulted ceiling, everything joined with large joists. A fieldstone fireplace ruled the room. A rectangular table gleamed, lined with high-backed leather chairs, the color a light caramel. It was rustic and rugged, but charming. Large windows gave her a generous view of the woodlands below. Drake’s voice pulled her from her astounded state.
“Everything all right so far?” he asked, slipping his arm around her. His body brushed up against hers. Kelly’s thoughts gravitated to the kisses they’d shared in her tent, how their bodies had responded to one another.
“It’s beautiful, so elegant, but comfy.”
“Come, let’s eat,” Drake said, tugging her into a kitchen that she’d only ever seen in magazines. The lighter shades of wood that she assumed were maple greeted her. Brass and copper accented the cabinetry and brown granite countertops. A long island sat in the center. Drake sat her down on a cushioned stool, the red leather cool.
She watched him remove covered dishes from a warmer and set up their place settings. He handed her two stemmed glasses and turned to retrieve a bottle of wine from what looked to be a specialty refrigerator.
“I hope you like the selections I have,” Drake said, lifting off the covers of three chafing dishes.
“It looks incredible,” Kelly told him, her voice struggling for an audible tone. Her mouth watered at the steaming, scented entree. Drake took the tongs and placed a bed of linguini on her plate, then nestled in
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