Page 79 of Curvy Cabin Fever

Something inside me snaps.

It’s like I’ve been holding my breath for three days and can finally let it out.

I cup her face and kiss her forehead, long and quiet.

She melts into it, just a little.

And it’s the softest I’ve touched her yet.

“You know I’m not gonna be gentle forever, right?” I murmur.

Her smile is slow and wicked. “You don’t have to be.”

God help me, this woman is going to ruin me.

And I’ll let her.

Gladly.

She presses her forehead to mine. “Come inside. We’re having coffee.”

I groan. “As long as there are no eggs. If I eat another fucking egg, I’m gonna start laying them.”

She laughs and takes my hand.

And I let her lead me back in.

Because I trust her now, more than ever.

And because the only thing more dangerous than loving Aria…

Is trying not to.

The cabin smellslike strong coffee.

Rhett’s at the table, hair still wet from the shower, shirt sticking to his back as he scrolls through the generator manual again like it’s personally offended him. Morgan’s behind the stove in just boxers and a thermal shirt, barefoot and humming off-key.

And then there’s Aria.

Wearing one of my flannels again, sleeves rolled to her elbows, her hair piled into a messy knot on top of her head. She’s leaning on the counter, sipping from a mug that says Grumpy But Cute.

Goddamn.

Morgan glances over his shoulder when we step inside and grins like he already knows what happened on the porch.

“Look who decided to come back to civilization.”

Rhett lifts his gaze briefly, gives me a nod. It’s not warm exactly, but it’s not distant either. He’s not looking at me like I’m a threat anymore. And that’s something new.

Aria squeezes my hand once more before letting go and moving to refill her mug.

“I thought you were gonna sit out there and freeze your balls off,” Morgan adds.

I grunt. “Frostbite builds character.”

“Don’t listen to him,” Aria murmurs, handing me a fresh cup of coffee. “He used three forks trying to flip an omelet yesterday.”

Morgan gasps, clutching his chest like she shot him. “Betrayal. After everything I’ve done for this family.”