Page 54 of The Christmas Tree Farm

He smiled ruefully, shaking his head like he was disappointed in himself. ‘I thought I should. Just to make sure…’

‘To make sure the book-club party didn’t trash the place?’ she asked with a teasing smile.

He laughed. ‘They seem like they can get wild.’

‘I believe it.’

He held her gaze. ‘And I wanted to make sure you were okay. With the storm and everything.’

‘I am.’

‘Clearly.’

‘But I’m glad you’re here anyway.’

His lips curled up, that beautiful, perfect smile directed right at her, and the room got warmer. ‘Me, too.’

‘So you’ll stay?’

His gaze slipped and landed on her mouth for just a breath before tracking up to her eyes again. She had been right, after all. Hedidfeel it too.

‘Yeah, I’ll stay.’

And now that they were stuck here together for as long as this storm lasted. Kira found herself hoping the weather wouldn’t clear up anytime soon.

ChapterSixteen

Kira had been inching closer to him all morning, and by afternoon she had her legs draped over his and her face pressed against his shoulder as they started their second holiday movie of the day. Apparently, Kira had not only fixed her heat problem, she’d also bought a new router and now had working Wi-Fi in her living room. She was right. She didn’t need his help.

Kira wasn’t using him. She wasn’t Nicole.

And unlike all of the women he’d dated this year, he actually liked spending time with her. If anything, him staying here wasn’t some selfless act of imagined heroism, it wasselfish. He wanted more of Kira, and with her currently pressed against him he thought maybe he could have her. Just for a little while, he could have her.

Luckily, he was back in his own clothes. That robe hadn’t provided much protection between him and Kira’s warm body in his lap. Jeans were slightly safer.

Although not by much.

He was trying very hard to focus on the convoluted premise of the movie, but Kira’s body was incredibly distracting. And now that he’d stopped worrying about replacing one bad habit with another, all he could think about was other ways they could be spending their time together.

Other lessniceways.

He shifted a little and Kira rearranged her legs. They were long and lovely, and he wanted to peel off her leggings and kiss them from ankle to…

She giggled next to him and he marveled at the soft sound, like she was showing him a completely different side of herself. ‘This part is so absurd,’ she said, gesturing to the laptop that was balanced precariously on a throw pillow on the coffee table. ‘I mean, her best friend can’t even tell that’s not her! As a twin, I can tell you, it’s not actually that easy to switch places with someone even if you share one hundred per cent of their DNA. And she just swapped places with a princess. There’s no way.’

‘I think she’s a duchess.’

‘Whatever.’

‘So, she’s just acting with herself right now?’

‘Yep. By the third movie, she’s playing three characters.’

‘There’s a third one?’

Kira laughed. ‘Yep.’

Bennett groaned and she elbowed him in the side. ‘Hush, or I’ll throw you out in the snow.’