Bennett chuckled. ‘Wow, I didn’t realize you missed me that much.’
‘Oh, shut up.’ She smacked him playfully on the arm. He grabbed her hand and pulled her close again. She went willingly, so happy to be wrapped up in his warmth again. ‘It’s freaking freezing out here. Let’s go inside.’
He kept his arm around her as they made their way back to the house, the dogs racing ahead of them.
‘Did you bring any bags? Where is your car?’ Kira looked around as they approached the house. ‘How the hell did you even get here?’
‘I … uh…’ He looked delightfully sheepish. ‘Jeanie dropped me off. I only brought the dogs and a carry-on bag which I think I left in Jeanie’s car.’ He gave her a chagrined smile. ‘I was kind of in a hurry to get here.’
Her heart felt so full it ached in her chest.
‘Don’t worry, I have a bathrobe you can borrow for now.’
He followed her into the house, laughing, a tangle of dogs in the hallway between them and suddenly her house wasn’t cold and lonely. It was full and loud and warm. And perfect.
‘Hey, it’s a reasonable temperature in here,’ Ben said as he hung up his coat next to hers.
‘Got that new boiler.’
‘Oh, yeah?’
‘Yeah, I have an investor in the business now, so I was able to make a few purchases around here.’
‘An investor, huh? Good for you.’
Her face warmed with pride. It was good for her. And she was proud of herself for doing it. For leaving home and starting over. For asking for help.
For letting Bennett in.
‘It’s my sister, but it’s all very official.’
‘I’m sure it is.’
They were standing at the entrance to the living room now. The couch had a very respectable amount of pillows and only two throw blankets, the rest having been relegated to the bedroom and of course, the mattress was gone.
‘How’d you get it back upstairs?’
‘I had help.’
‘I’m glad.’
‘You want to come upstairs and see it?’ she asked, waggling her eyebrows in a way Bennett obviously found super sexy because he outright laughed at her.
‘Of course I do.’ He pulled her close again, his arms around her waist and her face tilted up to his. ‘But I don’t have to stay here.’
‘What? Why not?’
‘I mean, I’m definitely back. I just don’t want you to think I have to stay here. In your house. We can take it slow.’
‘Take it slow? Bennett, are you kidding? You just flew across the country to put letters for our grandchildren to find in fifty years in my trees and now you’re saying we can take it slow?’
‘I didn’t specifically say they had to be our grandchildren together.’
‘Yeah, okay.’ She rolled her eyes and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. ‘Look, I don’t care if this is a terrible idea or it’s too soon or too fast or doesn’t make sense. I’ve learned something this month.’
‘Oh?’ He was looking down at her, and she realized she’d almost forgotten how long and dark his eyelashes were. It was still annoying, but now she loved him so she’d just have to deal with it.
‘Yes. I learned that I don’t want to be without you. Simple as that.’
‘Simple as that, huh?’
‘Yep.’
The smile that crossed his face was slow and sweet. ‘Okay, good. I want to be with you, simple as that, too.’
‘Perfect. Then it’s settled.’
A little wrinkle of worry creased his forehead. ‘I recently learned that I’ve misinterpreted people’s intentions in the past, so if you could spell it out for me, Peaches, that would be great.’
She ran her fingers through his hair, messing it up just enough so he looked like hers again. ‘You’re moving, Bennett. Here to Dream Harbor, to live here with me and our far too many dogs and possibly a future reindeer or two. And we will live happily ever after. Is that clear enough?’
‘Crystal. Thank you.’ His smile grew into something mischievous, and she didn’t have time to react before he hoisted her over his shoulder, caveman style, and headed for the stairs. She squealed and squirmed in his arms, but he held tight and gave her a swift smack on her ass.
‘Bennett!’
He laughed. ‘Now, let’s go see this mattress.’
