Here he was in the same town he grew up in and he’d only visited a handful of states. She must think he was some kind of small-town hick with his limited experiences. He quickly pushed that thought away. She never acted like he was some kind of country dolt. She actually acted like she kind of liked him. Which was good, because he was hopelessly enchanted with her.
“I’ll go start a fire for after dinner, then it’s about time to eat.”
She nodded at him.
He went into the family room and lit a fire, carefully placing the screen back into place. Hopefully they’d have a nice fire to sit in front of later, provided she stayed for a bit after dinner.
They ate dinner and carried their pieces of pie out to eat in front of the fire.
“I love apple pie. It’s my favorite. Mom made the best pies, but I never learned how.” Madeline settled onto the couch.
“It’s my one fancy thing I cook, if you could call pies fancy.”
“I only tried once, but my crust was a disaster.”
“I could teach you how to make the crust.” Not that he knew when they could do this. He didn’t think she’d be staying much longer, but he was afraid to ask when she planned on leaving.
“I’d like that.”
Maybe she was going to stay a while longer. Just maybe.
They finished their pie, with Madeline raving about how good it was. He was pleased with himself and happy that he’d thought to make up a pie last night.
She settled back against him and they stared at the fire. The flames leapt and danced across the logs. The fire had taken off the chill in the front room. He’d turned off the lamp, and they were cozily ensconced in the mesmerizing light of the fire.
He tucked her closer to his side and her sigh washed over him. It was almost his undoing. He reached over and took her hand in his, bringing it up to his lips to kiss.
~ * ~
Gil’s lips warmed the back of her hands. She turned to look at him and saw desire flicker across his face. He reached out and gently tilted her face up and kissed her. A river of emotions poured over her. Emotions she’d kept dammed up. Swore never to feel again. But she did feel them now. There was no denying. How had she come to care about this man so quickly? Because, gosh darn it all, she did care about him.
She gave into the kiss. Gave into the lightning that crackled through her as he ran his hands down her arms, across her back, trailing back up to her face.
“Gil, I…” She pulled back for a moment to catch her breath.
“Hmm?” Gil traced a finger along her jaw.
“We just met. I don’t know what’s going on here. It’s all so fast.” Her thoughts were jumbled as she tried to explain to Gil, or maybe it was tried to explain to herself.
“You enchant me, Maddy.”
He had her at enchant.
She turned and curled up in his lap, while he rained kisses on her face, her neck, her hands.
“I want to take you to bed.” His eyes burned with need, questioning her.
For just a brief moment she paused, thinking the proper answer was no, this is too fast. But her heart said yes, and who was she to deny her heart? She nodded to him.
He stood up, with her still in his arms, and carried her to his bedroom. He kneed the door opened and placed her gently to sit on the edge of his bed.
She looked around his bedroom illuminated by a small lamp on his dresser. A tidy male bedroom with a simple navy bedspread on a queen sized bed. An empty wooden chair in the corner, which, had it been her bedroom, would have been piled high with items like a purse or two, yesterday’s sweater, and a stack of magazines.
She pulled away from analyzing his room and looked up into his warm brown eyes that held a tentative questioning look.
“You sure?”
“More than sure.” She smiled up at him letting him know that this is what she wanted. He tilted her head up, leaned over, and kissed her. All her thoughts exploded into falling stars as he kissed her senseless and showed her an urgency that she couldn’t help but match.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Gil woke in the early morning hours with Maddy nestled up against him. His arm was asleep, but he didn’t dare move. He didn’t want the moment to end. Her curls tumbled across his chest, but not tickling him, because if they really did tickle him he’d have to move. She sighed in her sleep and curled closer against him.
It was no good, he was going to have to slowly change position or risk a numb arm for the rest of his life. He gently pulled his arm up and away and Maddy rolled away from him. Darn it. That was not what he’d wanted. He shrugged his shoulder and stretched his arm, trying to get the blood circulating.
He settled back and watched her sleep peacefully near his side. He reached out and tucked a curl away from her face so he could see her better. Her cute upturned nose. Her lips a bit swollen from their kisses. It had been an amazing night.