With their foreheads resting against each other, they silently laughed.
“Or would you prefer tea?” his mother called out again. “And I also have gingerbread cookies if you’d prefer! There’s a new Hallmark Christmas movie starting in a few minutes! Come join us!”
“Do you want cocoa and cookies?” he whispered and prayed she’d say no.
“Cocoa does sound good,” she said hesitantly. “But…”
“But…?”
“Any chance we can watch something up here? Just the two of us? We haven’t done that since we got here. I miss binge-watching our usual shows.”
Watching TV wasn’t quite what he would have opted for, but considering their surroundings, he knew it was what he’d have to settle for. “How about this–you find us something to watch and I’ll go downstairs and deal with my mom.”
“And where did we land on the cocoa and cookies?”
This girl, he thought, shaking his head. She was ruled by her sweet tooth.
“I promise to bring some back and it will be a variety, okay?”
“Deal.” She gave him a quick kiss before stepping back and looking around. “Your room or mine?”
“Mine. I’ve got a regular TV in there so we won’t have to watch something on the laptop. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Kay!”
Jogging down the stairs, Gabe smiled at his mother on his way to the kitchen. “If it’s alright with you, Aspen and I are going to watch TV upstairs.”
“Mm-hmm…” she hummed coyly, and he refused to take the bait.
Moving around, he grabbed a couple of mugs before making up a plate of assorted cookies and then added some of Aspen’s truffles and chocolate covered pretzels to it. Behind him, he heard his mother making the cocoa and he silently prayed that he could escape back upstairs without having to talk about…
“Was it a waste of my time to make up the guest bed?” she asked sweetly.
“Mom…”
“What? I’m simply asking a question.”
“No, you’re being nosy,” he murmured. “And a little inappropriate.”
She made a dismissive sound and poured cocoa into mugs before pulling out a tray for him to put everything on. “I’m making an observation, that’s all. And I’d like to remind you that I was the one who was encouraging this relationship all along.”
“Aspen and I are friends, Mom. That’s it.”
“I don’t remember watching television in bed with any of my friends…”
“Mom!” he huffed and wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole.
“Fine, you’re just friends.”
“Thank you.”
“Who hang out in bed together,” she added.
“Oh, my God…”
“You’re right. Forget I said anything. I can remember being your age and not wanting to hang out and watch television with my parents.”
“Okay then. Can we drop this?”
She hummed softly as she picked up the other two mugs. “See you in the morning, dear.” And thankfully, she walked out of the room.
Gabe took a minute to calm down because Aspen would immediately be able to tell if he was freaked out. So after a few long breaths, he picked up the tray and walked back up to his room where he found Aspen sitting in the middle of his bed with the remote in her hand.
“I wasn’t sure what you wanted to watch,” she said, her eyes never leaving the TV.
“Anything but whatever it is my parents are watching.” Closing the door behind him, he placed the tray down on his bedside table before sitting on the bed. She was scrolling through the menu and they eventually decided on a few episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. It wasn’t until they were both sitting back against the pillows with their mugs in their hand that Gabe spoke. “Thanks. I needed something funny to watch.”
“Stop letting your mother get to you. It wasn’t that bad.”
Glancing over at her, he smirked. “Oh, yeah? She asked if it was a waste of time for her to have made the guest bed since we’re clearly going to be in my bed watching TV.”
Then he waited for her shock, outrage, and embarrassment, but…it never came. Instead, she shrugged. “Okay, one less obstacle.”
“That’s it? That’s all you have to say? You’re fine with her knowing that we’re up here…”
“Eating cookies and drinking cocoa while enjoying one of our favorite comedy shows? Um…yeah. I’m good.”
Gabe sat and stewed through the first episode–although the cocoa and cookies were a nice distraction. But once he was done and Aspen handed him her mug to put on the tray, he wanted to test and see if she was really as okay with all of this as she claimed.
First, he slouched down a little to get comfortable and smiled to himself when Aspen did the same and curled up beside him. His arm easily went around her and for several minutes he was content to just hold her and watch the shenanigans happening in the episode.
Then he decided it was time to test his theory.
Slowly, Gabe turned his head and let his tongue gently trace the shell of Aspen’s ear and he heard her soft gasp followed by an even quieter hum. He continued to tease and taste her there as his hand carefully slid up and cupped her breast.
And he thought for sure that she’d ask him what he was doing and remind him that his parents were just downstairs.
But she didn’t.
If anything, the little minx got even more comfortable and hooked her leg over his hip to pull him closer.
When he lifted his head, she gave him a knowing smile. She cupped his cheek. “Your parents are downstairs watching TV. Their bedroom is also downstairs but on the opposite end of the house as this room. So if you think they’re going to hear you copping a feel, you’re wrong, so…it’s all good.”
Hmm…she did have a point, and that meant he didn’t have to be quite so quiet and cautious.
In the blink of an eye, Gabe had Aspen rolled beneath him, her eyes bright with excitement. “I guess it would be alright then for us to be like this,” he said, enjoying the playfulness they had with each other.
Aspen seemed to consider his words before crossing her arms in front of her and pulling her top off. “I’ll bet it’s even okay to be like this,” she countered.
And damn. He always knew Aspen had a fantastic figure, but getting to see her like this–and having her be like this in his bed–was wildly satisfying.
“I must have been very good this year because Santa is rewarding me early,” he growled, lowering his head to capture one nipple between his lips. He knew she loved when he did that; her back arched and her hands always reached up to grip his hair to hold him in place.
“You are very, very good, Gabriel,” she panted and when he gently bit her nipple, she cried out.
“Shh…we’re going to have to be quieter than that. I know you enjoy being vocal but…we don’t need anyone coming up here asking if we’re alright.” He kissed the swell of one breast and then the other. “Or offer us more cookies and cocoa.”
With a husky laugh, she wiggled beneath him. “Oh, I know we’re alright.” Her nails scraped along his scalp. “And she really does make fantastic cocoa.” A little more wiggling and she had her pajama bottoms off. “And we’re about to be a whole lot better.”
“Damn. This is my every teenage fantasy come true.” Pushing up, he stared down at her. “A naked girl in my bed and she’s snowed in with me. I wish I could go back and tell fifteen-year-old Gabe not to lose hope.”
She smacked him playfully on the shoulder. “Seriously? You’re making jokes right now? I get naked and that inspires you to get funny?”
Gabe immediately sat up and did his own quick strip before motioning her to get under the blankets. He joined her, covering her body with his, and kissed her soundly. “There is nothing funny about this, Aspen. You are my fantasy.” Another kiss. “And I still can’t believe you’re here and you’re mine.”
And thankfully neither of them brought
up how it was only for a little longer.
Nine
“Everything is so quiet.”
“We must have gotten more snow than expected,” Gabe said quietly before placing a kiss on her bare shoulder.
“Part of me is super curious but I’m too warm and comfortable to get up and look. Plus, it’s only…” She glanced at the bedside clock. “It’s barely six in the morning. Why am I even awake right now?”
His husky laugh reminded her why. Gabe had woken her up an hour ago by kissing his way down her body, and Aspen had to admit that she was definitely a fan of waking up like that rather than using an alarm clock. Now they were both sleepy and sated and it was kind of perfect.
“Does this mean we get a snow day?”
“A snow day?” he asked with amusement. “Aspen, we’re not kids and we don’t go to school so…”
Lazily, she rolled over to face him. “You know what I mean. Do you have to go to the tree lot? Are the roads even clear or safe to drive on?”
“Silver Bell Falls is very familiar with snow and even though it doesn’t sound like the plows are out yet, they will be soon.”
With a groan, she snuggled closer. “So then there’s no excuse to stay in bed all day, huh?”
“I hate to break it to you but…considering we’re in my parents' house, that wasn’t going to be an option.”
“I should have fought harder to stay in the tiny house last night.”
Gabe hugged her close. “No, this was definitely the better place for you to be.”
“But…”
“That place is fine and I’m sure it has great insulation, but considering how quiet it is out there, I’d be worried about you out there by yourself.”
“Well…I think we both know I wouldn’t have been alone.” She grinned up at him. “I haven’t been alone for the last several nights, so…”
All he did was nod and they fell into a companionable silence for several minutes. Aspen yawned and definitely felt like she could go back to sleep, but Gabe didn’t seem to be on the same page.
“Do you mind that I’ve been spending the nights out there?” he asked quietly.
It was probably time for them to talk more about this, but Aspen wasn’t sure if she was ready for it. Talking about it would mean acknowledging that it was short-term and then she’d be thinking about going back to Atlanta without him and then, ultimately, back to California without him.
And that thought always brought her down.
“Aspen?”
Rather than looking up at him, she placed a hand on his chest and let her gaze focus on that instead. “I don’t mind it at all. If anything, I prefer it.”
She felt him relax and they both fell silent again for a few minutes.
“Does it ever freak you out?” Gabe asked. “Like how we sort of transitioned into this new kind of relationship and it wasn’t particularly awkward?”
“Sometimes I’ll have like a brief moment of how this is new and weird, but then it just goes away because really…it’s not. I think I keep trying to tell myself that I shouldn’t be this comfortable going from friends to lovers, but honestly, I’m just comfortable with you. Always have been.”
He hugged her a little closer. “Same. The day we met just felt more like I was looking for someone and there you were. And at the time, there was a part of me that wanted this–you know, what we have right now–rather than the friendship. But once we started hanging out together, I realized how much I needed a friend like you.”
“Aww…that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.” Placing a kiss on his chest, she let out a soft sigh. “I think if we tried to date back when we met, we certainly wouldn’t be here now.”
“You think?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Why?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever stayed friends with a guy I dated and then broke up with. It’s just not something I’ve ever been comfortable with. It doesn’t matter how amicable the breakup, hanging out afterwards is always a little awkward and confusing and–for me, anyway–there’s a little jealousy. Especially once they start dating someone else.” She paused. “Plus, the whole seeing each other naked thing is always in the back of my mind.”
He laughed softly. “Wow. I never thought of it like that.”
“Maybe it’s just me, but that’s how I think. I’d rather just go our separate ways, wish each other well, and then…buh-bye.”
“What about us?” his voice was barely a whisper, but she heard the uncertainty there.
“Yeah, I wonder about that too. I can’t imagine us not being friends but…me living a couple of thousand miles away is probably going to help with the awkwardness.”
Pulling back, Gabe frowned down at her. “I hate that you’re doing that, Aspen. And you’re making it sound like we’ll never see each other again.”
“Well…think about it. Think about what your usual work schedule is like. How often do you go to California?” But before he could answer, she went on. “And considering I’m having to move because I’m unemployed and almost broke, I don’t see me flying back to Atlanta any time soon.” She let out a long breath. “Basically, this is kind of like our last…hurrah.”
“Aspen…”
Now that they were talking about it, she suddenly couldn’t seem to stop. “You have no idea how I wish things were different. In a perfect world, I would still be leaving Atlanta, but I’d be moving here to Silver Bell Falls and opening my own chocolate shop and living a much better quality of life surrounded by friendly and supportive people. The pace of everything would be so much better for me mentally and physically and maybe I’d live in the tiny house at first but then I’d find one of those cute little cottages like the ones around the block from the park.”
“Wow. You’ve really put some thought into this.”
She shrugged. “I know it’s probably just me being emotional and it’s the holidays and all that,” she explained. “For all I know, the vibe around town is completely different come January and it won’t feel like it’s such a special place.” Pausing, she looked to Gabe for confirmation. “Is that what it’s like? Is it only like this because it’s Christmas?”
And she saw the indecision on his face–like he wasn’t sure how to respond.
“I’m sure it doesn’t snow year-round or anything, but…”
“Can I say something?” he quietly interrupted.
“Of course.”
“I think you’ve gotten a little swept up in the festivities,” he said carefully. “Not that it’s a bad thing. But this has been a nice escape for you and I’m so happy that you’re enjoying yourself.”
“But…?”
“But…I think you so desperately don’t want to move back to California that any place would look promising to you right now.”
“That’s not true…”
Placing one finger over her lips, Gabe continued. “I can’t tell you that Silver Bell Falls isn’t a great town, because it is. I also can’t tell you that it wouldn’t be a great spot for you to have your own chocolate shop, because it would be.”
“Then what’s…”
“You could do that anywhere, Aspen. You can open a shop of your own anywhere, you know that, right?”
“No, I can’t, Gabe. I can’t afford the rent in Atlanta for a shop or in San Diego. Those are both places where I’m going to have to work for someone else and I’ve got to tell you, the thought of working for someone else right now is beyond unappealing.”
“There’s got to be a way,” he said, his voice going all low and rumbly and beyond sexy. God, how had she never noticed that before?
The sun was barely up and Aspen was already wishing she could just pull the blankets over her head and go back to sleep.
“Maybe we could…”
This time it was her putting her finger over Gabe’s lips. “Shh…let’s not talk about this anymore. It’s just depressing.”
“We can’t ignore it forever.”
She placed a soft kiss on his chest. “I know, but for right now, I’d rather focus on whether or not we get a snow day and if it means we can stay in bed longer.” To make sure he didn’t try to make her talk more about her crappy life, Aspen began kissing her way down his body until she was truly under all the blankets and she heard his soft hiss of breath.
It wasn’t the most responsible thing to do, and she was only avoiding the inevitable, but she couldn’t find the will to care. Gabe was all warm and hard and felt so good under her hands. He sighed her name and raked his hands into her hair and tightened it into his fists.
Yeah, there was a very alpha side of him that she never knew about and she loved how it was coming out now.
After a few minutes, he hauled her up his body and pinned her beneath him with a kiss that was wild and a little dirty, and she loved every second of it. It didn’t take long for her to forget about moving, chocolates, or her own name. All she knew was that if this were the way people spent their snow days, she’d gladly pray for snow year-round.
A few days later, the snow had been cleared from the streets, sidewalks, and parking lots, but there was still plenty on the ground. It wasn’t an unusual sight but Gabe was seeing it all through Aspen’s eyes. It used to depress him a little when you saw nothing but white for what felt like months on end, but he was starting to see some of the beauty in it.
Right now, she was hard at work finishing up all her creations for the big arts and crafts festival, and he was hard at work cutting down more trees to stock the lot with. It was backbreaking and exhausting, but he was mildly appreciative of the solitude so he could think.
And man, did he have a lot to think about.
For years he’d known that Aspen wanted a shop of her own to sell her chocolates and he always believed she’d accomplish it. Unfortunately, he had no idea just how much she was struggling with everything until just a few weeks ago. What kind of friend did that make him?
The thing was, Gabe knew he offered her a place to live and he was sincere about it, but he also knew how stubbornly independent Aspen was and time was quickly ticking away on their time together. And he had no idea how to fix it.
The Christmas Plan Page 12