Nik bolted out of the bed. It had been years since he’d lived full time in New York City, but this sort of light could only mean one thing.
He threw open the curtains, raised the blinds, and sure enough…
“Snow!”
Jess groaned and rolled over, snagging his pillow and pulling it over her satin-covered head. Last night, she’d explained the importance of a satin headscarf and pillowcase—she’d brought her own—to hair care. He’d filed the information away, wondering if it would be presumptuous of him to buy her a spare pillowcase for his place. Except his place was currently his brother’s place. Hmm, he’d have to fix that soon. For now, he turned back to the window.
Outside, a blanket of snow covered everything—the trees, the driveway, his car, the roads…
Shit, the roads.
“I hope you didn’t have anything pressing to do today,” he told the lump in the blankets. “I’m pretty sure the roads are going to be closed for a while.”
One word drifted from the bed, delivered like a grumpy command: “Coffee.”
Grinning, Nik knelt on the mattress and dropped a kiss around where he thought her head would be. Then he pulled on his boxers and ambled out of the room. To say he was feeling like a million bucks would have been an understatement. And maybe it was sappy of him, but as much as he’d loved being with her, sinking into her and being as close as two people could be, it was the simple act of holding her through the night while she slept that brought him the greatest pleasure.
Yeah, he was a sap. Who could blame him? It was nearly Christmas, and he was snowed in with the most intriguing, beautiful, and funny woman he’d ever met.
In the kitchen, he used the French press he’d brought with him to brew coffee. While he waited, he shot an email to his agent, telling him to turn down theRaise Your Voicerole. He’d made his decision. Jess might need a little more time, but he wasn’t giving up on her. Or himself—he’d committed to giving this “settling down” thing a try, and so, he was staying. Putting down roots. This was Los Angeles—local opportunities were sure to pop up. But, to respect Jess’s wishes, he’d wait until New Year’s Eve to discuss it further.
When the coffee was ready, he prepped it the way he knew she liked it and carried the mug into the bedroom.
He was all set to climb back into the bed with her for a morning cuddle, but when she heard him, she sat up and reached for the mug. She took a big gulp, then sent him a sleepy smile. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
She sipped again, then straightened her headscarf, which had gone crooked while she slept. “Did you say the roads are closed?”
“I think so.” He tapped his phone. “There was an inclement weather alert for this area last night.”
Her eyes widened. “Are we snowed in?”
“Looks that way.”
She shook her head and mumbled into her mug, “This is just like a movie.”
He laughed, then started to lean in to kiss her, but she slid out of the bed and headed for the bathroom. “I’m gonna shower,” she said. Before he could reply, the door shut behind her.
Well. Okay. So she wasn’t a morning person. She’d told him that on the first date. And there was bound to be some awkwardness during the first morning after.
The night before had been…amazing. No other word to describe it. Everything he’d traveled the world searching for, he’d found in being with Jess. A sense of peace, freedom, contentment, and belonging, all rolled up into something that seemed to point toward love. What else could it be?
She’d been there every step of the way with him while they’d been having sex, that was for sure. Her kisses told the truth. But what if that was all they had? He’d set out to be as open as he could with her, to not hold back. Go big or go home, right? But after days of wearing his heart on his sleeve, his vulnerability gas tank was on empty.
Maybe he’d been fooling himself all along. He didn’t think so, and he was a pretty good judge of character—he’d been the first one to tell Dimitri to get his head out of his ass where Natasha was concerned—but doubts had started to creep in after he’d told Jess what was up last night and her only reply had been, “New Year’s Eve.” After that, they’d gone into the bathroom to clean up, then finished the Prosecco and roasted marshmallows in the fire he built in the fireplace. He’d also pulled out a bag of sour cream and onion potato chips—a nod to their first kiss.
It was nice. Romantic. But Jess hadn’t brought up any of the things he’d said. Not the tour, and not his “not just for now” line. Probably he could’ve phrased that better, and maybe he shouldn’t have said itduringsex, but it aligned with everything else he’d told her since seeing her at Rhianne’s party, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Yet he could feel her putting distance between them, and he had no idea how to stop it.
Damn, what if she still didn’t believe him? What if he’d put it all on the line, bared his heart and soul, to no avail?
There was still the possibility that this gamble wouldn’t pay off, that he wouldn’t be able to convince her. Shit, that hehadn’tbeen able to convince her. This was the last date.
At the start, he’d been sure it was worth a try. And he still felt that way. But he was a big enough person to admit his feelings were a little bruised.
The snow had bought him a little more time, and a little more holiday magic. He’d make the most of it, and then…well, it was all up to Jess.
His phone rang in the kitchen and he hurried to pick it up.
