“I was just joking.” Laughing, he glanced at me sideways. “You didn’t talk in your sleep, but by your reaction, I’m wishing you had.”
I narrowed my eyes. “That was mean.”
He grinned. “Did you sleep well?”
“I think that was my best sleep since the last time I took Nyquil.” I blushed again, realizing what it sounded like, and I hastily dipped my head, letting my hair shield my burning face.
Kyler was silent for a moment. “Same here. Best sleep I’ve had in years.”
“Really?” I dared a quick peek at him. I don’t know why that seemed so important, but it was.
He was staring straight ahead. “I’ve never slept with a girl before.”
My brows rose. “Come again?”
His lips twisted into a wry grin. “I never slept with a girl after doing anything with them. You’re actually the only girl I’ve ever shared a bed with overnight.”
A rush of giddiness swept through me, and I hid my smile by taking another sip. I remembered what he’d said about Mindy, and I almost jumped up and did a happy jig naked. “Not once?”
He shook his head as he twisted toward me. “I never wanted to.”
Our eyes met again, and I wouldn’t have been able to look away if Santa had run through the room with a rifle. “Never?”
Leaning back, he planted a hand behind me. “Never,” he said, his voice low. Tipping his head down, he pressed a kiss against my bare shoulder, and then rested his chin there.
I was afraid I was going to spill the coffee everywhere. He didn’t regret last night. That much was obvious. Relief was like a sweet drug clawing at me, but I still didn’t know how to act, and I was petrified of saying the wrong thing.
Luckily, Kyler had way more experience than me at all of this. “The snow isn’t falling as heavy now. The plows should be able to get out here at some point.”
A twinge of disappointment hit me and I hid it with a smile. Funny how, a day ago, all I’d wanted was to go home. “Do you think they’ll get to us today?”
“I’d be really surprised. Probably tomorrow,” he replied. “It’s like the North Pole out there right now.”
“Sounds good for Santa.”
His eyes glimmered. “I think even he’d get lost in that mess.”
I finished off the coffee, and Kyler took the cup from me. Gathering the blanket around me, I mumbled something about the bathroom, and he told me to use the one downstairs. I shuffled out of the room, hitching the blanket close as I hit the chilly temps in the rest of the house. Probably would’ve been smart to pick up my clothes—wherever they were—so I could change, but I rushed to the bathroom, my bare feet slapping against the cold wood floors.
I discovered that Kyler had gathered up some personal items and placed them in the bathroom so I wouldn’t have to go upstairs. Due to the thoughtful gesture, I smiled as I went through my morning routine. Butterflies had nested in my stomach and were about to take full flight. Using what I had, I washed up the best I could without killing myself with the frigid water.
Those damn butterflies were fluttering around, bouncing off my insides as I left the bathroom. My cheeks were warm in spite of the cold. I stopped by the Christmas tree—only for a few seconds, because of the windows and the danger they presented. My gaze dropped to the two presents under the tree, the ones with our names on them. A smile fluttered across my lips as I dragged my eyes up to the shiny star perched atop the tree. We hadn’t even thought to turn the lights on.
If I had my days right, Christmas was a week and a few days away. I knew what I wanted for Christmas, and it seemed like I’d gotten it. I hoped the holiday had come early for me, and this wasn’t some wild fluke.
When I returned to the living room, Kyler had spread out a buffet of breakfast food across the dark oak coffee table. The non-cooked kind—bananas, breakfast bars, dry cereal, and whatnot.
I stopped just inside the room, my heart in my throat, or maybe in my mouth at this point.
He glanced up and grinned. “This is the best I can do for breakfast.”
“It’s perfect.” My words sounded thick and I realized I was close to tears. The good kind, but really, bawling like a baby wouldn’t be attractive. Ducking my head, I went over to the side and sat on an unoccupied pillow, keeping the blanket close.
“Looks like chips and raw vegetables for lunch and dinner,” he said, sliding another cup of fresh coffee my way. “We’re eating healthy today.”
I laughed. “Like I eat differently any other day.”
He scoffed. “You’re such a red meat kind of girl. Don’t lie.”
That part was true. “Thank you for putting this together.”
“My pleasure.” He elbowed me gently. “Eat up. I have a big day planned for you.”
My brows rose. “You do? Planning on getting me outside to shovel the driveway?”
“No.” Picking up an apple, he leaned back in an arrogant sprawl. “Doesn’t involve the outside, but it does center around some physical activity.”
Heat zinged through my blood. “Really?”
He regarded me with a wicked glint. “Look around the room, Syd. There’s something you’re missing.”
Scanning the room, it took me a couple of moments to catch on. “My clothes? Where are my clothes?”
His answering grin was pure sin. “You’re not going to need any clothes today, baby.”