Never Been Snow Lucky (Snowed Inn Romance)

Chapter 13

13

IRIS

A fter getting so much alone time with Jack, spending the day on my own was a bummer. My bath was relaxing, but I found myself wishing he was in the tub with me. And when I finished off the leftover tacos we’d made for dinner last night, I remembered how sexy he’d looked standing at the stove while he cooked.

No matter what I did, Jack was always on my mind. It was impossible not to think about the man who had stolen my heart. I didn’t want it back, but I wasn’t sure how I would handle being halfway across the country from him when I went back to the university at the end of my vacation.

I was on my laptop, checking to see how far out I could push my flight when he returned to the suite. Flipping the lid shut because I didn’t want to get his hopes up if staying longer wasn’t possible, I asked, “How was it out there?”

“Snowy.”

He followed his answer up with a deep kiss, his cold nose rubbing against mine until he warmed up…and I got hot with desire.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“I’m glad you asked.” He dropped onto the couch cushion next to me and flung his arm over my shoulders. “Remember how you mentioned that you were thinking about ditching your plan to go for a PhD and get a job consulting with athletes instead?”

I wasn’t sure where he was going with this as I confirmed, “Yes.”

“Winter Falls is in the process of building a winter sports training facility. I talked to Caleb about the project, and he loved the idea of having someone with your expertise on the team when they open in a few months.”

My lips parted on a gasp as I stared at him for a moment, my brain trying to make sense of the opportunity that had just dropped in my lap. “I…I don’t even know what to say.”

His fingers toyed with the ends of my hair as he asked, “Is it something you think you’d be interested in doing?”

“Absolutely!” I shifted so I was facing him. “I know that I told you how my adviser hooked me up with an internship with the university’s men’s basketball team so I could complete the required practical experience for my certification, but winter sports are my preference. After figure skating for so many years, it’s where I'm most familiar.”

“Caleb said he’d interview you before he posted the position. All you have to do is impress him, and the job is yours. Which I have zero doubts about you being able to do.”

His confidence in what I could do made me love him even more.

My breath caught in my lungs at the thought.

I didn’t want to leave Winter Falls because I had fallen in love with Jack Stanhope. Madly and deeply.

“I have more good news.”

I shook my head, trying to keep up with our conversation even while my senses were reeling over my realization of how serious my feelings were for him. “Dang, you were a busy boy while you were gone.”

“The weather has cleared up enough for the airport to open again tomorrow. So your parents can fly in to celebrate a belated Christmas with you, as well as New Year’s.”

I froze, blinking slowly at him. “Oh…yeah, I should probably text my mom to see when they’ll get here.”

“Are you going to introduce me?” he asked with a grin.

“Do you want me to?”

He laughed. “Of course I want to meet my angel’s parents. This will probably be the first of many holidays that we’ll be spending together.”

My heart swelled from his words. “Really?”

“Really,” he echoed before leaning in to place a quick peck on my lips. “I thought I made my intentions clear when I did my best to hook you up with a job you’d love so you’d have a good reason to stay.”

“I was already dreading the thought of leaving,” I confessed, flipping open my laptop so he could see what I’d been doing when he walked in. “I planned on pushing back my flight as far out as I could. Because…umm…”

I was so overcome by emotion that I felt as though I had a frog in my throat.

Jack took pity on me and asked, “Because you wanna stay here in Winter Falls with me?”

“Yeah,” I whispered, my eyes filling with happy tears.

He cupped my cheeks with his hands, his dark gaze locked on mine. “Forever?”

“Uh-huh.” I would need to work out some details with my adviser, but I didn’t need to be on campus except to defend my thesis and walk at graduation. Everything else could be done online from here.

“Thank fuck,” he breathed before capturing my mouth in a deep kiss. “I love you so fucking much. I can’t even begin to explain what a relief it is to know that I’m not gonna have to figure out a way to let you go. It was tearing me up inside, but it’s not as though there are many jobs for ski patrol in North Carolina.”

“There really aren’t.” I sniffled. “And I love you, too.”

“You better, angel. Because there’s no getting rid of me now. Not when you’re my every Christmas wish wrapped in one sexy-as-fuck package.”

“C’mon.” I jumped to my feet, tugging him along with me. “It’s a good thing I took that long bath you recommended earlier.”

“Oh yeah?” he asked, sweeping me off my feet to carry me into the bedroom.

After he set me on the mattress, I beckoned him close enough to grip the front of his shirt and pull him down with me. “The hot water eased all of my aches, and now I’m more than ready to celebrate the best way I know how…in bed with you.”

“And we have a lot to celebrate.”

We spent the next eight hours doing just that, with a lot more I love yous being spoken. Whimpered. And moaned.