Page 34 of Beau

“Hell is not cold.”

“What?”

“You said cold as hell. It’s actually the opposite–” She laughed as he glowered, the laughter turning to shrieks when he hoisted her up and over his shoulder.

“I know one way to shut you up," he growled.

And he did shut her up for several long minutes, until she was melting and pleasantly exhausted in his arms. They were snuggled together, drinking hot chocolate smothered in whipped cream. The fire was blazing in the hearth and the room was cozy. It felt wonderful to be alive and with someone she loved.

“We are blessed.”

“What?”

“We are truly blessed," she repeated. Putting aside her cup, she turned into his arms.

“You are my best friend. When I first saw you in person, I thought to myself that there goes someone with limited brain cells–”

“What? You said that about me?”

She laughed at the wounded look on his handsome face.

“That’s objectifying. What if I said the same thing about you?” he gestured to her, “You are an exquisite woman. What if I thought there was no substance beneath all that allure?”

She pretended to consider it. “I don’t see it.”

“But yet you looked at me and decided then and there that I was stupid.”

“Not stupid, really, just a pretty face with nothing behind it.”

“Was that why you refused to dance with me?”

“One of the reasons. I also thought you were an entitled prick.”

“Thanks," he muttered.

Chapter 8

Taking the cup from him, she put it away and cradled his face between her palms. “But I was proven wrong," she whispered achingly. “You are super intelligent, what with those two degrees from Harvard, that you did nothing with for years–”She held fast when he tried to jerk his head away. “Beneath all of that spoiled, rich entitlement–”

“Oh please, you are making me blush with all the flowery compliments.”

She merely smiled. “You are romantic, loving and sensitive. A pain in the ass most of the time yes, but you are the man I love more than life itself. You make my heart beat faster; my body takes on a whole new dimension whenever I am with you.

As I was saying, we are blessed. We play together, laugh together, and we are happy.” Her expression wavered.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head.

“Baby?”

“It’s silly.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“Whenever people are this happy, when things are going your way, something is bound to go wrong.”

“You are waxing philosophical," he teased.