Page 51 of Cabin Fever Baby

“I’d think it would be more exciting in town.”

I reached across Hudson, making sure to brush my breasts against his chest as I set my empty bowl on the end table near him. “We’ll just say my awkward phase was a bit longer than I’d like to admit,” I said close to his mouth before I settled back on my side of the couch.

The SportsCenter commentary buzzed lightly in the background. I twisted to push my butt into the corner of the couch, tucking my feet under Hudson’s thighs for warmth.

“I doubt that.”

I snickered. “Oh, I had braces and an unfortunate bout of hormonal acne until I turned seventeen. Skincare is a ton better these days.”

He finished his bowl and set it aside. Then he wrapped his big hand lightly around my ankle, stroking his thumb under thecuff of my pants. “Where are your fuzzy socks? You’re usually buttoned up tight. Not sure I’ve even seen your feet yet.”

I wrinkled my nose. The sexy quotient was high this snowpocalypse fling. “I end up in a lot of hotels for my job. Fuzzy socks are a comfort thing. Reminds me of home.”

“I like them.”

I rolled my eyes, but a secret part of me did a happy dance. “I need to do a load of laundry. Lots of wet socks the last few days.”

He huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, I need to do one, as well. Did you find the laundry room in this palace?”

“They have one of those stackable washer and dryers upstairs in the hall closet.”

“Good to know.” His fingers teased along the back of my calf. “So, your brother worked more than he got to play?”

Because Rio was the prodigy on the ice. As soon as he had been able to stand on skates, he’d been out on the pond or at the rink. Hockey was all he cared about.

Making it onto the Kings was step one in his dream lineup. They weren’t an amazing team, but getting up to the NHL level could give him opportunities with other teams.

And when it came to Rio—ultimately, he just wanted to play.

I nodded. “Most of my brothers were deep into sports. No time for part time jobs when practice took up most of the afternoon. My mom was all about the grades too, so they didn’t get to coast there. She wasn’t raising any meatheads, she’d say.”

“Sounds like your mom and mine would get along. She was a strong woman to deal with triplet boys. Callum, my older brother, was pretty self-sufficient. Always had his head in books.”

“That’s my sister,” I said with a laugh. “River is going to law school. She’s ridiculously smart. She’s in Boston with my other brother, Levi. He’s a firefighter. He was all in on a footballscholarship, but he did some volunteer work as a firefighter one summer and that was it. He was hooked.”

“Bet your parents loved that.”

I snorted. “From one dangerous thing to another. My mother tries to be chill about things. Helps with us all out of the house now. She and my dad are retired and have turned into cruisers.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Sorry?”

I laughed, leaning in to grip his arm. “They lovevacationcruises.”

“Oh.” He flushed. “I did one of those once. Pretty sure it took my liver about six months to recover.”

“Think a booze cruise is a little different.”

He held onto me, urging me to come to his side of the couch. “You’re too far away.”

“I thought we were being good and getting to know each other?” I rolled forward onto my knees.

He leaned his head on the back cushion of the couch and gave me a soft smile. Those deep chocolate eyes could tease a nun out of her habit.

And no part of me was saintly.

“I’ll be good.”

“How good?” I inched closer and squeaked when he grabbed me and set me astride his lap.