Chapter Four
Brooks
Forcing myself to tear my eyes away from the redheaded siren so I don’t make her uncomfortable, I look at the TV. “Home Alone, huh? You gotta wonder what that dad did for a living to be able to afford that house and taking the whole family to France for Christmas.”
“No kidding. The way they portrayed life in the late eighties and nineties left people with some unrealistic expectations.”
The conversation flows through the movie, and I find myself enjoying the unexpected company more than I could have ever imagined. The credits roll and the next movie begins, and neither of us makes a move to get up.
“Hell yeah. Die Hard’s one of the best Christmas movies there is,” I proclaim.
Her brows furrow and lips turn down as her gaze jerks to mine. “Die Hard is not a Christmas movie.”
“Sure it is. They’re having a Christmas party.”
The way her eyes roll in response is adorable. “So what? It could be any kind of party, and the story still works. Christmas is not central to the story.”
“But he’s coming home for Christmas, and they’re doing the robbery at a time when things are shut down and people are distracted,” I counter, loving how into this argument she seems to be.
She blows a raspberry. “He could be visiting at any time, and any bank type holiday would produce the same results.”
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree because I’ll die on this hill.” I grin at her.
She snorts, shaking her head. “Haha, so funny.”
My smile is so big my cheeks start to hurt as I send her a wink. “I thought so.”
She bites down on her bottom lip and a flush comes over her cheeks. My blood heats as my dick twitches at her response. Who knew bantering could be such a turn-on?
Or maybe it’s this woman in particular.
We’ve only just met, yet my body is responding to her unlike I’ve ever felt with anyone else.
Sure, the easy conversation reminds me of being with Kayla, but the instantaneous and boiling attraction is nothing like the physical relationships I’ve had with other women over the years.
They were slow burn at best, and none of them can hold a candle to his one.
I wouldn’t be able to pick them out of a lineup today.
This woman beside me, though, I know she will be imprinted in my brain for years to come, never to be forgotten. The thought pierces through me like a lightning bolt, striking me a thousand times harder than the electricity I felt when our hands touched.
I’m fried by the realization, but I know one thing for certain – she’s the one.
My heart thunders in my chest at the prospect I’ve just met my future wife. It’s all I can do not to jolt off the couch and scare the shit out of her with an announcement which would make me sound crazy.
I suddenly understand the agony my brother must’ve been going through all those years he held himself back from Kayla.
To know she’s the one but not be able to do a damn thing about it must’ve been torture—and he did it for me to boot!
I owe the man a huge thank you. There was never anything between Kayla and myself, but he wasn’t certain there had been and didn’t want to get in the way.
Scrubbing my hand over my face, I blow out a deep breath in an attempt to calm my sudden overwhelming feelings. I’ve just had two life-changing revelations in the span of five minutes. I need another drink stat.
“Be back in a minute,” I mumble as I jump up and scurry into the kitchen before I lose my shit in front of the woman I know damn well I’m going to marry.
I place my hands on top of my head, pacing from the fridge to the dining room table and back, while my mind swirls. What are the odds I’m bemoaning my single status and the perfect woman shows up on my doorstep? Actually, I don’t even care, but man who would’ve thought?
A grin I can’t even begin to smother spreads across my face. I’m sure I look like the Joker. Fuck, I need to get my shit together, or she’s going to think I’m crazy and run back out into the snowstorm instead of staying here with me.
I’ve just about gotten myself under control when the lights flicker before going out completely.
I wait a moment to see if they’ll come back on, but after a minute they’re still out.
Shuffling through the kitchen so as not to run into anything, I feel my way to the drawer with a flashlight in it for just such emergencies.
Switching it on, I make my way back to Everlee, still where I left her in the recliner.
“Looks like we’re going to have to make our own entertainment now.”
A chuckle escapes before a grin overtakes my face. “Oh really? What did you have in mind?”
“Oh, I-I-I d-didn’t mean…” Her head shakes as she stutters, cheeks so pink I can see the color in the dim light.
I shoot her a wink. “Just givin’ you a hard time, but seeing how the power’s out, we are going to have to cuddle up in front of the fire to keep warm. Hope you don’t mind sleeping on the floor.”