Chapter 9
nine
. . .
Dermot
“I just want it known, I’m utterly obsessed with her,” Tessa announces.
Same.
I roll my eyes playfully as I shut her car door behind her in front of the clinic.
I usually park in the back during business hours, but after we’re closed, I park out here.
We elected to drive back to Holiday Ridge after the wait times in Lake Placid were outrageous.
We got our meals to go from the local diner and decided to eat at my place since Kip is home alone.
According to my sister, I’m emotionally dependent on him.
No comment.
Even though we drove separately, we talked the whole way back.
About Maggie.
“Why haven’t you asked her out?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug as we start up the walking path that leads to the clinic.
The stone walkway has very dead bushes that are covered in snow at the moment instead of flowers.
“I want to,” I say softly. “I just love what we have right now. It’s so fucking perfect, and I don’t want to ruin it if she doesn’t feel the same. ”
She gives me a look of exasperation as I take the food from her.
She glances over at the circle of Holiday Ridge.
I have the best view of Promise Pond, in my opinion, and behind it in the distance is God’s masterpiece—the Adirondack Mountains.
It’s a breathtaking view, and sometimes I wonder why Tessa won’t just move here.
I may not get out to experience everything, but I know she would.
She’d love it and could live with me to enjoy the views daily.
Low black iron fences surround each business along the outer perimeter of the downtown area, and another set of iron fencing rings the pond.
It makes a perfect circle around Promise Pond, which is great for the tourists.
They can do the whole loop, and on Saturdays, the market is set up.
No matter the temp or the weather, everyone is out.
“I was going to ask her to the market this weekend,” I answer shyly. “I want to show her who I am before I rush into anything.”
Tessa gives me a sidelong look. Her hair is in two braids with her knit hat pulled down over her ears. She’s wearing her pink Carhartt jacket, and her cheeks shine the same color. “Give her a chance to not want you before you allow yourself to want her?”
I already want her.
I hate having a sister sometimes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Do you like her?”
My heart aches, the pain making me want to rub my chest. “A lot,” I admit in a low voice, and she shakes her head.
“I think she likes you a lot too.” I shrug, and she smacks my arm. “Why didn’t you kiss her when you guys took Kip on the walk?”
I close the gate behind us. “I wanted to, but I got nervous. The first kiss is a lot of pressure.”
“Yeah, so get it out of the way. You’re thirty-three, not sixteen.”
Maggie makes me feel sixteen, but I keep that tidbit close to my heart.
“Really? Damn, I didn’t know,” I say dryly just as the door of Promise Pond Books flies open, and Maggie appears.
Her hair is down, peachy-pink waves flowing behind her as she heads down the brick stairs of the shop’s porch.
She has on just a sweater and jeans, not dressed for the frigid January weather.
I bring in my brows since I don’t like the idea of her being cold and since I thought she’d be at her parents’ for longer.
“Holy shit. She’s prettier in person,” Tessa mutters, and I grunt.
“Yeah, she is.”
“Hey!” Maggie says happily, waving at us. “I have that loaf for you!”
My brows relax, and I smile widely at her. She’s just so damn pretty. I’m moving toward her without even a thought. I feel Tessa beside me, walking with me, and I know she’s watching me. When we arrive at the fence almost at the same time as Maggie does, she waves once more. “You must be Tessa.”
“I am,” Tessa says warily but still with a smile. She looks at me, her brow raised a bit. “And you’re Maggie Welch.”
Maggie beams, then she leans in playfully. “Does he talk about me? ’Cause he talks about you a lot.”
Tessa’s whole face brightens at that, taking my breath away as she glances up at me. “Does he now?”
I shrug, a smile pulling at my lips. “You’re an okay sister.”
“Okay sister. I’ll take that,” Tessa says with a laugh. “And I know who you are from your books. We’re both big fans.”
My whole face goes crimson. “She didn’t know that,” I mumble out the side of my mouth, trying not to look at Maggie.
My sister giggles at my expense. “Look at you, all blushing.” She goes to brush my cheeks, but I bat her hand away. Still laughing, she looks at Maggie. “He talks about you a lot too.”
“Wow. Are you done?” I mutter, and my annoying sister just beams.
“Not even kinda.”
I groan in defeat as my gaze settles on Maggie. Of course, she’s grinning from ear to ear.
“Told you I’d get the answer,” she sings with a little jig, reminding me of the first night I spent with her.
“You were right,” I say softly, holding her gaze. Her cheeks are starting to turn pink, and when she sniffs from the cold, I take off my jacket.
“Dermot, I’m fine,” she claims, but I shake my head, wrapping the coat around her. She cuddles into it and smiles. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” I say, rocking on my heels. “How was your visit with your parents?”
“Great, we had a blast. We’re planning a Galentine’s party. If you’re interested, Tessa.”
Galentine’s? I don’t know what that is, but I don’t think I like it. Tessa’s face scrunches up. “Oh, that sounds like fun. I assumed you’d spend Valentine’s with my big brother here.”
I cough on absolutely nothing before pointing to the package in Maggie’s hand. “Is that the loaf?”
“It is,” she says, handing it to me. I unwrap it, taking in the skilled cuts that make a pretty little design in the bread. “We made it from scratch. It’s really good.”
“I bet ham and cheese will taste okay on it,” I muse, and when I look up, her brows are notched in deep. I hold back my grin as I add, “Since I’ll have to make it, and it won’t be as good as yours.”
Her eyes widen with excitement as her face splits in a wide smile. “I could always come over and make it for you.”
I swallow. “I’d like that.”
“Holy shit,” Tessa says under her breath, and I shoot her a glare. Which she promptly ignores and looks at Maggie.
Maggie leans in toward my sister. “And to answer you, he hasn’t asked me to be his valentine.”
Tessa leans in too, and I want the ground to open up and eat me whole. “Does he know you want him to be your valentine?”
Both their eyes cut to me then back to each other.
Yeah, not a fan here.
“I’ve given off some pretty strong signals. Should I just ask?”
Tessa nods as I run my hands down my face. “You guys are killing me.”
They both ignore me, and Tessa says, “Yeah, maybe. I don’t know. I’m down for Galentine’s, honestly.”
“Right? I told my sisters that if he does ask, I’m blowing them off.”
“Wow. You must like him.”
Maggie grins. “Yeah, he’s pretty awesome.”
Tessa beams at me. “He is.” She winks at me, and I continue to glare. She giggles before turning back to Maggie. “Have you eaten at the Holly Lodge?”
“Oh yeah. It’s my favorite diner in town.”
I watch my sister’s profile as she nods eagerly. “Do you like their steak salad with blue cheese?”
“What are you doing?” I ask, just as Maggie exclaims, “Oh my God, no way. That and the mozzarella sticks are my favorite.”
“You’re kidding me!”
“No, for real. Also, I have to tell you, when my mom and I go to Lake Placid, we always go through Cozy Cup. I love your homemade whipped cream and the caramel. It’s my favorite coffee, for sure.”
Tessa smiles proudly. “Which beverage is your favorite?”
“The Frosty Freeze! It’s so tasty.”
I love the look of pride on my beautiful sister’s face. I knock my shoulder into hers as I say, “That’s my favorite too. The hazelnut and sugar cookie flavors pair perfectly.”
Maggie agrees earnestly. “They really do. My mom gets the sugar cookie by itself.”
“You and Dermot should make the trip down, have a cup with me one day,” my pestering sister suggests.
“I’d love that,” Maggie says with a thousand-watt smile. “Just need him to ask me.”
Tessa snorts, then elbows me. “Yeah, you should ask a lot of things.”
“I will when you’re not around to stare at us.” I give her a dry look.
“Make sure to let me know if he doesn’t,” Tessa whispers to Maggie, not so quietly. “He’s a wild card, this guy. Lots of bad girlfriends.”
Maggie’s eyes fill with compassion, and it pisses me off that my sister threw my business out there. “It’s not a big deal. It was a long time ago,” I say, kicking at the post of the fence. “Something I wish I could have told you, instead of having it come from my sister.”
Tessa shrugs. “He doesn’t like talking about that kind of stuff. It’s been a while for him when it comes to dating, so be patient with the big lug.”
Maggie smiles sweetly at me, her eyes locking with mine. “That’s not a problem.”
“Are you done?” I ask, and Tessa just smiles like the pain in the ass she is.
Then out of nowhere, she throws her hands up dramatically. “Oh shit. I forgot to put the alarm system on at the shop,” she says in pure, animated horror. “I have to go back! Like, right now!”
If I weren’t onto her charade, I would be more concerned. Instead, I eye her. “Oh no, please tell me more about the alarm that wasn’t set by me.”
She waves me off. “You did it wrong. Duh! I have to go. I hate to do this, but I’ve gotta cancel dinner. But hey, Maggie loves everything I got, so you two can eat it. Together. In your house. And maybe ask some questions you want the answers to.”
“Oh no, I couldn’t. I didn’t mean to interrupt your dinner. I know how important they are,” Maggie says quickly, guilt written all over her face. “I’m so sorry.”
Tessa waves her off. “They are, but something has come up, and I can’t ignore it.”
“Tessa,” I try, but she shakes her head.
“Sorry. Rain check?”
She wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me close. I hug her back as I sigh deeply. “You’re doing too much.”
In my ear, she says, “This is it, Mot. Don’t overthink it.”
She pulls away and squeezes my arm. Then she looks at Maggie. “I can’t wait to get to know you.”
“I want the same, but are you sure you need to go?”
Tesse feigns sadness. “Unfortunately. But my brother is in great hands.”
She waves to us, and then she’s off. I watch her get into her car before I look back at Maggie. “You know she did that so we could be alone, because apparently I’m over here dropping the ball left and right.”
“Oh, totally. I have four sisters. I can see meddling a mile away.”
We share a smile. “But I’m not upset about it. I want to spend time with you.”
“Me too,” she says softly.
I don’t know who moves first, but together, we walk to the end of the gate, and I open it for her.
I hold it for her as she steps through, her eyes on me.
The tension between us burns like the setting sun, and I can’t help but look at her lips.
They’re so plush, and I wish I hadn’t waited so long to kiss them.
Her two front teeth sink into her bottom lip as she looks away, a blush creeping up her beautiful face, and I’m gone for her.
I blow out a breath as we walk up the drive to my clinic. I unlock the door for her, then relock it before we head up the side to the entrance to my apartment. I try not to look at her ass as we climb the stairs, but that would be like asking a bookworm not to buy books at the bookshop next door.
When we enter my apartment, Kip goes absolutely batshit since Maggie is in his home. He jumps into her arms, and she coos and loves on him as I set the food on the side table, along with the loaf of bread. I shake out my hands as I watch her fuss over my dog, until I can’t take it anymore.
Once I make sure the door is locked, I say, “Kip, go to your bed.”
He listens, running to his spot in the middle of the living room, which makes Maggie look up at me with a pout.
“Hey—”
“No,” I say as I step into her personal space. “Because my lips want yours, and I can’t wait another second.”
And then I reach for her, bringing her into my arms and cupping her jaw before I tilt it up for my mouth. She doesn’t even look surprised—no, not Maggie Welch. My girl looks eager right before her eyes fall shut and our lips meet.
Yeah, it’s fucking heaven.
She tastes like something sweet, maybe strawberries, and I want more.
I press into the small of her back, bringing her in closer as I run my tongue along the seam of her lips.
She moans into my mouth as she opens for me, and I’m a fucking goner.
I stroke her tongue with mine, basking in the feel of her as heat gathers at the base of my spine.
Unable to breathe, I pull back, both of us gasping. “I don’t want to stop,” I admit, brushing my thumb along her jaw as I turn us, backing her into the front door.
Her back hits it, and she gasps before meeting my gaze with heavy-lidded eyes. “Then don’t.”
I shake my head. “No, if I don’t stop, this will go too far.”
“Let it,” she says against my lips. “I want you, Dermot.”
I groan against her lips, pressing my hips into hers. “Can you feel what you do to me?”
She moans so prettily, I almost come at the sound. “Please.”
“Fuck,” I mutter as she captures my mouth once more. It’s all tongue and teeth, desperate, and I can’t fucking stop. I want to consume her. I never want to eat or drink again, just live off her essence. Fuck me, she is life.
I slide my hand up over her shoulders, threading my fingers through the loose strands at the base of her neck.
I grip them tightly, angling her head so I can run my tongue over the roof of her mouth and then along the bottom lip that I swear she nibbles on to torment me.
She lets out the sexiest of whimpers, and I groan as I pull away to speak against her lips.
“You taste so fucking good. I want to taste all of you.”
“How about you get on your knees for me and taste the mess you made between my legs like the good boy I know you are?”
I think I just came in my pants.