Chapter 12
twelve
. . .
Maggie
There is absolutely no reason for me to go back to my bed.
I wear Dermot’s clothes when I’m not naked, and he has plenty of books for me to read when we aren’t trying to devour each other.
I didn’t even grab my laptop because I don’t need my characters to feel like I’m living anymore.
Dermot gives me all those feelings and more.
It’s only been two days since we started having sex, and I know I’m dick drunk on him, but I also know I’m falling hard for him.
I realize that’s ridiculous, that it hasn’t even been two weeks, but everything I learn about him, I absolutely adore.
I love taking baths with him, I love cooking with him, and most of all, I love just being together.
Both of us reading as Kip lies across us.
It’s perfect.
It’s everything I’ve craved, and what I love most is how much he’s been smiling.
He isn’t running from me anymore; he’s running right to me.
When I enter his apartment, I hear the shower running as I greet Kip. If I weren’t bundled up for the sunny January day, I’d go in there to join Dermot. I took a shower over at my place then got ready before coming back over here so we can head to the market.
“Babe?” he calls out, and I smile.
Between babe and pretty girl, the man has my heart in a vise.
“Yeah, it’s me,” I call back as I love on Kip. “I’d join you in there, but I have layers on.”
“Damn cold weather is a cockblock.”
“I’ve always thought that,” I agree, and his laughter flows out to me, making me grin even harder.
I move toward his three bookcases by the windows.
Each one is dark green with gold-lined shelves.
They’re so pretty and so clean. Dermot is like that, very put together and maybe a bit OCD, but I like it.
My ex was such a slob, and it caused me to become the same.
I can’t help myself sometimes, especially when I’m deep into a deadline, but Jason made me so much worse.
I’ve gotten better over the years, but after being with so many disgusting men, it’s nice to be with a man who takes pride in his space and wants to keep it neat.
Dermot has a lot of titles, but when I find that he has every single one of my books, not only trade paperbacks, but all my special editions, my heart explodes in my chest. Jason never believed in my writing, and when I date, everyone has always called it a little hobby.
Saying I write porn for women. But here is Dermot, proudly showing me off.
“I can explain.” I whip around to find him shrugging on his shirt, his muscles rippling. “I love your words. And I know—sorry if that’s weird—but, babe, you tell a hell of a story.” My lips break into a wide grin. “Okay, and I’m obsessed with everything you do.”
God. How in the hell am I not supposed to fall for this guy?
I move across the room, and he opens his arms for me before I even get to him. He wraps me up, nuzzling my ear with his nose before hugging me tightly to his wide chest. I close my eyes, snuggling deep in his warmth. Against his chest, I say, “No one I know has a collection of my books like that.”
“You’re my favorite author,” he says, kissing my temple. “It’s not weird, is it?”
I shake my head. “No. I think it’s sweet.”
“Well, damn. I wish I had known you’d think that. I was so embarrassed, I wouldn’t approach you.”
“Oh,” I say, pulling back to look at him. “I thought you didn’t approach me because you were intimidated by my gorgeous face.”
His eyes burn just for me, that smile of his blinding as he gathers me closer. “It was a combination of all that and the fact that I’ve never wanted anyone as desperately as I want you.”
I kiss his jaw. “I’m so glad I got knocked out by a cock.”
He kisses my nose. “Me too.”
“Even though I’d rather be knocked out by yours.”
He waggles his brows. “Me too.”
We grin at each other like fools, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
“Hey, Dr. Aldridge!”
“Dr. Aldridge! Hi!”
“My nana is doing so much better, thanks to you, Doctor!”
“Dr. Aldridge, it’s good to see you. Here, take some chips.”
After putting on Kip’s leash, Dermot took my hand in his, and we headed out to go to the market.
For the last week of January, I wouldn’t have expected it to be so busy, but everyone is out.
While it’s chilly, it’s comfortable with how brightly the sun is shining.
The air is crisp and the sky so blue with no clouds.
The mountains stand proud and tall, while the sounds of people skating on the pond mix with the general chatter of the market.
I love Holiday Ridge.
But I think I love it more being on Dermot’s arm.
“Holy moly, I love being with a celebrity.” Dermot gives me a bored look, but I can see a grin fighting to break through. “Do you think I could get your autograph?”
“Are you done?”
I smirk. “Not at all.”
I cuddle into Dermot’s side, holding his arm with both my hands as we walk along the circle.
I love how he continues to kiss my temple or guide me with his hand to my back.
He’s always touching me, and it makes me feel so good to know he feels comfortable enough to do so.
I’m still pissed that he was ever made to feel like he didn’t deserve the kind of love and attention he craves.
It’s cool. It’s my goal never to allow him to feel anything but what he wants.
“Is everyone staring at us?” he whispers into my temple, and I turn to look up at him.
“Yeah. Apparently, I snagged the most eligible bachelor,” I say with a little wiggle.
“Hardly.”
“No, it’s true. And now everyone is wondering what took us so long, with us being neighbors and me always checking you out. There is a reason everyone in town calls you Dr. Do-My-Body-Good, and it’s all me.”
His lips curve. “I should probably get a shirt that says it’s my fault, huh?”
“That would be helpful, but it’s fine. I’ll just tell everyone that I locked you down.”
He arches a brow at me. “You locked me down, or I locked you down?”
I give him a dry look. “Kip made a move faster than you did.”
Dermot grins. “But when I made a move, I made you scream.”
I wink, and he kisses me fully on the lips.
The kind of kiss that is frowned upon in public, but I highly doubt either of us cares.
When he pulls back, he kisses my nose, and I lean into him as we stop in front of Pierce Ridge Creamery’s tent.
Elaine Pierce has a goat farm that supplies the best goat cheese in the state of Vermont.
“We should get some for dinner. It’d go great with the pasta I’m making,” I suggest, and he nods.
“Good idea—”
Before he can finish, Elaine gasps loudly. “Well, lookie here. Did Maggie Welch finally snag the hot doctor in town?”
I smile brightly, then I hook a thumb at him. “I did. See?”
Elaine snaps her fingers. “Damn it. I really wanted my girl Nora to find herself hanging a lock with him.”
I laugh at that as Dermot smiles. “Is Nora finally back for good?”
Elaine’s granddaughter spent a lot of summers here, but this is the first I’m hearing of her moving back. “Yes, finally. She’s gonna take over for me.”
“How nice. You’re going to rock retirement.”
“I am, for sure,” Elaine agrees, then she points between the two of us.
Her gray hair is in a long braid that reaches her bottom, and her bright-green knit hat is pulled low over her ears.
She may be close to eighty, but she doesn’t look a day over fifty.
Her green eyes shine as she flashes us a grin.
“I have to say, you two look rather good together.”
“He is really hot, isn’t he?” I whisper, even though everyone can hear me.
Elaine chuckles as Dermot says, “She’s only with me for my looks.”
“And his co—”
His hand covers over my mouth, and I beam up at him as he laughs. “Cuddles. She means cuddles.”
“Oh, I’m sure,” Elaine teases, making Dermot blush even redder.
God, I love that he blushes.
We get our cheese, and as we head toward the next stall, he whispers in my ear, “You’re going to pay for that.”
I bat my eyes at him. “How so, Dr. Aldridge?”
His eyes narrow. “I’m going to spend my night getting you right there with my tongue but not letting you fall over the edge.”
I giggle like a fiend. “Oh, you say that like it’s a bad thing.”
He groans as he shakes his head. “Fuck, you drive me mental.”
“You love it, and you know it.”
He shakes his head, kissing my nose. “I do, and I would never deny that.”