Trig sat on the deck sharing a beer with Cannon. It had been a long time since he’d been this relaxed. He knew his decision to leave California was a wise one. Not in the two years that he’d lived there had he had a kiss like the one he shared with Charlie.

“What’s your long-term plan?” Cannon asked.

“I don’t have one.” He knew his short-term plan was to get his lips on Charlie again as soon as possible, but after that, he had no idea what the future had in store.

“What’s your skillset? You got anything to sell to the world?”

Trig chuckled. “Like your brother, I don’t have money problems. I’ve got a decent pension. What I have is a direction problem. All I know is I want something real.”

Cannon emptied his beer and tossed the bottle to the open trash can in the corner. “It doesn’t get much more real than Aspen Cove. Bowie has been thinking about expanding the bait and tackle shop to a full outdoor recreation store. If that’s your thing, I’m sure he’d love to partner with someone.”

Trig rubbed the sore spot on his leg where he’d scraped it in his fall. The small abrasion was hot and angry.

“I don’t think I’m cut out for being a cashier. I love the thrill of an adventure.”

“No man, that’s what he’s planning. He wants to hire someone to cashier while he and probably you take clients ice fishing or day treks snowshoeing. Who would be a better role model than a guy who refuses to give in?” Cannon looked at Trig’s left leg.

“Seriously? I’d love that.” He hadn’t given owning a part of something much thought. He’d spent the bulk of his recovery training for the marathon. He’d made his point to Lila, and now he had to make a point to himself.

He considered Charlie’s statement about whether he thought people came to their own conclusions about him, or if he was feeding their fears and making his predictions come true. One thing he knew was if he didn’t believe in himself, he couldn’t expect anyone else to.

“I’m sure he’ll broach the subject while you're here, so don’t tell him I prepped you.”

“No worries. I can keep things to myself.”

The door opened and out walked Charlie. “You boys want privacy?”

Trig nearly fell out of his chair to make room for her. “No, come and have a seat. I warmed it up for you.”

Cannon looked between the two of them and smiled. “I was going inside anyway. See you in the morning.” He walked inside, leaving them alone.

Charlie searched the snow-covered deck. “Where’s Clovis?”

Trig nodded toward the window where they could see Otis in his dog bed curled around the oversized hound. “He’s traded me in. He saw me kissing you and has given me the cold shoulder ever since.”

“How’s his eye?”

“Still swollen shut, but he managed to find both his and Otis’ bowl of kibble so I think he’ll survive.”

“I love a survivor.”

Trig looked at his half-full beer and offered it to Charlie. “You want a drink?”

“Thanks.” She took it and water-falled it into her mouth.

“Afraid of catching something? Need I remind you that we shared a kiss earlier?”

She pressed her lips to the top of the bottle and took a deep drink. “That wasn’t just a kiss. That was a landmark event.” She looked down at the bottle. “I was being considerate. For all you know, I’ll backwash.”

He chuckled. “For all you know, I already did.”

She wrapped her arms around her body and shivered. “I forgot how cold it gets up in the mountains.” She leaned back and stared toward the sky. “But look at the stars. You won’t get this view in the city.”

Trig continued to stare at the woman in front of him. “Nope, I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful.”

She lowered her eyes to him and even in the dark of the star-lit night he could see her cheeks pink from his compliment.

“Are you angling for more kisses?”

He walked over and lifted her from the chair, only to change places and put her in his lap. “Are you offering?”

She turned sideways and flung her legs over the arm of the Adirondack chair. “I could be persuaded to kiss you.”

He placed one hand on her thigh and the other on her back. “Persuaded, huh? What do I have to do?”

She leaned forward and whispered against his lips. “All you need to do is ask.”

“Charlie Parker, will you give me your best kiss?”

She didn’t need any more prodding. Sitting on Trig’s lap with his hands on her body and her lips on his was the best way to spend a cold December evening. When their mouths met in the middle, she no longer felt cold. He managed to ignite a fire in her veins that blazed through her body.

It wasn’t until she squirmed and he winced that they pulled apart. “Are you hurt? Shit, I’m too heavy for you.” She tried to hop off his lap, but he held her in place.

“You are not too heavy for me. I’m fine.” He pointed to his left leg. “I cut myself when I fell last night. It’s a bit sore but it’s nothing.”

Her lips spread into a thin line. “Are you sure I’m not too heavy?”

“Charlie, you’re perfect. I love the way your ass feels in my lap.” He shifted so she could feel just how much he liked it. “If I liked the feel of you any better, I’d embarrass myself.” The fact that his hard-as-a-rock rod sat stiff between his legs was proof enough that Charlie Parker did something for him.

She rocked against him. “Nothing to be embarrassed about there,” she said.

“Glad you think so.”

She laid her head on his chest while they both watched the tiny fires of the diehard outdoorsmen on the lake go out. Pretty soon the only lights they saw came from the millions of stars above them. Off in the distance, a shooting star raced across the sky to disappear behind the peak.

“Make a wish,” she said.

He turned her head and pressed his forehead to hers. “I already did at the bakery and it came true. I got to kiss you.”

Her mouth dropped open. “That was your wish?”

He reached into his pocket and pulled it out. “I took it back since it was already granted.”

She snuggled into him. “That was my wish too.”

He looked to where the falling star had disappeared and made another wish. Only this one required a whole other level of commitment from Charlie Parker.

“We should get to bed if we plan to have breakfast before I leave tomorrow.”

She stiffened in his arms. “You’re leaving?”

Was that sadness he heard in her voice?

“Yes.” He tapped her nose and rose from the chair setting her on her feet. “But only for the night.” He pointed to the ice on the lake. “It’s boys’ night out, and we’re going ice fishing. I’ll be back on Christmas Eve.”

There was a sigh of relief that made Trig feel good. She’d feel something if he were gone.

“What about Clovis?”

“I was going to take him.” He looked back at the house to where the dogs continued to sleep.

“Leave him here. It’s bad enough you might freeze to death, but no need to make the dog suffer. You realize there’s a big storm coming in.”

“Really? How bad?”

“They say it’s going to lay down a lot of ice.”

“We can handle it.”

“Why you’d want to is beyond me, but I’m sure it’s testosterone driven.” She shrugged. “I’ll keep Clovis warm while you guys bond in the freezing cold.”

“You’d do that for me?” It warmed his heart that she’d offer.

She pressed her lips against his for a quick kiss. “That’s what friends do for friends.”

“So now we’re friends?”

She turned and walked toward the door. “We have to be. I don’t kiss strangers.”

He opened the door and limped inside. His leg was really bothering him tonight. “What if I want to be more than friends?”

She looked at him like he was one of her cosmic brownies. The ones she devoured in seconds.

“We can negotiate over pancakes and coffee.”

He walked her to her room and gave her another kiss. This one promised the possibility of more.

He went back to the living room to get Clovis, but he didn’t have the heart to separate him from Otis. The two dogs had formed a bond.

Trig went to his room and removed his leg. What had been a small scrape earlier had grown into a painful red-hot knot. Trig pulled out the salve he used for sore spots and rubbed the ointment into his skin. He didn’t have time for something as silly as this to slow him down. He had ice fishing and kisses to look forward to.