The snow blizzard is keeping us inside, which I have no complaint about. The one who is restless is Derek, who came over for dinner last night, only to change his mind about traveling back to his hotel when he saw the build up of snow.

He has some cabin fever, and I’m about to take advantage of that as I join him at the kitchen table while Tanner finishes watching a Die Hard movie. According to him, it isn’t Christmas unless he’s watched Bruce Willis save the day.

I slowly sip my cup of coffee and stare at the man who is rather distracted and has no clue that I’m currently sitting with him. His head is down, his shoulders sag, and even though I haven’t known him long, I can see he has a lot on his mind.

Clearing my throat, his head pops up. After a few startled moments, he offers me a wry smile. “I was elsewhere, huh?”

“I’d say so.”

He nods and looks away before turning to meet my gaze. “You want to know what’s wrong with me?” He winces. “I’m not actually sure how to answer that because I can’t put my finger on it myself. I’m not usually so…melancholy.”

“I know I’m going to be your daughter-in-law, but you can talk to me. I hate that you’re sitting here alone and I don’t know how to help you.”

He reaches out and briefly squeezes my hand. “You do help me. You love my son, which takes a lot off my mind.” He offers me a genuine smile. “I’m truly happy for you both, and even though I’m not past fifty yet, I’m looking forward to the grandchildren you’re both going to give me.”

I blush. “I think we’ll settle on one for now.”

He laughs before becoming serious. “I’m okay, Charlotte. You don’t need to worry about me.”

I tilt my head and watch him closely, as I ask, “What happened between you and my cousin, Madison?”

If I hadn’t been watching him closely, I’d have missed the subtle widening of his eyes in surprise before he covers it up.

“I didn’t have chance to talk to Madison.” He glances away and seems to fight with himself before he asks, “What does she do?”

“She’s recently started working at McKenzies on the interior design side of the company. She loves it, and her ideas have been impressing clients. It’s a family run company but we all excel in different areas. It works out just fine.”

“Not one of you are thirty, yet you all run McKenzies like you’ve been doing it for years. Your parents must be proud.”

I grin. “They are, but Dad and his brothers still have a lot to do with the company. Not day-to-day stuff, but they’re there whenever we need them. It works.”

He concentrates on his hands and asks, “How old is Madison?”

I’m surprised by his question and then everything starts clicking into place, as I quietly answer, “Twenty-four.” He tightens his jaw and looks away.

“Thought so,” he mumbles. “I think I might skip the party at your parents place tomorrow.”

“What? No! You can’t, Derek.” I reach out and grab his hands. “Please come. I don’t want you at the hotel alone. You’re part of my family now, so you have to be there. Please…”

He sighs. “I’ll be there.”

I grin. “I knew that already.”

“I think I’ll go and get some work done on my laptop.” He pushes away from the table.

Just as he’s about to disappear, I call, “Derek…”

He turns and faces me.

“Don’t avoid Madison tomorrow night. It will hurt her if you do.”

He stares and then nods, disappearing into the guest room.

“What was that about?” Tanner asks, moving to pour himself a cup of coffee.

My eyes wander over him, and he’s sexy in his worn jeans, red T-shirt, and his hair all mused. The scruff on his face always turns me on, and the memory of how he feels when he’s between my legs pops into my head. So when he joins me at the table, I move and sit astride him. As I nuzzle into his neck, I admit, “I’m having really dirty thoughts about you right now.”

He pauses and chuckles, placing the cup down on the table. His hands grab my bottom as he whispers, “Why were you telling my dad about Madison?”

I slide my fingers through the short hair at the nape of his neck, and admit, “He was weird with her. Like maybe he’s attracted to her.” I shrug when Tanner glares at me. “I’m serious. They met, and that was it, but there was something going on between them. We both noticed.”

“She’s younger than you,” Tanner comments, a worried frown between his eyes. “You’re serious?”

“Don’t worry about it, I’m sure it’s all in my imagination, just like my kissing cousins is.”

“Tell me so that I can have my wicked way with you.”

I roll my eyes. “Mom asked me what was going on between my cousins, Alexander and Rachel.” I sigh. “My family is like a soap opera.”

He chuckles. “I’m still waiting…”

“That’s just it though, I don’t really know what’s going on between them. We only think we know, which is weird. They always seem to gravitate toward each other, and I have the feeling that their hearts are involved with each other the way that ours are. They’re cousins. I’m not sure it’s allowed.”

Shrugging, I add, “Alexander is bringing a date for the party, and Paige, Rachel’s sister, said Rachel is as well. Should be interesting at any rate.”

“I totally see the soap opera theme.”

I grin. “Me too.”

“Do you think we can stop discussing my dad and your cousins, and concentrate on what’s going on in my jeans?”

Leaning in, I bite his earlobe and feel him shudder under me, especially when I press against his cock, rocking my hips.

He growls in my ear as his hands slip up my shirt, covering my breasts. He rubs and pinches my nipples, flooding my panties with my arousal. That’s all that’s between us: my panties and his jeans.

“I want you, right here.” I lift up and make quick work of his jeans. He helps me get them past his hips and then I have his hard, pulsing shaft in my hand.

Tanner dives between my legs and sliding my panties to the side, he tugs me down. Impaling me deeply, I struggle to catch a breath as my body feels like it’s about to explode with pleasure.

“I’m so deep like this,” Tanner gasps against my lips. “So deep.”

I rotate my hips and arching back, Tanner moves his hands from my back and shoves my shirt over my breasts, clamping his warm mouth around a nipple. He suckles hard and my core answers him by rippling around the thick penis that currently teases me with the long, hard strokes he’s doing.

“I’m going to come.” I moan against his lips as they claim mine in a soul-searching kiss. My arms cling to his shoulders, and then I moan loudly into his mouth as my release claims me.

Tanner grunts and gasps and then I feel his release squirting against my sensitive walls. “Feels so good,” I moan, rotating my hips, prolonging our pleasure.

“You always feel good.” Tanner wraps his arms around my waist, panting. “I want you as my wife as soon as we can arrange it.”

I smile into his neck. “Yes.”