Cuddle Up Buttercup (Steamy in Sweetville Book 5) by Brynn Paulin

Author:Brynn Paulin [Paulin, Brynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: series
Publisher: Supernova Indie Publishing Services LLC
Published: 2020-12-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

~ Buttercup ~

The fire crackled as we propped our feet on the coffee table, sitting shoulder to shoulder in our pajamas, our dogs draped over our respective laps. The lights were low, and the small Christmas tree near the slider cast the room in multi-colored lights.

Holding my half-full hot chocolate, I leaned my head on Elvie’s shoulder. He kissed my crown then tilted his head into mine. Christmas music played quietly in the background and contentment filled my soul.

Closing my eyes, I let the moment surround me, infuse me.

“Tired?” he asked. “I know hiking in this weather can exhaust you.”

“No…” It had been tiring. We’d been out for a couple hours, but it had been exhilarating and fun at the time. By now, I’d had a few hours to recuperate. “Just happy. I’m enjoying the fire and being here with you. And I’m thinking.”

“About what?”

“Dumb stuff that doesn’t concern me.” Leaning forward, I set my cup on the table then resumed my position.

“Like what?” He traced his fingers along my arm and kissed the top of my head again. The intimacy drew me back into the bubble once more. I rested my hand on his thigh and lazily ran my fingers back and forth.

“You have to work at the police station tomorrow, right?”

“Yep.”

“How safe is it? Should I worry?”

“No,” he said on a chuckle. “Sweetville has never had a violent crime. The most dangerous thing around here is some kids fist-fighting at school, a belligerent drunk at the bar—which is usually less of a threat than students getting into it—or cow tipping. Which is really annoying because it’s a statue not a real animal, and it’s fucking heavy. But at least once a year, some teenagers think it’ll be damn funny to tip it over. We usually have to call a crane to upright it. Rips up the grass behind the station.”

“Wait…the cow statue is behind the police station?”

“Yeah, there’s a little square there. It’s a tribute to this being ranchland back in the 1800s.”

“Okay…” I couldn’t stop laughing.

“What?”

“Come on. You have to admit the fact that they tip the cow behind the freaking police station is damn funny.”

“If you say so,” he said, sounding a little disgruntled.

“You have to admit it’s funny,” I repeated.

“I have to admit no such thing.”

I pulled away and turned to study him. “Let me guess… You were there the last time it happened.”

He pulled me back against him. “Unfortunately.”

I tried but didn’t quite manage to suppress my snort of amusement. Elvie made a growly noise that did warm fuzzy things in my low belly. “Do you think you’ll keep being a cop after you reopen the lodge?”

“Don’t know. There will be a lot to do. Staff to manage and about a thousand other things. It’ll be easier if I have someone helping me. A partner in this endeavor. Even so, it’ll probably be too much for me to keep my workshop going and do my two shifts a week at the station and run this place.

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