Wedding Bands by Ev Bishop

Author:Ev Bishop
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9780993761751
Publisher: Winding Path Books
Published: 2018-11-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

The woodstove pushed out lazy waves of heat, and the flames behind the glass were a shimmering haze. Head propped on a cushion from the couch, Jo stretched out on the living room rug, a beautiful hand-tufted gold, navy and burgundy oriental carpet she’d found rolled up in the shed, protected by plastic wrapping.

She couldn’t believe how quickly time disappeared. November was flying by. It hardly seemed possible. Snow for the winter would fall in earnest soon—no more of these hit or miss flurries or brief stints of wet flakes. The weatherman was calling for eighteen inches over night. Crazy! How long had it been since she’d seen that much snow?

But the changes in the weather weren’t really what shocked her. It was how the hours she and Callum spent together were accumulating—and how she could never get enough.

The past few weeks he’d been at her side pretty much whenever he wasn’t at work, and despite Dave’s dire repeated warnings and Samantha’s chronic skepticism, Jo felt pretty good about things.

Like her thoughts called him to her, he strolled back into the living room with a decanter of port and two glasses. He handed her one and filled it when she nodded happily.

“This is getting to be a tradition.”

“Traditions are good.”

“Are they?”

“Totally.” He smiled, filled his own glass too, and sank down beside her on the rug, so close that his hip rested lightly against hers.

“It’s an amazing place, Jo. You’re right.”

“Of course I am—but a lot of it’s thanks to you. We got a lot done, especially the last few days.”

Callum nodded and closed his eyes, basking in the heat from the stove. “I thought I’d never be warm again,” he said.

“Aw, poor baby,” she said lightly, sleepily. “Want me to kiss it better—” Jo broke off, suddenly wide-awake.

“Do I want you to what?” he teased.

“It’s a figure of speech,” she retorted.

“Fine, fine—but remember, you made the rule: no flirting.”

“Ha, funny.”

“It sure is cold though,” she said a few minutes later. “The plastic is going to help a lot.”

“That’s me. A winterizing genius.”

“Yep.” Her eyelids were heavy again. “The fire feels so good, doesn’t it?”

“The best.” Callum moved to lie on his side, facing her, head supported by his propped elbow.

“Your hair looks like spun copper and gold in the firelight,” he said.

“So like wire, hey? Gee, thanks.”

His eyes crinkled.

The deep, rich port mellowed her well-worked muscles, and the combination of the pretty setting, glowing fire, and Callum’s ever-yummier-to-her scent cast a cozy spell.

“Are you flirting with me, sir?”

“Nah,” he said. “If I was flirting, Ms. Kendall, you wouldn’t have to ask.”

“Good to know.” She rolled from her back to her side, mirroring his position.

They looked at each other for a long while, then Callum’s eyes dropped from her face, traveled the length of her body, and rested on her dove gray corduroy pants.

“What?” Her mouth twitched as she waited for some smart comment.

He didn’t say anything, but his brow creased.

“What?”

“I was just wondering—all day, actually,” he finally said. “Ah, never mind.

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