Page 187 of Claimed At First Sight

When I reach him, I take his hand in mine and squeeze it.

“Thank you,” I say softly. “I’m much more comfortable now.”

His gaze lingers on me for a brief moment before he gives a single nod.

“Come on. Let’s get you in front of the fire.”

I climb back into the nest I’d built and wrap a blanket around myself. Somehow, in the few minutes I’d been gone, it has become even cozier.

Several large pillar candles now flicker around the space, casting a warm golden glow across the room. Bottled water and an assortment of snacks have appeared beside the cushions, everything neatly arranged within easy reach.

“You did all this while I was changing?” My eyes drift to the candles. “In case the electricity goes out?”

His eyes twinkle.

“The building has backup generators. If the power fails, they’ll start up.”

Yes, I remember Leon mentioning checking them.

“Still…” He follows my gaze to the candles. “You can never be too prepared.”

I can’t help smiling. “I’m beginning to think that’s your life motto.”

“It has served me well.”

I don’t doubt it. In this line of business, preparation isn’t a personality trait. It’s essential to stay alive.

“Wouldn’t a flashlight or two be better?” I ask.

Maximo settles beside me, stretching out his long legs toward the fire, and nods toward the sofa.

Two flashlights are already sitting on the side table, ready to be used.

“I prefer anticipating a problem before it becomes one.”

No kidding. At this point, I’m certain he has a Plan C tucked away somewhere should the candles and flashlights both fail.

I shake my head, unable to suppress a smile. “You really have thought of everything.”

For a while, neither of us says anything. The fire crackles beside us while the storm continues to howl beyond the windows, occasionally hurling another wave of snow against the glass.

Without thinking about it, I let my head drift onto Maximo’s shoulder. His arm slips around me, drawing me against his side as though this is the most natural thing in the world.

I breathe in the scent that is unmistakably his. Crisp aftershave, fresh cotton, and something warm I can’t quite place. Somehow, it quiets the anxious chatter in my mind far more effectively than all the engineering explanations he could give me.

My body gradually unwinds, the tight knot that had settled between my shoulders beginning to loosen. I curl a little closer, the warmth of him chasing away the lingering chill.

Fear does strange things to people. It makes them seek comfort wherever they can find it, and right now Maximo happens to be the nearest source of it.

It has nothing to do with the quiet tenderness that seems to be settling between us.

Nothing at all.

Chapter Fifty-One

Mialina

Snuggled against Maximo’s side, my fingers twitch with the sudden urge to slide under his shirt and across his back, to discover whether the hard muscles there are as solid as they seem.