Chapter 9

* * *

CHRISTINA

Christina could not stop thinking of Gideon – and that kiss. Never in her life had she been kissed so thoroughly or sweetly. Sure, she'd had a peck on the lips from a few guys, but no one ever acted like they were savoring the moment. He kept touching her cheek, talking to her, caressing her skin, almost like he was intent on making sure this was earth-shattering between them.

And he did not disappoint!

She went through the day's chores, changed the music for the cows, logged her information, and no matter how she tried to distract herself – she couldn't. He was the focus of her every waking thought in more ways than just that incredible kiss. That single kiss, combined with his smile, the way he cared for her when she was having a breakdown from exhaustion, and just his personality, was doing a number on her. Gideon, as a whole, was shaking her foundation, and she liked the idea.

It wasn't like she was a prude or refused to be in a relationship. It was the exact opposite, in fact. She wanted to be a part of a loving couple, except part of the ‘couple' kept falling short.

Dating was hard – and humbling.

She was supposed to be strong but gentle – and if one part was too much, she was considered ‘cold' or ‘wimpy.' She'd caught men in lies, giving her fake phone numbers or asking her to change her major because it wasn't ‘feminine enough.' If she paid half of dinner, the guy wanted to know why or flat out asked why she didn't pay for the entire meal. If she didn't offer to pay, he would ask if she was a feminist or if she expected him to carry the financial burden of dating. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever think that going out with someone was a ‘financial burden' – nor should it be this hard. Those dates were ‘one-and-done' events, souring her on the whole thing.

But then there was Gideon.

He was masculine without being overbearing. Smiling seemed to come naturally to him. He'd done a lot if the faint lines at the corners of his eyes were any indication. She liked the idea of someone being carefree enough to laugh easily because that meant he was generally happy. And that laugh made her toes curl, combined with the way he looked at her, made her feel practically dainty. He never spurned her for being such or if she was doing the opposite, like mucking the stalls or cleaning debris from hooves. No, in fact, he seemed to be grateful to have her around or enjoyed talking to her. Even when things seemed tense between them, it wasn't because of arguments or differences. Rather, it was because she had been on edge because she was wildly attracted to him – and he seemed to share the feeling regarding her.

"Hey…"

Christina jumped guiltily at seeing Gideon standing there beside the table where she was getting ready to take samples, check the cow's temperatures, and test other items that were definitely not of a ‘delicate nature.' Nervously, she grabbed a pair of gloves and put them on, casually looking at him.

"Hey," she said quietly, trying to act nonchalant – only to see his smile.

"Last time someone snapped rubber gloves at me, I was very uncomfortable and behind a curtain in the clinic on base."

"I'm checking urine and fecal samples."

"Such sexy talk…" he chuckled. "Do you need any help?"

"No."

"Would it be wrong of me to say ‘Thank goodness'…" he chuckled, looking mildly relieved, and Christina couldn't help herself – she smiled and met his gaze.

"No, that's not wrong," she replied. "This is not for everyone and honestly not part of the data I'm collecting. It's more of a curiosity because I noticed that the feed is a higher quality forage and corn silage ratio, which affects milk production. I don't want my data to be skewed."

"Christina?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you say forage and corn silage again slowly? Because when you start using foreign terminology, I can't help but think you are incredibly impressive…" he whispered huskily, reaching out and touching her cheek again. "Say something else."

"Early lactation is brought on with a high number of digestible fibers incorporated with alfalfa or grasses… are you teasing me?" she hesitated as he took a step toward her.

"No. I just think you are amazing."

"This isn't weird?"

"Only if those gloves are dirty," he smiled tenderly at her. "I wanted to come by and let you know I'm going to go work with Ortega for a bit before dinner. He found a tree that would supply a lot of firewood but needs help chopping it up."

"What about your leg?"

"I'll be careful," he replied and paused. "Are you worried about me?"

"I'm just being polite to my friend and husband."

And his hand dropped away from her cheek, almost like he wasn't a fan of the reminder that they were trying to maintain a simple friendship between them. As he stepped back, she nervously stepped forward, noting that his eyes widened slightly in surprise and backed down.

"I'll meet you at dinner."

"Sounds good."

Without another word, he turned and made his way out of the barn toward the east. She stood there, watching him move until he was just out of sight, before turning to look at Larry-the-Cow, who promptly mooed at her.

"That's easy for you to say," Christina whispered glumly. "Sometimes I wonder if maybe all of this is just one great big mess waiting to blow up in my face. The idea of finding someone in the middle of nowhere just seems comical, but then again, so is getting married after knowing someone for such a short amount of time."

Larry mooed again.

"You keep saying that, but I'm not that lucky, remember?"

Sighing heavily, Christina moved to fetch the samples and returned to the table where her microscope and other testers were waiting – and paused. Putting her hands down on the table, she turned and looked at the barn door where Gideon had left, swallowing in awareness. She had wanted to kiss him again – and didn't.

What would he have done if she had?

That tiny, nagging voice echoed in her mind for the rest of the afternoon.

* * *

Christina looked up as Gideon and Ortega walked in the back door of the main cabin, brushing snow off their boots and removing their jackets. She couldn't help but gawk as Gideon's shoulders flexed, pulling his T-shirt tight across his chest. As he took a deep breath, she remembered the feeling of his breath against her throat and lips, quickly turning away and moving to help finish preparing the table for dinner.

"Oh man, that smells good," Gideon volunteered, his voice carrying easily as he claimed a seat at the table. Ortega took the one opposite of him, the two not pausing in their conversation between them. "That is not chili mac in a pouch."

"No kidding…" Ortega chuckled, and his eyes immediately focused on Lena. She knew the two were sharing a cabin from Daphne's gossiping and wondered if they were having as rocky a start as Christina and Gideon. Lena, who was obviously avoiding looking at the man, seemed quite put out. Her lips were pursed, her eyes down, and she seemed unwilling to make eye contact with Ortega.

As Houghton entered, he kissed Jill on the cheek and murmured something that caused her to smile. She immediately turned her attention from Lena to Gideon. Why couldn't he come and kiss her on the cheek? Was that too forward or friendly? Maybe she was imagining more was there between them than what actually was.

"You gonna sit down?" Gideon took a chair near Houghton and looked up at Ortega curiously.

"I thought I might see if they need any help. It just feels weird to sit down when they are still setting the table," Ortega started, only to speak again loudly. It was almost like he wanted to make sure everyone heard him.

"Actually, Gideon, I think I'm gonna take your advice," Ortega began again, and Houghton chuckled. "I'm gonna park my keister right here and let the womenfolk serve us - like it should be."

And everything came to a stop.

No, he did not just say that sexist crap – did he?Christina thought in amazement, turning to stare at the man. Daphne stopped mid-step, pivoted, and looked at Ortega in shock before meeting Christina's gaze silently. Her expression was probably a mirror of her own and wasn't hard to interpret.

Gideon let out a soft exclamation under his breath and laughed.

Christina's focus turned to him. Surely he did not think the same way, did he? What kind of sexist pig would say that the ‘womenfolk needed to serve them like it should be'?

"Yep," Ortega leaned back, sprawled in the dining room chair and continued goading Lena, but it was working. Lena's eyes were blazing as she stood there, grinding her teeth and trying to ignore the man. "A hundred or so years ago, men worked to provide, and women maintained the home. How did we ever let that slip past us, boys? I mean, what I wouldn't give to know I was going to have a hot meal when I got home from work, followed by a plump dessert that will make the angels weep," he uttered and held his hands in front of his lap, wagging his eyebrows.

As Houghton choked on his glass of water.

Gideon was rubbing a hand uncomfortably down his face in disbelief, and that was probably the only thing saving him from Christina losing her absolute mind. No, she wasn't a feminist by any means, but she did have a temper when it came to people treating others decently.

"You… are… a… cretin," Lena hissed.

"I didn't say anything to you or about you," Ortega replied baldly, pointing at the other guys. "The menfolk were talking, and you need to hustle on…"

Lena picked up a biscuit and threw it at him – bouncing it off his forehead and into his lap. He caught it deftly and held it up for Gideon, grinning.

"See? Served."

"Lena," Jill interrupted pointedly, looking at Houghton – who shrugged. The women of the house looked like they were about to incite violence on one particular person, and he didn't care? Was he waiting for someone to make the first strike? "Why don't you sit down here with me, and we can discuss our project."

"Ooooh," Ortega began in almost a mocking voice. "What kind of project?"

"We are going to learn to crochet, knit, and quilt a few things," Daphne volunteered… and winced. "Ow?!"

"Is it gonna be one of those cool-looking macrame bikini-looking getups? Isn't that what Bo Derek wore in the movie ‘10'?"

Lena made a noise in her throat and stared at her plate.

"Ortega, please…" Houghton said quietly. "Let's hold hands. Jill, honey, you want to start us off?"

"Gideon can go first," Jill offered.

"I'm grateful that even with the cast, I can put a little bit of weight on my leg," Gideon began… and Houghton quickly joined in.

"Not too much weight, soldier… and I'm grateful to have one more hand here to help out where he can. Welcome, Ortega."

"I'm grateful for this chance and meeting everyone… especially my new roomie who has the patience of a saint," Ortega said, looking at Lena down the table, waiting for a reaction. The man was goading her, and now wasn't the time.

"I'm grateful for this chance to study the animals and was fascinated to see that they are responding to music, allowing me to milk the cows a little easier."

Each took a turn before everyone mumbled ‘Amen,' and they started passing the bowls around the table. She was sitting near Gideon, trying not to make a big scene of things. The tension in the room almost seemed like you could cut it with a knife. Part of her was worried that the tension was between her and Gideon, but a better part of her knew for a fact that it was the other ‘couple' – Ortega and Lena. Instead, she focused on her meal and the conversation flowing between the three guys, who seemed oblivious to everything going on.

"You're kidding…" Ortega chuckled, chewing obnoxiously before scooping up another big bite of food. The man was shoveling it in like he had never seen a decent meal before today.

"Nope," Gideon grinned. "Why do you think I'm here? My know-it-all sister pulled some strings and contacted a few friends who reached out to Houghton."

"Hey," Houghton said gruffly. "I like that girl and she's the only one that can rub two nickels together and get a dime. She and Gretchen, my replacement. After those two? The rest of y'all are screwed. Which is why Collins might be here Friday."

"What?" Ortega uttered, nearly choking on his next bite and looking completely confused. "Max Collins? He's coming here?"

"Yeah, and I'm not sure it's going to be good."

"He broke his legs like Knucklehead over here," Ortega said easily, but there was something in Houghton's tone that caught Christina's attention. She looked up to see Gideon raising his biscuit in a mock salute before taking a bite. Reaching slightly, she grabbed the basket of biscuits and put another on his plate without asking, causing him to glance in her direction as he tossed her a smile.

"He's got an infection, and the bone didn't set right – and he has been hiding it," Houghton said, not bothering to cushion his words as he put his elbows on the table and folded his knuckles together, sinking his forehead onto them. It didn't take a degree to realize what was not being said. The man was exceedingly ill.

"Oh, no" Ortega whispered, looking like he was going to be ill. "Did they take his leg?"

"He's been fighting them, refusing treatment, and…"

Ortega dropped his fork, causing a clatter that startled everyone – including her. Gideon reached under the table and touched her hand, watching the other man's reaction, almost as if he was willing to protect her from an unknown outburst.

Was Ortega about to lose it?

Crossing his arms, Ortega took several breaths, trying to compose himself, as Houghton touched his shoulder. Gideon was sitting there silently, waiting, and holding her hand, and she felt guilty at the rush of happiness for herself when she was witnessing someone falling apart.

"I know. I'm hoping they either did it against his will, or we aren't too late."

"I'm done," Ortega whispered emotionally, looking completely lost and near tears. Lena's eyes were on him, her gaze sympathetic to the man who was obviously about to have a breakdown. "May I be excused? Do I clear my plate and put it on the counter? What do you want me to do? I gotta get out of here for a few minutes and I need air…"

"I'll get it. Go ahead," Lena said gently – and Ortega didn't hesitate. He was out of his chair within seconds, saying ‘thank you,' before racing out of the house. Houghton rose from his seat a few moments later, following him.

She and Gideon exchanged a glance before he leaned toward her.

"I'm going to step out and call my sister to see how bad things are…"

"That's a good idea," she nodded, feeling almost grateful that he was so easily willing to do this for the other man. There was an unspoken sense of solidarity within the group and to see one struggle, well, it was hard. "And I think I've lost my appetite."

"Me too," he admitted, getting up from his seat.

"Jill, I'll help with cleaning up," Christina volunteered. "Lena…"

"I'm going to go check on Jake," the other woman said, leaving the table in a rush. Rising to her feet, everyone seemed to be moving to their own corners to process the possible arrival of someone who might be in terrible condition or worse. There was something in Jill and Houghton's face that was telling, yet no one wanted to speak it aloud.

She took her time washing the dishes and putting away the food while Jill made up something for Ortega to eat later since he'd left most of his meal on his plate. Daphne excused herself, looking very unsure of herself. She didn't really blame the woman. Marrying her cabin mate had to be shocking, but obviously, something was budding between Lena and her new cabin mate. It was like watching someone put their head in a noose without knowing it was there, except Daphne had to have some vague idea that if she suddenly was sharing a cabin, then she was being set up. Or at least to Christina, this is what it felt like from her point of view – which was a surprising thought. Surely, her cousin and her husband wouldn't have set her up for this, would they? How could they have known?

"Don't be silly," she muttered under her breath, rinsing her hands and drying them. Looking up, she saw Lena talking to Jill. The young woman looked very upset and met her eyes before walking off. Yeah, there was a definite tension in the air for all of them. "Jill, I think I'm going to head out for the night. See you in the morning?"

"Okay, sweetie – and congratulations on your marriage."

"We're just friends."

"All the best marriages start that way," Jill smiled, hugging her. "Just remember, friendship is for the heart - but love is just a deeper bond made for the soul."

"It's not love," she chuckled nervously, feeling very much like she was under a microscope as Jill smiled strangely. "It's something we decided on – as friends."

"Of course, sweetie."

Both women looked away as the front door opened – and then closed, much too loudly. Ortega's frame went stomping past, looking traumatized, as Houghton paused nearby in the doorway, staring after the other man.

"Is he okay?"

"Would you be if you found out your best friend might be coming here… only to die?" Houghton said thickly and shook his head, turning away. Jill immediately took off after him, leaving Christina there alone.

She stood there silently, feeling adrift with the weight of everything pressing down on her. Her marriage, her thesis paper, her friendship with a man that she was having more than ‘friendly' feelings for… and felt truly alone for the first time in forever. Oh, there were moments when you were in a room by yourself, but you were content with it. This was different. She felt isolated, lost, and very much like she was adrift in the ocean, clinging to a life raft.

Folding the towel in her hands, she hung it on the rack and moved to get her jacket. A part of her wanted a bowl of ice cream and to soak for an hour, having a pity party or a moment for herself – but that couldn't happen because she was sharing a space with a husband who wasn't a husband.

Walking outside, she saw Gideon talking with Lena in the distance and turned to walk away. He was perfectly entitled to talk to other women because it was just a piece of paper between them. A piece of paper and a shared ten-by-ten living space. Maybe she should just go back home to Maryland and give up on all of this, and she felt her heart breaking at the thought.

It wasn't just her degree she would be giving up.

It would be Gideon.

"Hey," Gideon's voice said suddenly behind her as she felt him touch her elbow. "I thought I'd walk you to our cabin."

"It's okay," she whispered glumly – only to feel the strangest thing. Gideon leaned over and kissed her gently on the cheek. Without asking, without prompting, he just did it. Turning slightly, she saw his sheepish smile as they both came to a stop for a moment. "What was that?"

"Me trying to comfort you," he said softly. "It's been a big day. One that started out wonderful and ended with hard news, but I wanted to let you know that I'm here if you need to talk."

Christina stared up at him in the light of the full moon, feeling tears burn as the cold breeze stung her cheeks.

"Sometimes life just sucks the wind out of your sails, and it's nice to have someone on your side. You are that for me – and I want to be that for you."

"Gideon…" she began hoarsely, unsure what to say.

"Let's get you inside so you don't freeze," he interrupted quietly. "We have an audience out here in the moonlight and I'd rather we were behind closed doors if you are about to smash our friendship to pieces."

"I'm not going to smash it."

"Thank goodness," he smiled tenderly and took a step toward the cabin, silently prompting her to join him. They both began walking as she heard his voice again. "I don't know how I would handle that if you did."

"We are friends."

"I hope someday we can be so much more," he hesitated and smiled easily. "But when you are ready, Christina. I'm not pushing; it's just a reminder that you've got a tag-a-long at your side now."

"You're not a tag-a-long," she replied immediately as they stepped inside and then paused, unsure what to say. He wasn't a shadow or some person along for the ride. There was something more between them, and she was scared it was just intimacy that he wanted and not her heart.

Thatwas why she felt alone.

There was a gulf between them that she didn't know how to get past – and she glanced at the sheet that they had tacked up to give the bathroom privacy. Gideon's eyes were soft when he looked back at her.

"Why don't you make some tea?"

"Sure. I can. Do you want some?"

"Please."

She sighed heavily, turning on the television just to have some noise to quiet the rambling of her mind and moved to fill the kettle, hesitating. Shutting off the water, she realized the water was running, and it was coming from the bathroom. Startled, she looked around the corner past the sheet and saw Gideon sitting on the bench. He was starting a bath and pouring a capful of bubble bath inside.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought you might like this," he said nervously, looking at her in alarm. "I can turn it off, if you…"

"Wait," she said hoarsely, her nose burning and eyes stinging. "Why… why would you make me a bath?"

He stood up slowly, leaving the water running, and moved closer, pulling her into his arms and simply hugging her. She didn't say anything, she couldn't. This was probably the sweetest thing anyone had done for her and…

"Look," Gideon began softly, smoothing her hair and kissing the top of her head. "It's been quite a day, and I just wanted you to relax. I'm your partner and trying to take on the roll of spouse. A part of me would like to think that ten years from now if you are having a rough day – that you could turn to me or…"

"Stop," she whispered, pinching her eyes closed and hugging him tightly. He couldn't be this sweet or this nice because she was going to end up getting her heart broken if he was just in it for convenience or to fool around. Surely he wasn't that sort of guy, was he?

"Okay," he agreed warily. "You set the rules, remember."

She nodded, trying to hold back everything only to feel him slowly step toward the right, pulling her with him. She chuckled thickly, trying not to cry and wiping her eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Turning off the bathwater. I wanted to make you happy, not make you cry, and I don't think they'd appreciate the bathtub overflowing by one of their guests. Hotels charge for that, and well, I'm still figuring out my life. I don't need a bill for repairs." It was so normal, so much like him, and just so down to earth that she laughed, burying her face against his chest.

"That's better," he said softly, resting his cheek on her head. "I"ll finish making the tea if you want to soak."

"Gideon?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you kiss me and pretend we are more than friends for a moment?" she whispered, looking up at him… and nearly buckled at the emotion in his gaze. Neither moved, and time seemed to tick by as he stood there looking at her, his jaw flexing as he swallowed.

Nervously, she started to panic because he was so silent. She certainly didn't want to pressure him into something he didn't want to do – and if he did, she wanted him to be just as invested in this as her. She was crushing hard on her wounded warrior.

"It's okay," she began, withdrawing – only to have him pull her back into his arms roughly as he looked at her. When he spoke, his voice was gruff and trembled as he spoke the words she longed to hear.

"I don't think I have to pretend very hard."

Unable to look away, she just stared at him. Every hope within her na?ve little heart was glowing brightly like the tip of a firecracker sparkler, praying that he was saying what she thought he was implying. Maybe this was actually mutual between them?

"I don't have to pretend either," Christina whispered as he leaned down to kiss her. She was already leaning up onto her toes, moving into the space between them, as his lips met hers. Just as she was threading her fingers into his hair – he pulled away, breathless.

"I'm sorry…"

"What?"

"I did that w-wrong," he stammered, hurriedly touching her cheek and then putting his face in hers, practically giving her an Eskimo kiss. "I forgot to do the stuff you liked and… oh heck," he muttered, crushing her to him as he kissed her passionately.

And she was here for it!

Gideon's lips were so warm, so possessive, yet his hold, his kiss was as gentle as any lover you would imagine in the pages of a romance book. His arms were warm bands around her, holding her close, and his taste was something she would never forget or get tired of. They stood there, holding each other and kissing, until the kettle began to whistle loudly on the opposite side of the wall.

He broke the kiss, chuckling softly as he tenderly rubbed his nose against hers again.

"Tea is ready… and so is your bath."

"I can skip it," she whispered and heard his heavy sigh as he backed away, looking at her regretfully.

"I think I need to cool down, so it's just a kiss between us this evening. You soak in your bath, and I'll let the tea steep."

"What are you going to do?"

"I think I'm going to go do a belly flop in the snow, buck naked, so I can cool down," he chuckled, touching his lips and smiling. "That's probably the best thing ever, and I could really get used to that."

"Then maybe we can make it a habit daily."

"Rules of a happy marriage?"

"Something like that," she whispered, treasuring this interaction between them as they shared a smile.

"Enjoy your bath."

"Enjoy your belly flop," she laughed softly, meeting his gaze as he backed out of the bathroom, leaving her there alone, and dropping the sheet to separate the two of them.

She stood there listening as his footsteps moved to the kitchenette, and then across the room. Covering her mouth, she listened as the front door opened. She heard Gideon curse softly under his breath, making a slight keening noise at the cold temperatures and heard a brief, muffled shout – even from inside the cabin.

Christina couldn't help it - she laughed.

Gideon was so open with her, so sweet and forthright, that she didn't hesitate in shedding her clothing and slipping into the warm, bubble bath. He was making her feel completely spoiled and loving every moment of it.

Touching the bubbles, she laid her head back on the slipper tub and sighed. Was this what it was like to fall in love with someone? Could she be so lucky to have found that special person for her out here? As wary or skeptical of people as she sometimes was, it was nice to feel free enough to trust him to keep his word. Meeting Daphne had been eye-opening because the woman watched everyone like a hawk – and Lena was the exact opposite, almost too trusting. She wished that she could label herself as ‘somewhat in the middle' but knew that wasn't the case.

And Gideon didn't seem to mind.

Hearing the front door to the cabin open, she hesitated and slipped down further to hide herself in the water and bubbles. It wasn't that she didn't trust him, or so she convinced herself, but there was a draft of cold air that came in with him.

"I'm getting changed," he called out simply.

"You're safe," she replied… and heard his muttered ‘Darn' not a moment later, making her smile. It was only a few moments later that she heard a cell phone ringing and froze. "Is that me?"

"No," Gideon began and sighed loudly. "It's definitely me… Hey, Mom," he said, answering the phone. "I guess you talked with Giselle?"

The small smile on Christina's face faded as she listened intently, trying to interpret his tone as she eavesdropped.

"No ma'am. I promise, I'm not hiding things, Mom, I was going to tell you," Gideon said in broken sentences, obviously being interrupted by the person on the other end of the line. "It just happened this morning and… Mom, I seriously love you – and I'm trying to tell you."

He got quiet and sighed again.

"I promise I am not getting a tone, Mom," he began again quietly. "Yes, I got married this morning to a friend, and she's very nice. I think you'll like Christina a lot and sure. I will."

There was a long pause.

"Mom, I said I would – and I will," Gideon repeated. "No, I'm doing good. My cast is driving me nuts and I seem to be all right. I haven't noticed my foot acting up, and I've been trying to take it easy."

Followed by another pause…

"Yes, ma'am," he chuckled nervously. "I know it's been a while and certainly under better conditions, but yes – I promise. But seeing how we just tied the knot this morning, I'd like to spend some time with my bride and…" he laughed again before speaking and sounding distinctly embarrassed as his voice was a hushed whisper.

"Mom, seriously? I'm thirty-five and… shhh! You are pressuring me," he hissed in obvious frustration. "Oh my gosh, would you just call Gemma or Georgia and nag them about it? I'm not in any… Mom, I'm not being… Mom? Mom? No, you don't have to put Dad on the phone – and if you did, he would agree with me if you weren't standing there."

Christina covered her mouth with her hands, listening to him.

"Yes, ma'am. I promise – and yes, you would be the first to know."

Gideon sighed again.

"I love you too, Mom – and I promise I'll text you one shortly. Tell Dad I love him, and tell my gossipy little sister to keep her trap shut in the nicest way possible, please?" he laughed softly. "All right. I love you both. Talk to you soon."

Christina knew the moment he hung up the call because Gideon let out a loud frustrated groan of dismay.

"Is everything all right?"

"Are your parents pushy or nosy in the best ways possible?"

"They don't call my side of the family the ‘Bradley Matchmakers' for nothing," she muttered, grimacing. "Yes. Pushy, but they mean well."

"It's the same on my side."

"Yup. They believe everyone should be married and bouncing babies on their knees within record time."

"Do our parents know each other?" Gideon chuckled, and Christina joined in, because it seemed like the two were very much alike – combined with the fact that they were having a very normal conversation from very abnormal locations. She was shoulder-deep in a bubble bath and had no clue as to his state of dress on the opposite side of the curtain after his dip in the snow.

"You said the tea is ready?"

"Yes, but no rush. I can warm it up in a bit."

"I'm getting out, and maybe we can watch television for a bit together."

"I'd like that."

"It's not too boring?" she asked in surprise, reaching for a towel.

"Christina, cuddling with you on the couch watching some bad re-runs sounds like an amazing evening," he replied, not holding back… and she melted.

Oh yes, it was going to be so easy to fall in love with her ranger.