she couldn’t help but smile too.
“All I’ve been able to think about since you left last night was this,” he said between kisses.
She nodded, hoping he understood the same was true for her, because talking meant giving up his lips, and she wasn’t ready to do that just yet.
He must have, because he didn’t say anything else, not for a few wonderful minutes, at least. Finally, though, when it seemed they both needed air, he lifted his head, and she was happy to see his lips looked as kiss-swollen as hers felt.
“What are you doing for the rest of the day?” he asked. “Other than making me a spreadsheet, though I was hoping that could wait at least until you were back on desk duty.”
Her mouth fell open, but no words came out of it. At least not as quickly as she would have liked.
She was going to go for a run and then maybe contact the artist who was auctioning off the ornament, see if she might be able to get an in-person look at the piece. He was only about an hour outside of town…
“So you’re that busy,” Peyton teased. “Because I was hoping to steal you for a few hours.”
Her eyes widened, and her ability to form words returned with a vengeance.
“So you assume I have nothing to do, huh?” she teased back, but there might have been a tiny bite to her tone. “Because I have things to do, Mr. Mayor. I have an afternoon run planned. And Meadow Valley has been cleared out of any and all holiday decorations for purchase, but there’s this life-sized ornament and this artist and—”
“Dani?” he said, her name soft and gentle on his lips. Ugh. She really liked those lips.
“Yeah?”
“You don’t need to give up your day for me. But seeing as the whole town pretty much shuts down from now until the day after Christmas—whether I like it or not—I had some free time and thought I might take you out. Like, on a date.”
“A date?” she asked.
“A date,” he said again, nodding.
“So…a date,” Dani repeated.
Peyton laughed. “You’ve been on one before, right? It’s when two people who like each other—and seem to really like kissing each other—do a thing like go out to dinner. Maybe take in a movie after. Stuff like that.”
Dani blinked. “But it’s not dinnertime. And the closest movie theater is forty-five minutes away.”
He raised a brow. “That’s why I have something else planned,” he said. “It involves a horse named Ace who right now is assessing whether or not I did an adequate job cleaning up and restoring the stable on my property or if he should hightail it back to the Meadow Valley Ranch. Borrowed him from Sam, Ben, and Colt.”
Dani threw back her head and laughed. “A horse? You think I’m getting on a horse? You, my friend, need to research your dates better. I’m not getting on a horse. The only saddle I sit in has two wheels beneath it.”
“Jeremiah said he’s thinking about employing a horse or two at the Sheriff’s Department. Says you all don’t need to travel that far on a daily basis and that it’s better for the environment.”
Her eyes widened. “Like hell he is! I can assure you there is nothing in my employment contract stipulating how I get from point A to point B, and I plan on keeping it that way, thank you very much.”
Peyton didn’t flinch. He simply held out a hand.
“Come on,” he said. “It’ll be fun.”
She didn’t take the bait.
Kiss the mayor in her boss’s office? Sure. Hop on the back of a horse with him? Not happening.
“I’m good,” she said.
“If you’re scared,” he said hesitantly, “I can promise you’ll be safe. I’ll be on the horse with you the whole time. Ace is the best there is. Between him and me, you’re in good hands. Or hooves. Both, I guess,” he added with a chuckle.
“I’m not scared,” she said defensively. She was terrified. You didn’t control an animal. Animals controlled you. “So, you know, thanks for the offer. But if you want to plant another one on me before I get on with the rest of my day, that would be acceptable.” She tugged the sides of his unzipped vest, urging him closer.
He smiled and tilted his head toward hers but stopped short.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“There is nothing I want more than to kiss you again, Deputy. But I’m going to hold my pretty little pucker ransom