Free Jackson Hole Valentine by Cindy Kirk

for it.” He sniffed the air and his stomach growled. “I assume we’ll be eating before we leave?”
    “The bacon got to you, huh?” Her lips lifted in a friendly smile. “I swear my brothers could smell bacon from a block away.”
    “Do you have any left?” he asked, trying not to sound too eager.
    “You bet.” She shifted her gaze to the little boy, who now sat on the edge of the bed swinging his legs. “Actually I was looking for Charlie to tell him that breakfast was ready when I heard your voices.”
    Charlie raised his hand as if he was in school but didn’t wait to be recognized. “We’re havin’ bacon ’n’ eggs and milk and juice and—”
    Meg placed a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “Honey, why don’t you wash your hands and then you can help me set the table.”
    “’Kay.” The boy hopped off the bed and galloped from the room.
    “Cole?” His name sounded strangled coming from her lips.
    “Yes?”
    “Put some clothes on, please.”
    He wasn’t sure why she’d mentioned it until he glanced down. The sheet he’d tossed over his bare body rode low on his abdomen. Another couple of inches and he’d have given her quite a show.
    Cole smiled, recalling a time when that wouldn’t have been an issue. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” had been said more than once as things had heated up between them. Until one night, she’d unbuttoned her shirt. And he’d unzipped his pants.
    He looked up at the sound of the door clicking shut behind her. Cole expelled a harsh breath and reached for the brace beside the bed. Those days of playful banter and lustful thoughts were long gone.
    All he cared about now was getting stronger so he could take care of Charlie on his own.
    He glanced down. Too bad his body hadn’t gotten that message yet.
     
     
    Charlie came out of the bathroom, hands still dripping water, eager to set the table.
    Meg took the Fiesta dinnerware from the cupboard and placed it on the counter where Charlie could easily reach it.
    “Your face is red.” The little boy picked up a bright orange plate and stared into it as if trying to see his reflection. “Are you hot?”
    “A little.” Actually, Meg found herself in the uncomfortable position of fighting off a surge of lust. You’d think it had been decades instead of a little over a year since she’d seen a man naked.
    Granted, Cole hadn’t been completely uncovered but that sheet had dipped precariously low. His muscular chest and washboard abs told her he hadn’t been sitting around eating Cheetos and watching television all his life.
    “I’m not hot.” Charlie laid the plate carefully on the table. “And I’m not cold. I’m just right.”
    The way he changed the pitch of his voice reminded Meg of Goldilocks at the home of the three bears. But his face was serious so she bit back her laughter.
    She knew there would be times when Charlie would be sad, but the way he’d begun to adjust told her that moving in with her and Cole had been the best thing for the boy.
    So, if being here meant putting up with the man who’d once broken her heart, it was a small price to pay.
     
     
    The grocery store parking lot seemed surprisingly empty for the Saturday before Christmas. Meg glanced at the clock on the dash of Cole’s SUV. “We have an hour before we need to pick up Charlie.”
    Cole slanted a sideways glance in her direction. “He seemed happy this morning.”
    “I thought so, too.” Unbuckling her seat belt, Meg pushed open the door then turned back to him. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay without your crutches?”
    When they’d left the house, Cole had insisted on leaving his walking aids behind, asserting it had been two weeks now and it was time to move on.
    “I’m good.” He turned toward the door, his brow pulled together in concentration as he eased himself out of the passenger side.
    The grocery store parking lot had been bladed, but snow still crunched under Meg’s boots when she