feet of snow? You’re stuck here.”
“It’s always about you.” He forced the
words from between numb lips. “In
case you didn’t n-n-notice, I’m a human
icicle.”
he lived or go after his family if he
didn’t.
“Don’t badass DEA agents learn
defensive driving skills?” Her foot
tapped madly against the hard wood
floor. She glanced over her shoulder, as
if expecting someone else to appear at
any minute.
With a muttered curse, she grabbed for
his bag and pulled at his hands. “Take
off all of your clothes. I have a blanket
there, wrap yourself in it, and sit by the
fire. I’ll get you something warm to
drink.”
“Are you alone?” he asked, needing to
know.
“Always so damn b-b-bossy.” Teeth
chattering, he couldn’t argue anymore.
He welcomed her assistance at ripping
his clothes off, making a mental note
that he’d fantasized about that very
thing too many times to count despite
her aloof attitude.
Her eyes widened at the sight of the
scars crisscrossing his chest, but she
quickly averted her gaze. He grabbed
the blanket and turned his back.
Despite being nearly frozen to death,
he still hated the shock that had
transformed her face at the brutal sight
of the scars and burns marring his
naked chest. They had screwed each
other blind once about six months ago,
but it had been in the back of a
limousine and neither had been
completely naked—or coherent for that
matter. It had been more of a pushthis-here-and-move-that-there-stick-itin-and-screw-me-blind kind of moment.
“I can take it from here,” he muttered,
hating that he felt so vulnerable when
he’d come here to raise some hell.
“I’ll put everything in the dryer.” She
gathered his discarded clothes before
stomping away.
Naked, he wrapped the faux fur blanket
around himself and scooted as close to
the fire as he dared. The last thing he
needed was to burst into flames in her
living room. She’d probably sue him if
as I did before the rental slid into the
ditch.” His cock hardened at the sight
of her nipples poking against the
cashmere. He pulled his gaze from her
and focused on the cider.
“Of course I’m alone,” she said, unable
to hide the sadness that clouded her
face.
When she returned with a steaming
cup of apple cider, he took it without
comment.
“You followed me to Lake Tahoe,” she
said while looking at him as a scientist
would study a specimen. “Please tell
me you’re staying somewhere else.”
“I’m fine, thanks for your concern. I
think all of my limbs will survive.” He
sipped the cider and slid her a glance
over the rim of the cup.
“You don’t have another place to stay,
do you?” She crossed her arms over her
chest and glanced at his bag.
That’s when he noticed she wasn’t
wearing a bra. The sweater
accentuated her breasts in sensuous
and intoxicating ways. He slid his gaze
down to her jeans before resting on her
bare feet. Damn, she looked good.
“I can’t have you here,” she whispered
more to herself than to him, her gaze
locked on the sofa.
“Too bad. I’m here and there’s a raging
storm outside. I’m lucky I made it as far
He hugged the blanket tighter around
his body and ignored the urge to erase
the sorrow he’d seen in her eyes too
many times to count. The staff
whispered about how much she’d
changed, how she’d retreated, and
grown distant. He couldn’t blame her,
but he wished he’d known her before
the tragedy. From all accounts, she had
been one prone to easy laughter and
spontaneous adventures.
He glanced at her now and could
envision her that way. With her hair
down, bare breasts soft beneath the
sweater, and bare feet peeking out
from the frayed hem of faded jeans,
she looked approachable…almost.
“Why are you here anyway?” she
asked.
He grinned at her hostile tone. “If you’d
bothered answering your phone and
actually listening to me, you’d know
why.”
“How’d you know where I was going? I
didn’t tell anyone.”
“I have my ways.” He curled and
uncurled his fingers and toes to make