READER'S ROCK LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE VOL 2 ISSUE 4 NOVEMBER 2014 VOL 2 ISSUE 6 - JAN-FEB 2015 | Page 66

He wasn’t trying to understand her at all. She
started to put on her boots when the door opened,
letting in a blast of winter cold. There stood
Rachael, her cheeks apple red and her clothes
caked with snow.
“Oh my, did Crabby make you into a snowman?”
“The bad snow did this.” Rachael laughed.
“Here, let me help you.” Winter closed the door
and started with Rachael’s snow stiffened hat. It
took a while as she worked her way downward
until finally Rachael’s frozen socks were off. She
ushered her daughter toward the fireplace.
“Sit here and I’ll make you some hot chocolate.”
Rachael sat in the big chair by the fireplace and
smiled when Winter put a quilt over her. “I like
hot chocolate and pie.”
“Me too, with pie.” Stone grinned at the two of
them.
“Well I guess I can make some for you too.”
Winter walked toward the kitchen. Damn her
traitorous heart. She longed for that man, but
every time she saw him was one more lash
against her heart. A reluctant apology and
declaration of love didn’t erase his behavior
toward her all week. Trust wasn’t just telling the
truth, it was being able to know that every
argument wasn’t Armageddon.
She searched the cabinets and couldn’t find the
hot chocolate. “I don’t see the mix for the hot
cocoa.”
Rachael rolled her eyes and laughed. “You
scratch it with milk.”
“Here, let me help you.” Stone stood at her side
before she had a chance to respond. He reached
around her, trapping her against the counter. He
gave her a long look, swooped down, and kissed
her.
Winter tried to jump back but there was no place
for her to go. He smelled of leather and pine. He
smelled of horses and pure, white snow. His full
lips looked inviting and before she knew it, she
had her tongue in his mouth, exploring it, and
enjoying it too much. Pushing against his chest,
she broke the kiss.
Her body trembled and when she looked up at
him, he gave her a sexy, knowing smile. Her
body betrayed her and she knew the sooner she

got out of this house the bette r. Most of all she
needed to get a hold of herself.
Stone stepped back a bit, though not far enough
and she could feel his heat wash over her, but she
tried to pretend he had no effect. “How…how do
you make it? Milk of course but what else?”
Watching, she tried to concentrate on what Stone
was teaching her, but she couldn’t focus. The
tingling of her body put her on high alert.
“I’m going to move into the other house today.”
Stone stopped stirring the milk. He frowned and
opened his mouth as if to say something. Instead,
he closed it and shrugged. He poured the hot
chocolate into mugs and left hers on the counter.
Regret flowed through her as she watched
Rachael and Stone laugh together. She’d still be
within shouting distance if Rachael needed her,
she reasoned. It was for the best wasn’t it?
“Mama, do you like Daddy’s choc-o-late?”
Winter nodded and grabbed her mug. She walked
over to them and sat on the couch. It would have
been easy to pretend they were a family, but it
wasn’t true.

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