“Pouring out your soul, Cam, would be telling me a lot more than that you’re
“Yeah, I guess I know that.” He managed a smile, then reached for her hand and brought it up to his mouth. When he kissed her fingers, she shifted, turning her hand so that she could press her palm to his jaw. Then with a sigh, she leaned in and kissed him. “Let me make this easy for both of us. You made my time here more special than I could have hoped, and I’m grateful. We have a connection, and I’m grateful for that too. You’re smart and sexy and funny, and I enjoyed being with you.”
Past tense, he couldn’t help but notice. “Except for when I was stupid.”
“True. Except for that.” Her smile faded. “I promise you, I really understand that this thing between us is as temp as my job was. I knew it going in, and no matter what happens, or how much I fall for you, I will know it going out.”
Her eyes were soft and sweet now, and so deep it almost hurt to look at her. Quite simply, she staggered him. “Katie.”
“I swear to God, if your next sentence has anything to do with you regretting what we’ve had, or that you’re still worried about me falling for you, I’m going to-”
He kissed her. He just leaned in and kissed her, soft and deep and hot, the way all their kisses ended up being, and when she pulled back, she smiled. “Yeah, now see
He let out a half laugh half groan and hauled her close, burying his face in her hair, still smiling, even as he wondered…
How was he ever going to let her go?
Chapter 25
Annie stood at the counter in the lodge kitchen, listening to the radio tell her that a huge storm was coming, which fitted her mood just fine, as she beat her dough into submission.
She was making bread. Because bread was the salt of the earth, and the owner of her heart. Dammit.
She was going to eat warm, buttered bread and feel better.
Until her jeans got too tight.
Which, given what Katie had her wearing, wouldn’t be too long. She had no idea why she’d stuffed herself into one of her new pairs this morning. It wasn’t as if Nick would notice, the big, clueless lug. She’d also put on a snug sweater that showed off the boobs she’d spent most of her life hiding. Her hair was down, which men supposedly loved, not that she’d ever heard a word either way from Nick. She punched the dough.
All she’d ever wanted from the man was words.
Ha! The man had no words. He was the strong silent type, and she’d known that going in, but criminy. Once in a while, a woman needed more. And now her more was food.
Damn him anyway.
The door opened behind her, and without turning around, she rolled her eyes. “Cameron Wilder, you just ate my entire refrigerator. I’ll call you when I have more food for you to shovel into your mouth.”
“It’s not food I need.”
“Really?” He wandered into her sight, looking tall and lanky and rangy, and so damned sexy she wanted to chuck the dough at his head.
How unfair was it that when she was working, she looked like shit, and when he worked, he got dirty and rumpled and all the hotter for it?
“Looks like you’re making bread.”
“So?”
“So…” He leaned a hip on the counter and studied her. “You used to like my company when you made bread.”
“I used to like a lot of things.”
“Like me?”
Her heart stopped. She still liked him. She loved him.
“Annie.”
Ah, hell. His voice was low and gruff and terrifyingly gentle. And that’s when she realized he was holding a file.
The divorce papers.
He was going to tell her that he’d finally done what she’d asked and signed them, that the divorce was a good thing. That he wanted it too. Well, fine. She lifted her chin and faced him, flour and all.
His gaze swept down her, definitely noticing, then stopped short on her apron, and suddenly, he burst out laughing.
Having forgotten what this one said, she looked down at herself: I’VE GOT YOUR LOW-CARB DIET RIGHT HERE, PAL…
Below that, there was a black arrow pointing downward, ending right about crotch height. It was inappropriate but pretty much summed up her mood. “If you’re looking for another good laugh, you should know I have no plans to strip naked for your amusement.”
“Annie-”
“And I certainly don’t plan on trying to seduce a man who’s too self-absorbed and stupid to notice a naked woman when he has one right in front of him.”
God, that voice. “You have the papers,” she whispered.
“Yes.” He tossed the file to the counter and stepped closer.
“I’m covered in flour here, Nick.”
“I know.” He put his hands on her arms and dipped his head a little to look directly into her eyes. “I know because I’m seeing you.”
Her breath caught and she wanted to turn from him rather than give herself away, rather than let him see how much those words meant, because that file on the counter told her it was all too late. “Nick-”
“No, let me get this out, before I can’t.” He took a gulp of air. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve been right here. All along, I’ve been right here.”
“I know. And it was my shame that I didn’t get that. That what you wanted wasn’t your freedom from me, but something else entirely. The opposite, really.”
“Yes,” she whispered, feeling her throat tighten. Oh God, he did get it. Now that it was too late. “The papers-”
“I missed you, Annie,” he said again, his voice gruff and thick with emotion. “I miss you in my bed, and in my life. What happened to us?”
“I don’t know. We stopped communicating.”
“Stopped seeing each other,” he said softly, her words.
“Yeah.” She tried to smile. “It got so…out of control.”
“I don’t know how, but yeah.” He cupped her jaw, then smiled at the flour now on his fingers. “And I know you’ve been trying. I was afraid you’d stomp on my heart. But forget the fears, I want another shot. I can make you happy again, Annie, I know it.”
Her heart squeezed hard. She swiped her hands on her apron, but they were still messy and sticky, and she made a sound of frustration when he came in for a hug. “No, don’t. You shouldn’t. Look at me. I’m a mess.”
“I see it. I’m seeing you, Annie. And I don’t care about the mess.”
