“Beck,I’m not even your type.”
Hiseyes narrowed. “What’s my type?”
“Um,dark, tall, slender.”
A sipof his coffee, then he shook his head. “Not so much. I’ve developed anunshakeable fondness for petite, auburn-haired, green-eyed girls who drive goldTacomas and whose first names sound suspiciously like something in a book orbinder—or the sheriff of Mayberry.”
Agiggle escaped her; she gulped her coffee. “So the shoveling—going somewhere?”
“Youkeep looking as hot as you do, and I’ll be rustling up a sled and a team ofdogs.” He winked.
Hercheeks blazed.
Hesauntered over and put his arms around her, snugging her close. “You’re reallycute when you blush, you know that? Hell, who am I kidding? You’re cute all thetime.”
“Ithought I was hot.”
“Youare. Smokin’ hot. Takes a lot of talent to be cute and hot.”
“Ishould get cleaned up.” Her voice was muffled against his chest.
Hepulled back, and his eyebrows crawled up his forehead. “Want some help?”
“Hmm,that sounds dangerous. Maybe I should go this one alone.”
.~ * * * ~.
“Just holler if you need me to soap your back … or anything else.”Beckett watched forlornly as she trudged off without him, reining in an urge tofollow. He’d been in lust plenty of times, but this was different. The desireAndie sparked in him was deep and rich, like a full-scale symphony orchestrawhere a solo reedy violin had played before. This, no doubt, was being in love,and it was new territory. A new high. He was unsure what to do about it, unsurehow much to let show. Unsure if he should let any of it show. Damn, he’dalmost told her he loved her last night. It had seemed so natural as he fellasleep with her curled against him. But the way Andie had flinched—she wantedto hear it even less than he’d meant to say it. Such a curious position hefound himself in.
Lastnight had been incredible. Unlike anything he’d felt with anyone else. Ever.And not just the lovemaking, but baring his soul to her. Now all he could thinkabout was being with her again … and again … and again. Just her. With justhim. Just them.
Hetiptoed into the bedroom and deposited her clean clothes in a neat stack on themessy bed. The sound of raining water came from behind the bathroom door,conjuring a picture of her naked in his shower, water sliding off her smoothskin. The image shot straight to his groin, and he groaned. Of all times to bewithout backup! Planning for this hadn’t figured into his packing—itwasn’t as if he needed protection from his right hand.
Makinghis way to the kitchen, he laughed out loud at the irony of being trapped in aplace where they had everything they needed except for one very critical item.Arguably the most critical item. Oh well. Like she’d said, they’dexplore others ways of having fun. His cock twitched.
Afragrance—her fragrance—preceded her into the kitchen, where he munched on anEnglish muffin as he contemplated whipping up breakfast. He craned his neckaround and caught her shy smile.
Shesmoothed a sleeve. “Did you wash my clothes?”
Henodded. “Much as I love seeing you in my shirt, I figured you’d be morecomfortable in your own stuff, so I threw it in the wash before I went outside.But don’t worry. I checked all the tags to be sure I did it right.”
“Do youdo this for all your … guests?”
“Neverhave before.”
Sheglided to him, rose on tiptoe, threw her arms around his neck, and stared up athim, misty-eyed. “That was a really sweet thing to do. And you fold reallywell.”
Heplaced his hands on her small waist and pecked her lips. “I keep telling you.I’m a sweet, talented guy.” Clearing his throat, he moved away from her. “Ithought I’d rustle up some breakfast. What’s your pleasure, milady?”
Herpleasure was to feed him pancakes and bacon, so she cooked while he took careof business on his laptop as best he could with spotty Internet. Neither oftheir phones had reception, and he recognized panic welling in her eyes, so hepulled on his winter gear when breakfast was finished.
“Whereare you going?” she asked.
“ThoughtI’d pay a call and see if any neighbors have a landline. Then I can call youroffice and fill Katie in.”
Shesprang up. “I’ll come with you.”
“No,you don’t have the right clothes. Stay here and use my computer, see if you canget through to your peeps.” He grabbed a notepad and pen. “Here’s my password.”
Backoutside, the snowflakes had gotten smaller, but snow drifts rose above his headin spots, so he fired up his ATV plow and worked his way laboriously toward thenearest house a quarter mile away. Before he could get there, he was stopped bya cluster of puffed-up people who stood like penguins for all the snow gearthey wore. They were getting a neighbor unstuck from his home, so Becketthelped clear a snaking driveway. Which led him to another neighbor, and thenanother. People he’d never met, people who lived there year-round.
When hefinally got a landline in some old codger’s home and reached Katie, she’dalready traded emails with Andie.
“So yousquared her calendar? We’re gonna be stuck for a couple days.”
“Isquared it,” she chirped. “Turns out her appointments also had to cancelbecause of this storm. She’s all yours.”
Allmine. Pullingon his hat and gloves, Beckett turned to his host and thanked him.
Theshriveled man looked him up and down. “You’re that hockey player, ain’tcha?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Bigfella. I bet you can hit like a son of a gun.”
“Yes,sir.”
The mannodded his ancient gray head. “Need anything else, son?”
Becketteyed the old-timer and sighed. “Yeah, but I don’t think you can help me withit.”
CHAPTER 24
Snow (Hey Oh)
Paige popped up from the computer and glanced out the windowon her way to check a blueberry crisp baking in the oven. Retracing her steps,she paused at the window and pressed her nose against the frigid glass, foggingit. Where is Beckett?
Back atthe table, she took a seat in front of the computer screen and checked thetime. Was that an engine? She raced to the window only to see enormous pinesflailing in the wind. Through a veil of snow, endless, rippling, gray and whitestretched before her. Even the deer didn’t dare
