I let her feel the way my heart is thundering at her proximity.
“I should punish you for avoiding me instead of confronting me.” That makes her nails dig in, and my muscles tighten in anticipation. “But I don’t want that right now.”
“What do you want?”
Why does that feel like a trick question?
I lift her chin to force her to look at me, and I search her eyes. There are so many answers I could give.
I want to kiss you and feel you sigh against my mouth in contentment. I want to tuck you under me and discover where all that fire comes from. I want to feel you melt against my touch. To abandon your restraints and hand over control willingly.
Most importantly, I want to make room for you in my life and for you to make room for me in yours. To not question my intentions and let me care for you.
It’s a dangerous confession, even inside my own head, because wanting her this way isn’t about a fleeting moment—it’s about shifting the ground beneath both our feet.
Breath expands my chest against her palm.
“Besides all the physical things lingering in my thoughts. Pretty much all day…” I revel in the way her pupils dilate. It’s nice to know the attraction is mutual. “I want to see you outside of work. I want you to let me take you out. Let me prove I’m not one of those assholes you’ve dated before.”
Because I want more than just sex.
As young as she is, I want her as a partner—someone to push me, be honest with me, keep me in line when I’m too bullheaded to see it otherwise…
Her touch softens, and I stroke her arms and brace her by her shoulders. “Let me take you out. One night. Just us. No Lodge, no work. No running.”
Her hesitation tells me everything—she wants to say yes, she’s just scared of what it means.
My palm slides up one shoulder to cup the back of her neck, to keep her here with me instead of letting her give into her temptation to look away, to hide her reactions from me.
Her pulse flutters against my thumb. A small, frantic beat. I match it, steady, willing her to believe I’m not like them.
Her vulnerability hits me. Too many have mistreated her. I can’t let that stand.
“I’ll take you out. Tonight. You’ll let me. And you’ll see the difference between me and them.”
Sharp defiance blazes there now, and her nails curl tighter against my chest. She’s still not pushing me away. It’s her answer, even if she won’t give me the words.
I smile slowly, deliberately. “Good girl.”
16
DREW
I’m fussing in the barn, clearing up my stuff, finding new places for my paint brushes and palette, and checking the painting in its half-finished form.
I don’t want to go back to the Lodge, but I don’t really have a choice.
My bag is there. In my office.
I’m not going to be lucky twice in a row.
But I can’t just hide out here forever. Gathering my courage, I stomp out into the snow, it’s not that deep today, and charge inside.
I immediately see Gabe, pacing by the front desk.
My heart kicks at my breastbone as hot and cold war with each other in my gut.
He turns and catches my gaze, and I want to freeze but don’t. The plan is to breeze by him without giving the time of day.
