‘You can’t do that. Besides, it’s not far now,’ she said.
‘Just do as you’re told for a change.’ Before she could protest further he was at her feet, easing her boots and wet socks off. Then he scooped her up in his arms. ‘Take my scarf,’ he commanded.
Too cold and miserable to do anything but follow his orders she unwrapped his scarf, conscious of his bristled chin and ruddy cheeks within kissing distance, and somehow managed to wrap the warm wool around her bare feet – quite a feat in itself as she was wrapped up in her bulky coat.
Now she was in his arms, she didn’t know where to look. He was altogether too close and she felt ridiculously self-conscious but she couldn’t resist the opportunity to surreptitiously study his face, trying to work out what components made it so handsome. He was so different from Philip who had delicate, almost pretty, features. Ross’s were rough-hewn and she could imagine her fingers running over his face, exploring the strong cheekbones, the hard chin, the glossy, thick eyebrows…
He glanced at her and she ducked her gaze, feeling as if she’d been caught.
‘Not far now.’
‘Thank goodness.’ She tried not to wriggle but staying completely still, especially when she was so cold, was hard. ‘I hope you don’t put your back out or anything.’
He gave her a weak smile. ‘I’ll be fine.’
There was the most enticing, heart-shaped freckle to the left of his lower lip, which she’d not noticed before.
Okay, that was a flat out lie. Of course she’d noticed it before. Lots of times. If ever there was an ‘X marks the spot’, that was it. She caught her breath, forcing herself not to think about kissing him and felt herself tense.
‘It’s all right, I won’t drop you,’ he said, looking into her face with a grin, tightening his hold on her.
‘I … I didn’t think you were going to,’ she managed to get out, forcing herself to relax into his hold. She was aware of every bit of him touching her. His arm skimming the underside of her thighs, his chest against the side of her rib cage. Oh God, she was going to come over in a faint like some sort of Southern Belle. There was just something so lovely about a pair of big strong arms cradling your body. She wanted to imagine him carrying her up to bed. Again she stiffened at the thought that had sneaked in, uninvited.
‘God, you’re like a bloody eel, McBride. I won’t drop you.’
The trip to the door seemed to take an eternity but at last he shouldered his way inside. She wanted to wriggle like a child desperate to be put down but managed to retain some dignity until he lowered her to the floor. Her body slipped down his and with her arm still draped around his neck they came body to body.
‘Sorry. Thank you.’ Their eyes met in another one of those awareness-laden moments and she held her breath, convinced that this time hewasgoing to kiss her.
‘Ross,’ she breathed, unable to help herself. She couldn’t help the plea in her eyes.Kiss me.She tilted her face up to him. Surely he felt it too.
‘Izzy.’ He cupped her cheek with his hand. Then he sighed, smiled sadly and stepped back, his hand moving to her waist. ‘We need to get your feet warmed up. It won’t be helping, standing on this cold floor.’
Her heart squeezed in sudden pain. Seriously she was making all the same mistakes again. What was wrong with her?
‘Hot water bottles,’ said Izzy, briskly pulling away from him.
His eyes widened.
‘We need to get hot water bottles and you probably need to get your wet trousers off. And your wet shoes. Socks too.’
He nodded gravely.
‘Do you want a hot drink?’ She scurried off down the hall to the kitchen, ignoring the sudden darts of pins and needles in her heels.
Unlike the hall, the kitchen was still warm and someone had left the lights on and a note on the table beside a bottle of whisky.
Hope the journey wasn’t too horrendous. Jim (not me) has made soup for tomorrow and there’s enough bread so you don’t need to get up early. Banked the fires up in your rooms. See you in the morning. Hot chocolate in the flask for you if you fancy it. J & J.
‘God, I love those two,’ said Izzy with a forced smile, pushing the note so that Ross could see it and immediately crossing to the dresser and grabbing two mugs. ‘What sweethearts,’ she said with false cheer. ‘Hot chocolate and whisky? I think we deserve one, don’t you?’
‘Izzy…’ He reached for her but she pretended she hadn’t seen the movement and turned away, busying herself pouring the hot chocolate.
‘I suggest you do your own whisky,’ she said, pushing a mug towards him and avoiding looking at him. ‘Thanks for being such a hero and carrying me back. I hope Duncan knows someone who can get your car tomorrow. He’s bound to.’ She knew she was blathering but she couldn’t bear to hear Ross turn her down gently, which he undoubtedly would. ‘There you go. One hot chocolate.’
‘Thanks,’ said Ross, nodding and looking at her with wary eyes as he sank into the opposite chair. ‘I can say that last half hour in the car was pretty hairy. Thanks for…’ He looked at her and gave her a weak smile. ‘Staying level-headed. Calm in the face of potential disaster.’
‘Crying wouldn’t have helped.’
