“There, that’s done.” He straightened and smiled. “All is well!”
“You did a great job.”
“I had a great teacher.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
She couldn’t help but grin. “Now you may check my team.”
“Yes, ma’am!” He walked over to her team and began the inspection.
Whitney followed him and kept her gaze on all that he did. He managed it just as she would have. He was a quick learner.
“That’s that. Again, looks good.”
She smiled. “Nicely done. You have a real touch withthem.” She turned to walk back, but the toe of her boot hit something. Before she realized what was happening, she started to fall.
Peter reached out in a flash and caught her. As he pulled her to his chest, Whitney looked up to find her lips inches from his. Their eyes locked, and for a moment Whitney was paralyzed. But not in that fearful way she had known with Garrett Sinclair.
Although she did find herself trembling.
He stepped back and righted her as if nothing had happened. The perfect gentleman.
For the first time, she wasn’t grateful. In fact, as unbelievable as it was ... she was disappointed.
“Thank you.” She forced her thoughts into place. “We better get moving.”
Hurrying past him, she straightened her coat and then pulled the hook for her sled from the snow. “Let’s go!” she commanded her team.
Peter would have to catch up. She needed a moment to clear her head. No doubt the dogs would be straining at the harness to follow her. After several breaths, she glanced back.
Peter was fine. He’d managed to maneuver quickly, and his team wasn’t too far behind.
Her feelings were so muddled. What had happened? That moment in Peter’s arms had been ... well ... amazing. Wonderful.
They took a turn, and without her thoughts on the task at hand, she nearly lost her balance when the basket listed to the left.
That was close. She needed to focus. Plenty of time to think about what happened later.
A shout rent the air.
Whitney glanced back to see the dogs pulling an empty sled.
“Whoa!” she called to her team. It took a moment, but they halted. She threw out her hook and grabbed hold of Peter’s lead dog almost in the same motion. “Whoa.”
Peter was already on his feet and running after the sled. He caught up to them and grabbed the hook from his sled and set it in place, then made his way toward her, dusting off his clothes as he walked. “Sorry about that.”
“Are you okay? You’re not injured, are you?” She put a hand to her chest.
“Nothing’s wounded but my pride.” His smile stretched across his face, and he shook his head with a laugh.
“What happened?” She’d nearly lost control on that turn as well.
Peter brushed more snow off his arms and legs. He gave a shrug. “Daydreaming.” He returned his gaze to hers and gave a sheepish smile. His hat was askew, and it made him look like a little boy who’d gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Whitney broke into laughter. Had he been daydreaming about the same thing she had? Their closeness was hard to forget.
What would it have been like if he’d followed it with a kiss?
Morning light broke through Whitney’s window. She pushed up to sit in her bed and blinked away the vestiges of sleep. It was so good to be home. What time was it?
