“I’ll never do it again, I promise.”
Cole was lying halfway on top of her, his hands pinning hers above her head.Her deep smiling eyes met his as she heaved a giant breath from her lungs.
The warm, smoldering light clashed with hers, and they both went still.Slowly the laughter faded from him.Lesleynoted that his gaze slid to her mouth, and it was all she could do not to moisten her lips in eager anticipation.He was so close that all she had to do was lift her head.His mouth hovered above hers for a timeless moment.
Lesley lowered her lashes, hungry for the taste of this man who had haunted her for weeks.
The hold on her hands relaxed and Lesley’s gaze shot to Cole as he stood and brushed the snow from his pant legs.Resting her weight on her elbows, Lesley sat up and stared at him dumbfoundedly.When he extended a hand to her, she placed her bare one in his and was lifted from the wet snow.
Her eyes were filled with questions, but he ignored them.Cool and aloof, he pushed her toward the stairs into the apartment.“Get dressed or you’ll be late for work.”
“Yes sir,” she tossed back saucily.
A hint of a grin sprang into his eyes and just as quickly disappeared.“I’ll finish digging you out.”
She stood, one foot resting on the porch, the other on the top step.“Cole.”
He turned.
“Thanks.”
“Why thank me?”he said in a husky voice.“I’m doing this for completely selfish reasons.”
The words were meant to disarm her, and they did.With a sad smile, Lesley retreated into the warmth of her home.
Snow was a part of life in northern Idaho, but the first snowfall of the year created the usual rush on the service stations for snow tires and chains.Lesley bypassed the station where she normally did business and instead stopped in at Paul Walker’s on her way home.After filling her gas tank, she stepped into the resort grocery.
“Howdy, Paul,” she called out cheerfully.It was just afterfour-thirty, and already the sun was beginning to set.Heavy clouds darkened the sky.“Looks like we’re due for more snow.”
“Seems that way.”Paul was stacking jars of peanut butter on the shelf.“Anything I can get you?”
“How about a snowplow?”
He chuckled good-naturedly.“Haven’t seen your neighbor in quite a while.Must be a week or so since the last time he was in.Buys most of his things here.Even had me special-order a few things I didn’t have handy.”
“Cole Daniels?”
“Only close neighbor you got up your way, I’d say.”
Cole had continued to do his main shopping in this resort store?Groceries were 20 percent cheaper in town.
“In fact, if it isn’t too much trouble, would you mind taking him a couple of things?He paid for them.No need to let them sit around here with you being so close and all.”
“No,” Lesley answered thoughtfully, “I don’t mind.”
“Good.”Paul returned his attention to the peanut butter, and Lesley strolled down the narrow aisles picking up coarse salt and the latest issue ofTV Guide.
Paul handed her a small sack marked “Daniels” after she paid for the gas and the couple of things she’d gotten.
Her thoughts were as heavy as the gray clouds that obliterated the sky when Lesley drove home.The hill had been sanded, which made the access up the hill to her place easier.
What did Cole do for a living?He was always there—at least, his car was.He seldom came out of doors.Sometimes she had the feeling he was hiding.But why, and from whom?She’d tried to tell Terry her suspicions on several occasions, but Terry had laughed them off, attributing such ideas to Lesley’s overactive imagination.Rather than argue, Lesley said nothing.
Cole’s lights were on when she pulled into her driveway.After dropping off her sack in the kitchen, she walked over to his front door.He didn’t respond to her first rap.
“Come on, Cole,” she cried, half-angry.What did he think she was going to do?“I promise I don’t have any snowballs.”
The sound of his chuckle could be heard before he unlatched the lock and pulled open his door.
