According to the highway patrol reports, the roads were almost cleared, so he and Bryn were planning on heading back to the city later today. He’d just wanted to make sure she had more wood cut and stacked for the next time she came back here.
A twinge of disappointment shot through him as he thought about having to go back to Dallas. He never thought it would have been possible, but Grant had enjoyed these last few days with her.
For two and a half days, they’d done nothing but make love, sleep, and eat. They christened nearly every space in the cabin.
The bed. The shower. The couch.
Grant couldn’t seem to get enough of the fiery woman, and from the way she reacted each time he touched her, Brynnon felt the same about him. Domestic bliss hadn’t been anywhere in his future plans, but after being locked away with her these last few days, Grant had to admit...the idea was becoming more and more appealing.
He smiled, cracking another log in two. Throwing the pieces in the pile with the others, he’d just started to reach for another when he felt something hit one side of his ass with a dull thud.
Spinning around, he saw Brynnon standing about five yards away. She was in jeans, her brown work boots, and a spare coat and gloves she forgot she’d left.
Her long hair was down, spilling well past her shoulders and she stared back at him, smiling. The vixen looked guilty as hell, but not sorry in the least.
“Told you I’d get you back for that swat you gave me the other day.”
Grant leaned the axe against the large cutting log. “Don’t even think about it.”
Locking eyes with his, Brynnon bent over and scooped up another handful of snow. “What’s the matter, big guy? You scared of a little snow?”
Damn, he loved how playful she was. “You’re gonna start something you can’t finish, Princess.” He knew she was going to throw it before it even left her hand.
Brynnon drew her arm back and let the frozen ball fly. It hit him center mass, exactly where she’d been aiming.
Rolling his lips inward, Grant used his gloved hand to brush the moisture from the front of his coat. “Just remember,” he cautioned. “You were warned.”
With lightning speed, he picked up some snow, packed it into a ball, and threw it back at her. Brynnon squealed and ducked, the ball skimming the top of her hair as it flew past.
“Ha!” she taunted. “You missed!”
Simultaneously, they both gathered more snow and began lobbing the balls at one another. Some hit their target while others were narrowly avoided. Brynnon moved in closer as she continued her attempt to take down the enemy not realizing her mistake until it was too late.
The second she was within reaching distance, Grant swung his hand out. She screamed, trying to fight him off, but it was too late.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, Grant pulled a laughing Brynnon to him. He was just about to secure his hold when the thick sole of his boot slipped in the wet snow and they both began to fall.
Doing his best to keep from crushing her, Grant threw his other arm out to the side for leverage. The pair landed on the ground, the impact almost silent as the thick, soft snow broke their fall.
With her body beneath his, Brynnon dissolved into laughter. The sound sparked his own amusement, and soon the two were laughing together.
Out of the corner of his eye, Grant noticed an SUV pulling into the drive. On instinct, he pushed himself up and started to draw his gun but realized who was behind the wheel.
Adrenaline rushed through him as he blew out a breath and helped Brynnon to her feet. When he saw the look of fear she was giving him, Grant silently cursed. “It’s just Derek.”
Her relief was palpable, and he felt like an ass for scaring her the way he had. Of course, he felt like an even bigger idiot for allowing them both to become so vulnerable.
What the fuck were you thinking?
He couldn’t believe how stupid he’d been. Grant had been so busy playing around with her in the snow, someone could’ve snuck up through the trees or opened fire from the road and they would never have known what hit them.
He looked at her as she smiled over at the other man walking toward them. Pain entered his chest at just the thought of something happening to her. Especially on his watch.
Get your head back in the game, jackass.
“Looks like you two are actually enjoyin’ this shit.”
“Hey, Derek,” Brynnon chuckled. “And yes. I love it.”
