Page 6 of Seeking Shelter

Sitting across from him, I swallow broth, barely containing my own groan when sublime warmth spreads to my belly. “Agreed.”

He wolfs down a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while I eat mine more slowly, savoring the feeling of finally being warm.

Meal consumed, Jonah leans forward, forearms on the table. The look in his eyes tells me our momentary peace is at an end.

“You’re gonna need to explain to me what the hell you were doing out there, Angel. Because from where I’m sitting, you put yourself in danger. That’s not something I’ll ever tolerate.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Jonah

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Angel spits out.

Outside, thunder rolls, wind howls, and snow’s coming down. But I’m more worried about the storm inside.

We rise from the table, and she skewers me with a furious gaze. She’s got a temper and I’ve tripped it. I don’t give a fuck. She can be as mad as she wants, as long as she’s safe.

I fill a pan with water and set it to heat on the stovetop, then add a log to the wood burner.

She steps into my space and jabs a finger at my chest. “I’ve got plenty of overbearing brothers, thank you very much.” Her finger drills in for emphasis. “I don’t need another over-protective male thinking it’s his job to watch out for me. How do you think I made it through four years of college and two years of grad school without you? You weren’t there to tell me to look both ways before crossing the street, but still I managed to do that. Every single time.”

I don’t think it’s a good time to remind her that I did show up at her college and it was because she was having a rough time. But she’s not done.

“And you want to know what else? I’ve worked successfully at my profession without you holding my hand. I’ve earned full marks on all my evaluations, yet you think I can’t stand near a stove without getting burned. Whatever burr is up your butt, it’s about you, not me.”

I lean down so we’re nose to nose. “You were being shot at, Angel. You never should’ve been up there. You’re a wildlife biologist, not law enforcement.”

Her eyes spark fire. “Dooley told me he’d seen the trap. What was I supposed to do? Leave it so those assholes can torture and kill a bear?”

“You should have reported it to me. I’m senior Forest Service law enforcement and this is my jurisdiction. You never should’ve gone off on your own with a storm coming. And Jesus Christ, what made you think it was a good idea to engage with the poachers? You could have been killed.”

“I know you’re a LEO. I called your office and reported what Dooley told me. I didn’t think anyone would respond today. It was a cable trap, Jonah. I had to do something.”

The rawness of her voice guts me but I hold on to my conviction. She sighs, and her attitude evens out. “I made a calculated decision that I could document the site, disable the trap, and get out before the worst of the storm hit. If I got caught in the storm, I planned on coming here.”

I grab her hand before she can poke me again. “You miscalculated, because they were shooting at you.” I lower my voice to keep from shouting. “Nothing makes that okay.”

“The poachers showed up sooner than I anticipated.” She shrugs like it was no big deal.

Something loosens in my brain and I snap. I grab the lapels of her jacket and yank her to her toes. The flare of awareness in her eyes, the scent of peaches swirling in my head, the fact that I’ve kissed her before and it’s ruined me for anyone else all come to a head.

I pull her up by her elbows and lock my lips on hers.

For a moment, I think I’ve shocked her into immobility. But that doesn’t stop me from running my tongue over her bottom lip. Then she grabs a handful of my shirt, pulls me closer, and her lips open for me. Steel restraints couldn’t have kept me from diving in.

With her head cradled in my hands, I kiss her like I’ve wanted to every time we’ve crossed paths since her junior year of college.

Lips, tongue, teeth clash like we’re at war. And swirling through it all is the wonder that finally, finally, I’m holding Angel in my arms.

A moment later she’s pushing me back and I’m struggling to catch my breath. She stares, eyes wide, her fingers loosening their hold. She rubs her lips together and I nearly lose it all over again. She backs away like I’m feral.

“What the hell, Jonah? You don’t even like me, but you kiss me like that?”

I tip back my head, staring at the ceiling, breathing deep and struggling for control. “Sorry. I should’ve given you a chance to say no. Sorry.”

Then her words catch up to me and I look at her. “What do you mean I don’t like you? Of course I like you. I’ve always liked you.”

“Right,” she scoffs. Using the folded towel, she moves the pan of hot water to the table and squirts in dish soap. “You like me so much that after we kissed that first time you couldn’t get away from me fast enough.