Snowed In Read online

  “Are you so afraid of getting hurt again you won’t even try to be happy?”

  “Don’t analyze me like some armchair psychologist, because that could be a two-way street.” She tugged her hat tighter on her head and huffed a breath that floated like a cloud toward the sky. “You aren’t hearing me. I think we could have fun, I just don’t think we’d have anything more than that.”

  “We will. I know that like I know my name.” He had given up on his chance with her once. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake again.

  She clenched her fists, stared up at the sky and shouted, “You are the most exasperating person in the history of ever.”

  “I think that’s you, not me.”

  Her icy gaze could have sliced him to bits. “I’m not interested in a relationship, which is why I keep saying we should let this be the snowstorm, and stop trying to make it into more.”

  He tugged off his hat and shoved it in his pocket. This entire conversation had him heated. “We both think we’re completely right in this.”

  She shrugged. “I suppose we do. We want to be together right now, but neither of us are willing to sacrifice anything on a what-if.”

  “You’re not a what-if to me, Marissa. You’re a when.”

  “If you believed that you wouldn’t be fighting me so hard. You know I’m leaving and you don’t like it, so instead of enjoying the time I have here, you’re trying to push for more. And pushing makes me want to say fuck it all and shut this whole game down. If you really thought there was something more than sex between us, you’d let it happen naturally.”

  He pushed a hand through his hair and wished his whole life didn’t follow this same damned script. Good enough to make the team, but not good enough to start. Good enough to earn a business degree, but not good enough to run the family business. Good enough to fuck, but not good enough for more. He dragged his hand down his face. Maybe disappointment wiped off.

  “See? Now you’re upset. I don’t want to hurt you, but you’re not listening to reason.”

  “I think you might be right.”

  She pressed a hand to her chest. “I can’t believe it. Did you just admit you were wrong? And out here without a single witness.”

  “I didn’t say I was wrong, just that you’re right. Let’s be together now, and I’ll come see you, and you can come see me, and I’ll show you long distance can work, at least until I convince you to move.” He didn’t think he’d ever met anyone as stubborn as he was. What was more, he couldn’t blame her. After what she’d been through, she had every reason not to trust, not to take a leap of faith.

  She brushed her hands along the parka she wore. “Long distance never works.”

  “Every time someone tells me I can’t do something, all it makes me is more determined to do it.”

  “I have the same twitch.” She sighed and motioned toward the cabin. “So if you didn’t bring me out here to frolic in the snow, why are we here?”

  “I wanted to show you the property. Having perspective on where you are should help you feel more secure up here. My great-grandfather was commissioned to build a community of log cabins. Right down there.” He pointed down the mountain to a collection of tiny dark dots, a few of them beneath swirls of smoke. “Those are the twenty he started with. He didn’t speak a word of English and did almost everything by hand. He didn’t even have power tools. The logs were hand scraped, the beams lifted by pulleys and sheer strength.”

  “I can’t imagine a world without electricity. I mean, I freaked out last night when the lights went out, and we still had a fireplace for light and heat. It’s just a foreign concept.”

  “It’s amazing what he was able to do. We still rent out most of them, almost a hundred years later. Craftsmanship like that holds together better than modern methods. When they came here they had one kid, my grandfather. But while he built those cabins they had six more. Which is why our cabin is so large. The way voices carry in there, it’s a wonder they didn’t go crazy. But that could be why he took on more and more projects. More cabins at first, but then as his skills became better known, lodges and homebuilders started bringing him in. His stone fireplaces became as legendary as his woodworking.”

  “How did you end up with the cabin?”

  “My grandfather was the oldest, so he inherited it, but he used it as a vacation place because the business had moved to the city. My grandfather kept up the custom builds while my dad modernized into log home kits. My folks had Greg and I, and Greg followed my grandfather’s model completely. Opa and Greg have worked together ever since I can remember. The shed was Greg’s first project, which is probably why it’s so big. If he knew how much work it would be he would have scaled it down. He does all the custom work now and my dad still brags on how much more the cabin kits bring into the company.”

  “Didn’t you want to be a part of that? A family business?”

  He shook his head. There was a time he’d thought he had a place there, but there was no place to be had. “I went into real estate after college and I thought I’d take over my dad’s part of the business eventually. But I hated the whole sales gimmick. I wound up flipping houses instead, which is how I ended up out here. With the downturn in the economy, a lot of people abandoned their vacation homes. I picked them up and renovated them, renting them out until the market turned and we sold high. Then I invested in commercial real estate. The equipment-rental business was another foreclosure I turned around.”

  “And here I thought you were some kind of ski bum.”

  “I aspire to be a ski bum.” He started across the hill and she fell into step behind him. “I have a number in my head I’d like to have in the bank before I have kids. My dad worked so much we barely saw him. I want to be the one to coach their teams and teach them how to cheat at Scrabble, you know?”

  “I didn’t know guys thought about having kids.”

  “Sure we do. I mean, we don’t have as much of a say on when or how many since it’s not us doing the hard part, but guys know if they want kids or not, where they want to raise them, that sort of thing.” He stopped and let her catch up to him, impressed by how quickly she’d picked up snowshoeing. “Do you want kids?”

  Her cheeks, already pink from the cold, heated to a deeper shade. “I did.”

  “And now?” His heart squeezed because that would be a deal breaker.

  She shrugged and stared down at the cabin. “It’s not very practical.”

  “Having children is a horrible financial move. But you don’t do it for the tax write-off, you do it for the family.”

  “I don’t think about it much. It’s like a dream I put into a drawer that I never open.” She gave a lingering sigh. “It’s not something I can do now, anyway. I have a hard time keeping houseplants alive.”

  Fear nagged at his soul. If she’d closed that door, then maybe she was right that they didn’t have as much in common anymore. “Do you not think about kids because you thought you’d have them with him?”

  She knit her brows, then shook her head. “Chris? No, that’s not why. Unless I see his picture or someone from that time, he doesn’t even cross my mind.”

  “Someone like me.”

  She nodded. “Though now you’re going to be Snowman in my head.”

  “Snowman?”

  “Yes, a winter superhero who can rescue me from a blizzard and get me on snowshoes. No one will believe it, you know. Which is why . . .” She pulled her phone from her jacket pocket, then held it out to him. “Photographic evidence.”

  She moved into ridiculous pinup poses as he took the pictures and wound up falling flat on her ass. The powdery snow puffed around her as she landed, dusting her from head to toe.

  “Save me, Snowman.”

  He took another shot. He wished she had cell service so he could text himself a picture. “I think that one everyone will believe.”

  “I’ll have you know I’m usually graceful.” She lay back and spread her legs, then
raised her arms over her head and back down. “Is this how you make a snow angel?”

  “You’re a pro.” He snapped a few shots and then sat down on her angel wing.

  “Okay genius, how are we going to get up now?”

  He lay beside her and then lifted the phone above them. “I’m going to teach you how to get up on your own. But first, a selfie.”

  “I’m a mess.” She pouted as she caught her image on the screen. “No wonder you don’t want to sleep with me.”

  “You’re cute.” He kissed her cheek and grinned when he saw the picture had caught her rolling her eyes. That about summed them up.

  “You don’t have to flirt. I think we’ve established that as soon as you take off your clothes I pretty much agree to do your bidding.”

  He grinned and sat up, pulling her into the same position. “Is that how I got you into bed last night?”

  “Pretty much. I looked over the railing and saw hot guy, wine, and a fire and thought, Yes, please.”

  “I looked up and saw a beautiful woman wearing next to nothing and thought the same thing.”

  “I had on pajamas. You didn’t have on a shirt. By the second glass of wine I was thinking I wanted to rub myself on your washboard abs.”

  He laughed, wondering when the last time was he’d had so much fun. The way she teased gave him permission to do the same and he loved the banter. “Okay, so to get up.”

  “This again.”

  “Plant your feet close to your body with one more in front than the other, then shift your weight forward, onto your knees and then up.” He did so, steadied himself, and smiled down at her. “Your turn.”

  “You just stood up without using your hands.”

  “Right.”

  “You’re a freak, Snowman. I can’t do that.”

  “The other way is to turn over and get on your hands and knees.”

  She followed his instructions, then peeked at him over her shoulder. “I had no idea snowshoeing was so sexual.”

  He shook his head, refusing to take the bait—or her, because seeing her like this gave him all kinds of ideas. “Now on your knees.”

  She got up on her knees and turned herself to face him. “We can try if you want, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “Plant one foot in front of you, then lift yourself up like a lunge.” She wobbled a bit as she stood, so he reached out to steady her.

  “Next time I’m going to use you to pull myself up.”

  “That works too, but you need to know in case you’re snowshoeing alone.”

  “That will never happen. You’re my one and only.” Her thick auburn hair swirled about her shoulders.

  “I like that.”

  “I thought you would.”

  He cleared his throat. “So tell me about this I-don’t-suck situation.”

  She tilted her head to the side and sighed with a shrug. “I gag when I brush my teeth, or cough too hard.”

  “Damn.”

  “Yeah, it’s not fun. And I’m sure you think you have a magic dick that will glide down my throat without incident, but every time I’ve tried, I’ve puked. Back in school, the girls tried to teach me to do it, but even their expertise couldn’t get past it.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think even my magic dick can fix that.” He started up the next hill. “It’s easiest if you follow on my footsteps.”

  “You know, my inability to blow you should be a huge con on your list.”

  “So there’s a list now. I’m not putting that on mine. What else is on it?”

  “Not much. I’m pretty spectacular.”

  He glanced back at her and grinned, loving the way she held her arms out for balance. “That you are.”

  “Tanya said my biggest flaw as a roommate was too many takeout containers in the fridge.”

  “Not talking in your sleep?”

  She popped her head up, her blue eyes wide and bright. “I don’t talk in my sleep.”

  “Yeah, you do.” He stopped at the top, glad for a break in the snowfall so they could see down into the valley. The view never got old, always changing with the season.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “Hey, Mr. Spread Your Legs.”

  He turned to see her standing still, her legs apart in a straddle.

  “This is me trying to walk in your footsteps, Sasquatch. Take smaller steps for the little people.” She made it up to him, breathing heavily, just like she would be later.

  “You only call me Sasquatch because you want me to fuck you like some feral beast.”

  “Yes, please.” Her cheeks had a rosy glow he doubted came from the cold.

  He tucked her hair behind her ears. He hadn’t expected this would be hard for her, but inclines could be challenging until you got used to them. “Do you run trails or on the street?”

  “Treadmill or the track.” She unzipped her jacket and took a deep breath. “Why?”

  “You’re hot.”

  “Why thank you. Flattery will get you everywhere.”

  He gave up on trying not to laugh. “Okay sassy pants, will you stop flirting for a second so I can show you something?”

  “Is it your dick?”

  He leveled his gaze at her and she raised her hands in surrender.

  “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. But you have to admit everything about this hike of yours is blatantly sexual.”

  “I’ve never once thought of snowshoeing as sexual until today.”

  “Well now you know.”

  That he did. “Come over here so you can see the lake.”

  She moved closer to him and her gaze followed his line of sight. “Everything looks so clean and pretty with all this snow. And the lake is so blue. It’s almost like a blank coloring page and only the lake has been filled in.”

  “The mountain lakes get stocked with trout. It makes fishing feel a bit like cheating, but it gets more people out on the water since catching something is pretty much guaranteed.”

  “Back in school I never would have pegged you for the rugged outdoorsman type.”

  “Back then I wasn’t. It took a while for me to figure out what I wanted to do rather than what I was expected to do.”

  “I get that.”

  He supposed she did. He just hoped he could show her enough of what she wanted to make her consider something deeper. They stood that way for a long peaceful moment, soaking in the view and the sweet smell of the forest around them.

  She nudged his shoulder with her own. “I know this ruins the moment, but I am starving.”

  “Starving? We had lunch an hour ago.”

  Her tummy rumbled. She pressed a hand to her middle as her eyes widened in shock. “I was trying to avoid that.”

  “Didn’t you eat any of the cookies you made?” He started back toward the cabin, careful to keep his steps small.

  “Six of them.”

  “Did it help?”

  “My sexual frustration? What do you think?”

  8

  “Are you actually reading?” Marissa sat up on the bed and peered out into the living room at Scott, his long legs stretched out on the couch. He’d been lying there for the last hour, while she’d been trying to do the same thing in the bedroom. Even in separate rooms he distracted her from what she guessed would be a good book if she could only pay attention.

  “I am.” He waited a long moment before sliding the playing card he used as a bookmark between the pages. “You said you wanted quiet time.”

  “That was a euphemism for bedtime. Which is why I’m in the bedroom.” The light of the day had begun to fade, and she guessed dark wasn’t more than an hour away.

  He rose from the couch and came to stand in the doorway. After their adventure she’d changed into one of his flannels, only buttoning it up halfway since that had worked out so nicely this morning. But he seemed to have gotten over that twitch because instead of following her to bed he’d made some phone call
s and then took to reading on the couch.

  All this anticipation had her wound much too tight. “Come a little closer.”

  “I’m going to start dinner. I’m thinking pasta.”

  “You would rather cook than come play with me?” Insecurity whispered that maybe her unruly hair, or her lack of sexy clothes, caused him to pull away. But then her gaze dipped to his jeans, the outline of his hard cock pressing against the material. Her shoulders sagged in relief. The unbuttoned shirt still did something for him.

  “I can’t live on cookies like you can.”

  “Says the man who had a half dozen triple chocolate chips.”

  “I had to test your theory, which is bullshit. Do you want red sauce or garlic and olive oil?”

  “I want you to come here. Just for a kiss.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not going to happen. One kiss with you and we’re not going to breathe until it’s tomorrow.”

  “Yes, please.” She rose up on her knees and let the flannel slip, exposing her bare shoulders.

  His nostrils flared and his throat undulated as he swallowed.

  “What are you waiting for?”

  “Tonight.” His steady gaze was like an invitation.

  “It is tonight. The sun is going down.”

  He shook his head. “Once I start making love to you, I’m not going to stop. Not to eat or tend the fire, or anything else.”

  “Yes, please.” She licked her lips, her nipples tightening, her pussy clenching at his words.

  “There’s one problem with being snowed in up here.”

  “The Wi-Fi?” That annoyed her the most. She couldn’t work without it, and without work she had no way to distract herself.

  “I’ve searched the whole place and only came up with four condoms. Which means I have to pace myself or I’ll go insane. Once I’ve been inside you, nothing else is going to be good enough.” He cleared his throat. “So, red sauce?”

  She nodded and sat back on her heels, watching him walk through the living room and on to the kitchen. Of all reasons he could have given her, that one had never crossed her mind. She’d figured since they were at his place they’d have everything they needed. She’d seen the way women looked at him, back in school and yesterday at the wedding reception. The guy had panties dropping everywhere he went. How could he not have plenty of condoms?