I glance at our newly purchased tree, lying wrapped in netting nearby. "Should we call the others?"

"Nah, let's just get moving. Last thing we need is Jarron calling his fancy lawyer about liability insurance or whatever rich boy nonsense he'd come up with."

"You really think he'd do that?"

"Have you met him?" Lyle stands, offering me a hand up. "Man once threatened to sue a cloud for raining on his new boots."

With the tree strapped down in the back, we pull out of the tree farm just as the sleet starts. It isn't long before the truck lurches sideways, and my heart leaps into my throat. Lyle wrestles with the wheel as we slide across black ice, the Christmas tree shifting ominously in the bed behind us.

"Shit, shit, shit!" He pumps the brakes, but we're dancing across the road like a drunk at last call.

My knuckles turn white on the dashboard. "Lyle..."

"I got it, I got it." He guides us toward the shoulder, where we finally skid to a stop. The engine idles, headlights cutting through swirling snow.

"You okay?" His breath comes out in white puffs.

"Yeah." My hands are shaking. "Just... give me a minute."

"Take all the time you need." He kills the engine. "We should wait this out anyway."

Silence settles over us, broken only by the tick of the cooling engine and our breathing. The windows slowly fog up, creating a cocoon of warmth against the storm outside.

"Some adventure, huh?" Lyle's voice is soft, closer than before.

I turn to find him watching me, his brown eyes intense in the dim light. Something electric crackles in the space between us.

"Lyle..."

I shouldn't let him kiss me, but his lips find mine anyway. The heat from his mouth contrasts with the cold seeping through the truck windows. His hand cups my face, thumb tracing my jaw as he deepens the kiss. My fingers curl into his t-shirt, pulling him closer across the center console.

"Quinn," he breathes against my mouth. "I've wanted to do that since the first time I heard you sing."

The windshield's completely fogged now, creating our own private world. His hand slides into my hair, and I let out a small gasp as he tugs gently, tilting my head back.

"Lyle..." My voice comes out breathier than intended.

He trails kisses down my neck, each one sending sparks through my body. "Just say the word and I'll stop."

But I don't want him to stop. And that terrifies me more than any icy road.

His other hand finds my waist, fingers slipping under the hem of my sweater to brush bare skin. The touch burns like whiskey, warming me from the inside out.

"This is a terrible idea," I whisper, even as I arch into his touch.

"The best ones usually are." His teeth graze my collarbone. "We can blame it on the weather if you want."

I pull back just enough to look at him. His eyes are dark, intense. "And what happens tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow's a problem for tomorrow's us." He captures my mouth again, and for a moment, I let myself forget about everything else.

25

LYLE

"Relax, no one's around," I murmur, pulling Quinn onto my lap. The truck’s cab feels snug, cozy even, as the heater fights against the encroaching cold. I scoot the seat back, giving us more room. She looks around nervously.

"You sure? What if someone drives by?" Her voice wavers slightly, a mix of excitement and anxiety.