Page 8 of Blame It On The Reindeer

She reached down and grabbed her purse before standing up. I hated the hurt look on her face but I couldn’t give in just because I was attracted to her. I had a plan and needed to stick to it. I didn’t have the time or the luxury of getting caught up in a personal relationship right now.

“Thank you for your time,” she said quietly, lowering her head as she walked past me to the front door.

I opened it and stepped to the side, not believing my eyes as a cloud of snow blew past us, the wind howling in the distance.

She gasped and jumped back, both of our eyes widening as we took in the scene in front of us. In a matter of minutes, enough snow had accumulated, making it impossible to spot her SUV.

Seven

Jasmin

“I’ll be fine,” I shouted over my shoulder, knowing Brody couldn’t hear me over the wind howling past us as I sunk deeper into the snow.

There was no way in hell I was going to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with him. I was determined to comb every inch of the ranch until I could find my SUV and get the hell out of there. He had made it abundantly clear that he didn’t want to be around me, so I was going to give him what he wanted.

“Why are you being so difficult?” he growled, suddenly behind me as strong hands gripped my waist and stopped me.

“I’m not. I’m trying to get out of here before I get stuck with the grumpiest ass I’ve ever met!” I shouted, my eyes blinking rapidly to see through the snow that was falling between us.

“It’s a little too late for that, Princess.”

He stood in front of me, towering over me to where I had to tilt my head back to see him.

“Don’t call me that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not a princess. I’m a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need a man to—”

Before I could finish my sentence, he leaned forward and grabbed me, tossing me over his shoulder as he stomped back to the house.

“Put me down, you big bully!” I pounded my fists against his back, trying to get him to listen.

A few minutes later, I was greeted by warmth as I watched the door slam shut behind us. He bent down, placing me on the rug in the entryway, eyes boring into me.

“I told you to let me go.” I placed my hands on my hips and glared at him.

“And I told you I’m busy and don’t have time for this shit.”

“Which is why I was trying to get out of your hair,” I objected, throwing my hands in the air in frustration.

“How the hell do you think you’re going anywhere in that? You can’t even see your car, let alone the road.” He pointed a finger toward the large window, proving his point as a blanket of white fell outside.

“I told you—I’m determined. I would find a way.”

“And then I would have to waste more time I don’t have digging your body out of the snow when you got stuck and froze to death.”

“So what am I supposed to do now?” My irritation was growing thicker as we stood inches apart, staring each other down.

“It seems we’re stuck together for a few days, whether we like it or not.”

“No.” I shook my head vehemently. “There has to be another option. Something—anythingother than this.”

“Sorry,Princess, this is what happens when you go snooping around places you’re not supposed to be. Seems luck wasn’t on your side, and now you’re stuck here until the storm passes.”

He pulled off his jacket and hung it on the coat rack beside the door before breezing past me.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I grumbled, tossing my head back and closing my eyes.

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