Page 33 of Dead Man's Hand

Sadie was still giving him a questioning look as she stepped to the door, opened and saw a small evergreen tree leaning against the side of the cabin.

“I thought it was small enough that we could find something to decorate it with around the cabin.”

She turned to stare at him. “A real Christmas tree.”

He shrugged. “You said you never had one. I found an axe near the woodpile and since it is the season...”

Tears welled in her eyes, and he felt his heart ache. It had been impulsive and such a small thing to him, but so much more to her. “DJ.”

He heard so much in those two letters. He cleared his throat. “I’ll make a stand for it.”

“Thank you.”

He could only shrug again, half afraid of what he’d say—let alone do—seeing the emotion in her eyes.

HE’DCUTHERa Christmas tree. Sadie feared she would cry if she tried to speak so she could only nod as she closed the door. His thoughtfulness was almost her undoing. She went back to the fire, warmed her hands and steadied herself before she asked, “Where did you say that first aid kit was?”

She was surprised to find that her hands were trembling as she opened the box with the red cross on it. DJ had taken off his shirt. She’d seen him without one enough times, but seeing him half-naked in the close confines of the small cabin made it much more intimate.

Sadie tried to concentrate as she took off the old makeshift bandage. She could feel DJ watching her closely. She cleaned and gently put antiseptic on the wound before she re-bandaged it. Closing the first aid kit, she started to stand to return it to the cabinet when DJ laid a hand on her arm.

She froze as his touch sent a bolt of electricity charging through her at the speed of lightning before it settled in her center. She tried to breathe but it made her chest hurt.

“Sadie.” He’d never said her name like that. Low, husky, loaded with a jolt of emotion that she recognized even though she’d never felt it with such intensity.

She slowly raised her gaze to his. What she saw in those unusually pale blue eyes made her heart kick-start. She let out the breath. She hadn’t realized that she’d still been holding the first aid kit as DJ took it from her and set it aside.

Her mouth went dry as he locked eyes with her. She tried to swallow as he rose and gently pulled her closer. She wanted to drag her gaze from his. She wanted to pull away, but all the reasons this was a bad idea evaded her. She wanted this, and from the look in his eyes, he wanted it just as desperately.

Drawing her closer, he bent to tenderly kiss her. Her lips parted of their own accord and she heard a soft moan escape him. He dragged her to him, the look in his eyes telegraphing the messageStop. Me. At. Any. Time.

But stopping him was the last thing she wanted. He pulled her against him, her soft to his hard, and then they were kissing like lovers. His hands slid down her back to her behind. He cupped her, pulling her against him. She heard his moan.

He drew back to look at her. She could see he was begging her to stop him. He didn’t want to hurt her. He didn’t want her to just be another of the women he’d bedded and walked away from.

“If you stop now, I will never forgive you,” she said, her voice breaking.

He shook his head. “You have no idea how long I have wanted this. Wanted you.”

“So what’s stopping you?”

He chuckled. “Your godfather will kill me. But he’ll have to wait in line.” He swept her up into his arms and carried her over to the bed. The moment he set her down, she pulled him down with her. The kiss was all heat. Their tongues met, teased, then took. They tore at each other’s clothes in reckless abandonment.

There was no turning back as he bent over her breasts, sucking, nipping, teasing with his tongue. Outside the wind howled at the eaves, the snow fell as if never going to stop, and inside DJ made love to her as if there might not be a tomorrow. Later, after they were curled together trying to catch their breaths, he whispered next to her, “You intrigued me from the first time I laid eyes on you. Then I got to know you.”

She chuckled as she turned to him. “I could take that a number of ways.”

“You were pretty and smart and sexy as all get-out. Sitting across from you all those nights, I wanted you, but I also wanted more than anything I’d ever had with another woman.” His gaze met hers and held. “When you got off that plane the other day...I knew. I love you, Sadie Montclair.”

“You don’t have to say that.”

“I’ve never said it to another woman—even at gunpoint. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could work with you and not...step over a line that would end it.”

She’d never seen him this serious. “DJ,” she whispered as she moved to kiss him.

He looked uncomfortable, as if he’d opened his heart, laid it out in front of her and now felt too vulnerable. “If I’d just known that all it would take was a misshapen little evergreen tree to get you into bed...” he joked.

Sadie knew this man so well. “I didn’t sleep with you because you brought me a Christmas tree. I’ve wanted this for a very long time too.” She smiled and said, “I fell in love with you as hard as I tried not to. I love you, DJ. Do I need to tell you that’s the first time I’ve said those words to a man?”

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