Page 27 of Cold Foot Komodo

“Ew, farting?”

“I’ve been working on my F-words for when Raynah’s baby arrives.”

“Did I do that okay?” she asked, needing reassurance.

“Hell yeah! You should go kiss him. Hug him tight. Get your titties involved.”

“What? No. That’s too fast.”

“It would make him think about you all night.”

Feeling bold, Sasha shoved her feet into her snow boots to the cheering of Timber and bolted out onto the porch. Clumsily, she made her way down the slick stairs and called out, “Reed!”

He halted in the middle of the clearing. She meant for her approach to look a lot smoother, but her snow boots were unlaced and she nearly fell three times before she made it anywhere close to him, chugging breath like a racehorse.

“Come to tell me to delete your number?” he guessed.

“No.” God, she hadn’t thought this far. Clumsily, she made her way to him, pushed up on her tiptoes to reach the giant man, and slid her arms around his neck. He froze, hands still shoved deep into his pockets.

Um, this wasn’t working how she thought. Regret filled every cell in her body.

“Right,” she said on a breath, releasing him. She backed away, eyes on his boots, because she was too cowardly to look into his eyes right now. She wrapped her arms around her chest like a shield, because it was hella cold and she was a titty-bit nipply right now in this too-tight tank top. “Okay, bye-bye. We can forget this part in the morning.”

“Want to do a re-do?” he asked, teasing in his voice.

“How about I will ignore how not-smooth you were, and you can ignore how not-smooth I was. Deal?”

“Deal,” he rumbled in that deep, gritty, sexy voice of his.

She dared a glance up, and his eyes were glowing a lighter color. The oval pupils still made him look more animal than man, especially when the color was glowing like this.

“Perfect. See you in the morning.” She turned to leave, but he was to her in two steps and picked her up, crushed her to him.

Instinctively, she lifted her legs and wrapped them around him, because he’d pulled her up off the ground. He held her tight, and after a few moments, buried his face against her shoulder.

“You’re freezing,” he said softly against her skin.

“It’s so cold here,” she whispered back. “How long does it take for humans to get frostbite? I think I’m dying. I’m feeling dramatic.”

His chuckle was deep and vibrated through her whole body. “Back to the fireplace, weakling.”

“I can’t feel my fingers. My vision is blurring,” she joked.

His arms were tight around her as he walked her back to Timber’s house. Right here, in the middle of the clearing, where anyone could see. Granted, everyone else was probably already asleep, and the clearing was empty other than Wreck, who was standing by his mom’s car chatting with her. They were both staring at them—Beth with a knowing smile on her face, and Wreck with a what-the-hell look on his face.

Reed didn’t seem to care. He hug-walked her straight back up the porch stairs and straight through the door she’d left open, after stomping off his boots. He took her right to the fireplace and sat her down on the stony ledge, gripped her shoulders, and knelt in front of her. “No more going outside without a jacket in this weather. You’re stressing me out.”

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“I have a story.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What kind of story.”

“A story that will make you stay. Once upon a time, there was a termite—”

“Oh my God, I’m leaving before Wreck throttles me. Tell me your termite story on the way into town tomorrow morning.”

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