Page 9 of Forbidden Passions

“I should check on the generator,” he muttered, clearly looking for an escape. “Make sure we don’t lose power. And I should probably take your dog out before it gets any worse.”

“Take Max out. That’s his name, remember?” I don’t know why I pushed that point. Maybe because I wanted him to remember we were here. With him. For some reason that seemed important.

Max’s ears perked up at the word out, his tail thumping against the floor. “I’ll take him, while you check the generator.”

“There’s no need for all of us to get wet.” Gabriel’s words were a growl which I was beginning to recognize as his go-to response when someone—me—appeared to disobey him. I tucked that little gem of information away for future use.

“There’s every need, Gabriel. We’re a team.” I grabbed my raingear from where he’d hung it to dry and motioned for Max. “And you know, it wouldn’t kill you to accept a little help now and then.”

He paused with his hand on the doorknob. “Maybe I don’t want help.”

“Or maybe you’ve just forgotten how to ask for it.”

Something vulnerable flashed across his face before the scowl returned. “Stay close,” he grumbled when he joined me on the porch. “Visibility’s poor, and the ground around here can get treacherous when wet.”

I bit back a smile at his grudging concern. “I’ll try not to get swept away by a flash flood in the thirty seconds we’re outside.”

“This isn’t a joke. These storms are serious.”

“I know,” I said, sobering. “I promise I’ll be careful.”

I led Max to the edge of the clearing while Gabriel walked to a small building not far from the cabin. The rain was still heavy and didn’t look like it would stop anytime soon. Max pulled on the leash, wanting to get in out of the rain.

Gabriel caught up with us, taking the leash from my hand so Max wouldn’t pull me down in the mud.

“Some knight in shining armor you are, boy,” I grumbled to Max. “You would have pulled me face first into that mud.” To show his disagreement, Max chose that moment to shake vigorously, spraying me and Gabriel.

“Max,” I groaned, jumping back. I froze as I bumped into Gabriel’s chest. His arms went around me to steady me.

I looked up at him, laughing. “Sorry about that.”

He grunted and moved away, opening the door so we could go inside.

He took my jacket and hung it up, handing me a towel for Max.

“Generator’s fine,” Gabriel said, standing by the door as if he couldn’t decide to come fully inside or open it and run out into the rain.

“Good to know.” I smiled, liking that I might be having some effect on him after all. It seemed only fair realizing the effect he was having on me. He ran a hand through his wet hair, pushing it back from his forehead in a gesture that should not have been as sexy as it was.

He glanced at me sharply. His eyes dropped to my mouth, and I found myself wetting my lips instinctively, disappointed that the moment on the porch hadn’t led to something else.

Like his mouth crashing down on mine.

Max gave a loud bark, and the moment shattered.

Gabriel cleared his throat, turning away. “You must be hungry.”

My stomach growled in response. “Starving, actually. I missed lunch tracking down this one.” I nudged Max with my leg.

“I don’t have much,” Gabriel warned, moving to the kitchen. “I wasn’t expecting company.”

“I’m not picky.” I followed him, leaning against the counter as he opened the refrigerator. “Though if you try to feed me MREs, I might have to reconsider my stance on walking down the mountain in a flood.”

He shot me a look that might have been amusement. “No MREs. But my cooking skills are... basic.”

“Let me help, then.” Before he could object, I squeezed past him, my arm brushing against his chest in the narrow space. I felt him stiffen, heard the slight catch in his breath. “I make a mean pasta sauce, even with limited ingredients.”

“I can handle it,” he said, but he didn’t move away.

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