Page 19 of Snow Bound

He paused mid-crunch. She cracked eggs into the bowl, her movements fluid and relaxed, and when she glanced up, her eyes were clear. Still, there was something there he couldn’t quite read. “Don’t you have people coming?”

She paused, a dripping eggshell in one hand, her brow furrowed in confusion. “How do you know that?”

“I talked to my mom last night.” He chose another piece of bacon. “She said you were having a family reunion?”

Her lashes lowered, and for a moment she looked…sad? Then her lashes lifted and she shrugged. “I was, but there was a change in plans. It’s just me now.”

He kept his expression neutral, but his instincts were humming. Something had happened to make her unhappy, and he didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all.

But it wasn’t his business, so he only said, “For how long?”

“I’m sorry?”

“How long are you here?”

“Oh. Two weeks.” She tossed the eggshell aside and pulled out another skillet. “What about you? How long were you planning to be here?”

He polished off the bacon. “Two weeks.”

She picked up a fork and began to beat the eggs. “I don’t mind if you stay.”

“I won’t be in your way?” he asked carefully, looking for any hint of unease.

“It’s a big house, and I’m just going to hang out. Watch TV, read, work on some craft projects I brought with me.” She glanced up, a smile curving her lips. “Unless you’re going to spend two weeks learning to play the tuba, I doubt you’ll bother me.”

“No tuba lessons planned,” he assured her, still assessing. She wasn’t completely relaxed, and that something he couldn’t quite pin was still there. But he wasn’t picking up any unease or discomfort. “I’d like to stay, if you’re sure.”

She tossed a chunk of butter into the hot pan, swirled it around, then poured in the eggs. “I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t.”

“Then I’ll stay. And I’ll chip in for the groceries.”

“No need.” She dashed some pepper into the eggs. “My mom ordered enough supplies for five people—before her change in plans—so there’s plenty of food.”

She shot him a glance from dancing eyes. “Though we do seem to be out of apples.”

Appreciating her, he grinned. “I’ll pick up some more when I go into town for dog food, as long they’ll be used as food and not missiles.”

She laughed and swiped a finger, cris-cross, over her heart. “For pie purposes only, I swear.”

He could go for apple pie. “Anything else you want?”

“Well…” She pursed her lips, and that something was back in her eyes. “Since you asked, there is one thing.”

That something had anticipation humming to life. “What is it?”

Spatula in hand, she turned to him with a siren’s smile. “You do kind of owe me a scene.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Anna’s heart was beating so hard she thought blood might just start pouring out of her ears, but she kept her eyes resolutely on his face.

It didn’t calm her down.

The initial flash of surprise that had lit his pale blue eyes was gone, leaving them inscrutable. His expression was equally unreadable, sober and a little stern, and she thought for a moment she’d made a horrible, humiliating mistake.

Then the corners of his mouth tipped up, and his eyes began to gleam. “I do, don’t I?”

His voice had deepened, roughened, and the almost lazy drawl of it sent a shiver racing down her spine. He sounded like he had last night, calling her a bad girl while he fucked her into the countertop.

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