Page 51 of The Harborer
“Doesn’t look like nothing from here,” she mocked.
He yanked off his parka, pegged it, then pointed at her. “You’re not leaving here tonight.”
Confusion swirled inside her.Wasn’t planning to. “Excuse me?”
“Micky’s an ass.”
“I thought we established that already.”
“Yeah, well, we can carve it in stone now.” He plowed his fingers through his short strands. “I’m pouring myself a drink. Want more champagne? I’ve got whiskey too, if you prefer.”
Thoughts were obviously firing off at machine-gun speed in his head, and she told herself to wait and watch instead of trying to keep up with the ping-ponging.
“Um, sure. Champagne sounds good.” She checked her phone—no new texts. Popping up, she trailed after him, coveringthe few steps to the kitchen, where he pulled down a bottle of whiskey and a tumbler. She touched his shoulder. “Shane?”
He whirled. His nostrils flared as he looked down at her. “He’s an ass,” he repeated.
“Was that him on the phone?”
He nodded. “He wanted—no, hedemandedI drive you back to his place tonight. That’s the polite version.”
Warning lights flashed red in her mind. “Does he know I’m here?”
“No. He also doesn’t know where you moved to. Yet.”
But it won’t be long till he finds out. Meanwhile, he can always find me at Mountain Coffee. She shook off the disturbing thought and tuned back into Shane.
He wrenched out the whiskey cork and paused before pouring. Put it aside. Pulled down an old-fashioned glass and lunged for the fridge, where he jerked out her bottle of champagne.
Even in his agitated state, he thought to take care of her first. If she wasn’t already in love with him, she might have fallen the rest of the way that very instant. Maybe Hailey had been on to something after all.
Amy touched him again, lightly on the bicep this time. “What did he say?”’
“It doesn’t matter. It’s just more proof he doesn’t deserve to be on the same planet as you.” He poured a large measure of champagne and thrust the glass at her. “And let me be clear. Heneverdid.”
Her heart fluttered as she placed the glass on the counter and reached up, grabbing his shoulders and turning him to face her. Funny how they’d reversed roles. While he fumed like a bull gouging a groove in the dirt, she mustered an aura of serenity to wrap herself in. She hoped she could spread it and pull him in too. “Hey, look at me. He’s not worth this. Don’t let him take this kind of toll on you.”
He stared down at her. “I need to go for a run. Whiskey isn’t going to take this edge off.”
What?“Go for a run … now? It’s ten o’clock at night! And I’m pretty sure it’s snowing.”
“I’m pissed as hell, and I need to blow off some steam.”
Maybe Amy’s text exchange with Hailey empowered her, maybe she was giving in to the desire that had been welling inside her, but she moved her hands across Shane’s broad shoulders in a sensual caress. “Then use me to blow off that steam.”
Surprise flared in his nut-brown orbs.
She should have been mortified by her boldness, but somehow, it feltright. Canting her head, she waited for him to make a move. When he didn’t, she inched closer, the cloak of serenity tattering as a heady cocktail of anxiety and anticipation brewed inside her. “Show me your fire, Shane,” she whispered.
As self-doubt ramped up and she deliberated the wisdom of her seduction, she was surrounded by strong arms pulling her close, the scent of pine and leather invading her senses. His mouth crashed down on hers, taking command, staking a claim that dizzied her. Where the earlier kiss had started with gentle strokes, this was all need and desire and heat that transported her into a world where fire licked through her veins and set every nerve ablaze. Her head swam with sensation and endless possibilities, a confusing, glorious kaleidoscope without cohesion.
She hooked her arms around his neck while he plundered her mouth, his big hands moving across her shoulder blades, sweeping down to the small of her back, pressing as they went, as if mapping her contours. The sound of more explosions against the backdrop of a thumping soundtrack buzzed. Was that her hammering heart or the movie?
Shane pulled back, and her breathing stalled. Sanity had probably overtaken him, and he was going to stop this whirl-a-gig of desire while she was still in its dizzying throes.
His chest rose and fell, his breathing heavy, matching her own. “Amy?” His voice cracked.
She stared up at him, able only to conjure his name. “Shane?”
