Page 111 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms
With a sense of clarity born of our crisis, I got to work. Luckily, there was a stack of faded newspapers and a few sticks of kindling. I crumpled the paper and added it to the stove, along with the kindling to get the fire started. The box of matches was nearly empty, but the first one lit, and I touched it to the edges of the paper.
The flames began to spread, licking the kindling.
“There’s wood outside.”
I rushed out and grabbed an armful. Despite the storm, it seemed dry. Filled with urgency, I rushed back in and shut the door on the storm. Natalie smiled at me.
And it hit me harder than the force of the wind. I was in love with her.
The shock was so deep, I almost dropped the wood. I loved that woman. I loved her with everything I had. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for her.
With no idea how that could have happened—or how I hadn’t realized it before—I took the wood to the stove and put a piece in.
“Are you hurt?” she asked through chattering teeth.
“No.” My jaw would probably be sore later, as would my knuckles, but at that moment, all I cared about was her. “Are you?”
“I don’t think so. Just cold.”
“It’ll warm up fast once the fire gets going.” I put in another piece of wood and blew on the flames. “We need to get you out of those wet clothes.”
Although she still shivered, she smiled. “I’m sure that’s very disappointing.”
“Darling, I’m happy to take your clothes off anytime you want me to. But I really do want to get you warm.”
“Body heat works best.”
Still bewildered by my realization—because what was I supposed to do with that—I took off my boots and stripped down to my boxer briefs. Natalie peeled off her wet clothes, and I quickly laid them out in front of the fire to dry.
We climbed onto the bed, and I covered us with the quilt. Her skin was cold to the touch. I rolled her onto her back and settled on top of her, careful not to put too much weight on her. She wrapped her arms and legs around me and tucked her face against my neck.
“I don’t know why I got cold so fast,” she said. “I guess sitting in here without a coat and then getting wet outside was enough.”
“It’s bloody freezing out there.”
We lay together for long moments, just breathing. Her body gradually relaxed and stopped shivering as warmth seeped back into her.
“Jensen?”
“Yes?”
“He was going to kill you.”
I propped myself up so I could look her in the eyes. “He was. And then he would have killed you. But you stopped him.”
“I didn’t even think about it. I just pulled the trigger. I couldn’t let him hurt you.”
The corners of my mouth lifted. “You were amazing.”
“The whole thing was a setup. Archer hired Julian to steal the necklace, and it was all a trap to get you here.”
“He certainly went to a lot of trouble, didn’t he?”
She laughed softly. “How did he know you’d be the one sent to steal it back?”
“Proximity, I suppose. I don’t live far from here. It’s probably why Archer chose Julian.”
“But it’s over.” She reached up and touched my face. “You did it. You beat him, and you saved me.”
