Page 86 of A Cozy Christmas Blizzard
“Shelly...” he said again as his hands closed around her wrists, pulling free of her embrace. He sat up with his back to her. All she could see was the uneven rise and fall of his shoulders as he dragged in air.
“Don’t worry,” she breathed in a voice so weak that it trembled. “I won’t tell Margaret.”
Six
“That shouldn’t have happened,” Slade said at last.
“I suppose you want an apology,” Shelly responded, standing and brushing the snow from her pants. In spite of her efforts to appear normal, her hands trembled and her pulse continued to hammer away madly. From the beginning she’d known that his kiss would have this effect on her, and she cursed her traitorous heart.
He stared, clearly shocked that she would suggest such a thing. “Ishould be the one to apologize toyou.”
“Why? Because you kissed me?”
“And because I’m engaged.”
“I know.” Her voice rose several decibels. “What’s in a kiss, anyway? It wasn’t a big deal. Right?”Liar, her heart accused, continuing to beat erratically. It had been the sweetest, most wonderful kiss of her life. One that would haunt her forever.
“It won’t happen again,” he said without looking at her. He rose and held himself stiffly, staying a good two feet awayfrom her. His facade slipped tightly into place, locking his expression right before her eyes. She was reminded of the man she’d first seen on the plane—that polished, impeccable businessman who looked at the world with undisguised indifference.
“As I said, it wasn’t a big deal.”
“Right,” he answered. Her dismissive attitude toward his kiss didn’t appear to please him. He stalked in the direction of the trees and stopped at the one he’d offered as a compromise. Without soliciting her opinion, he began sawing away at its narrow trunk.
Within minutes the tree toppled to the ground, stirring up the snow. She walked over, prepared to help him load the small fir onto the sled, but he wouldn’t let her.
“I’ll do it,” he muttered gruffly.
Offended, she folded her arms and stepped back, feeling awkward. She knew she would feel better if they could discuss the kiss openly and honestly.
“I knew it was going to happen.” She’d been wanting him to kiss her all morning, in fact.
“What?” he barked, heading in the direction of the house, tugging the sled and Christmas tree behind him.
“The kiss,” she called after him. “And if I was honest, I’d also admit that I wanted it to happen. I was even hoping it would.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about it.”
He was making her angrier every time he opened his mouth. “I saidifI was being honest, but since neither of us is, then apparently you’re right to suggest we drop the issue entirely.”
This time he ignored her, taking long strides and forcingher into a clumsy jog behind him. The north wind whipped her scarf across her mouth, and she tucked it more securely around her neck. Then she turned and walked backward, so the bitter wind stopped buffeting her face.
Unexpectedly her boot hit a small rock hidden under the snow, and she momentarily lost her balance. Flinging her arms out in an effort to catch herself, she went tumbling down the hill, somersaulting head over heels until she lay spread-eagled at the base of the slope.
Slade raced after her, falling to his knees at her side, his eyes clouded with emotion. “Do you have to make a game out of everything?”
What was he talking about?She’d nearly killed herself, and he was accusing her of acrobatics in the snow. She struggled to give him a sassy comeback, but the wind had been knocked from her lungs and she discovered that she couldn’t speak.
“Are you all right?” He looked genuinely concerned.
“I don’t know,” she whispered tightly. Getting the appropriate amount of oxygen to her lungs seemed to require all her energy.
“Don’t move.”
“I couldn’t if I wanted to.”
“Where does it hurt?”
“‘Where doesn’t it?’ would be a more fitting question.” Then, giving the lie to her previous answer, she levered herself up on one elbow and wiggled her legs. “I do this now and then so I can appreciate how good it feels to breathe,” she muttered sarcastically.
