Page 8 of How The Mountain Man Stole Christmas
Harper stopped him short of going through the doorway. “Kaleb, he loves those girls and would do anything for them. He doesn’t act like it’s a burden at all being here.”
“Thanks Harper. That means a lot. I worry sometimes. It’s not his responsibility to deal with all this but it would be much harder without him. He’s really been a huge help.”
“Come on you two, get some while the getting’s good.” Fin’s words came out around the slice he’d shoved in his mouth.
***
Between the five of them, they devoured two extra-large pizzas layered with different meats, mushrooms, and extra cheese. Harper even sat down at the coffee table and colored with the girls while the brothers talked a little business. When Kaleb took the girls off to bed, Fin cleaned the mess left behind while Harper stood at the two double-pane bay windows, watching the snow coat the trees in the East pasture. She didn’t hear him stop behind her, only felt the warm air on the back of her neck.
“I’m glad you came out tonight, Harper. I had a lot of fun. Even if it wasn’t a typical date.”
“Hey, I don’t know what you’re talking about, coloring is a common event for one of my dates.” She laughed and leaned back a little, molded comfortably into his chest. Fin cautiously wrapped his arm around her, keeping her steady against him.
“Guess I should probably be getting you home huh?” Harper turned toward him as Kaleb came into the room, setting the police band radio on the end table. There were such enormous amounts of chatter, they couldn’t make out what was what.
“I don’t think you two are going anywhere. Sounds like it’s an absolute mess out there on the roads. The whole town’s nothing but a sheet of ice and there’s no sign of it letting up anytime soon. I wouldn’t feel right letting you go anywhere. Not sure even steel studs on the tires would help tonight.”
“Oh, that’s not good. Tomorrow’s Saturday, I have to work.”
“I don’t think you’ll need to worry about opening the post office tomorrow. Sounds like we’re all in for the long haul. Iheard Sheriff Ryder a minute ago ordering a couple deputies to rescue a group of carolers stuck out in the park with no shelter. The ground was so slick they couldn’t stand up long enough to walk.” Kaleb went around to the windows, securing locks and closing the curtains.
“That’s awful. What are we going to do?”
“Looks like you’re stuck here with us tonight. Hope that’ll be okay? You can call Mrs. Whiddamore and get her take on the post office if it’ll make you feel better.” Fin looked cautiously at Harper.
She thought for a minute before answering, poking a little fun at him. “Guess it’ll have to be, I don’t want to bother Elsie tonight. Besides, she’s told me so many times that things like this are my decision anyway. If the office is closed, no one will be mailing anything, simple as that. Besides, from the sounds of it, I don’t think anyone will be venturing out. Fin Cole, are you sure you didn’t plan this?”
“Now why would I do such a thing? I’m as harmless as they come.” Fin ducked in time to miss the pillow flying from Kaleb’s direction.
Chapter Four
Harper sat on the double bed in the spare room Kaleb had directed her to for the night, or next few nights depending on how long she’d be stuck there. Winter storms had a mind of their own.
“Best to just make the most of it, not like I had anything to go home to anyway.” She borrowed clothes from Fin to sleep in, a T-shirt and an old pair of flannel pajama bottoms. She assumed he pulled them from his hamper because his scent was all over them, making her insides flutter ridiculously. After rolling the pants at the top about ten times and they were still too long, she shook her head.
“I didn’t’ realize I was so short.” She laughed at herself as she started to push the door closed.
“Hey there.” A knock on the door had her jumping back. “I just wanted to make sure you had everything you needed.”
“Holy crap you scared me.” She stood back as Fin walked into the room and headed straight toward her. With a hand over her heart, she tried to catch her breath.
“Dang it, I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Fin’s warm palms rested where her arms were bare from the short sleeve shirt she wore. His presence took away the chill she had but it created a whole different set of emotions instead. He was close enough she couldn’t help but breathe in the scent of the aftershave he’d used and the ends of his hair, the color of a dark oak, were still damp. A vivid mental picture of him naked in the shower had her heart racing again. Just about made her lose control of her thoughts.
As she looked toward his handsome face, his eyes darkened, as if she were his next meal. The control was no longer her own when her gaze traveled toward his lips, lush and begging to be kissed. The magnetic energy evident between them had her body being drawn toward Fin’s bare chest where her hands instinctively landed only seconds before his lips crushed onto hers. His arms pull her tight to him as the nerves all over her body ignited and she returned his advances with vigor.
His hands roamed over her back and down her body while she twisted her fingers over his tightly muscled shoulders and into his hair. Neither could fight the attraction a second longer as his fingers fisted into his own t-shirt that she wore, but not for long as he edged it higher to reveal the silky skin hiding underneath.
“I’m sorry for being so forward but I’ve wanted to do this since the moment I saw you.”
Her moans of pleasure only encouraged him and just as he had the material around her shoulders a knock came at the door before it started to push open.
“Hey, are you two oka…”
“Kaleb don’t open the door.” Fin yelled as Harper shrieked, pulling her shirt back into place. She heard Kaleb curse in the hallway with a muttered sorry and his quickened footsteps quieted the further from the door he got.
Fin had wrapped Harper in his embrace to shield her from Kaleb, and he pulled away slightly, resting his forehead against hers. They both smiled. “I’m sorry about that. Damn, every time I turn around, I’m apologizing to you. I sure as hell won’t be apologizing for kissing you though.”
