Page 49 of Saddles

“Hey! What was that for?” When he turns around, it isn’t anger, but amusement that widens his eyes.

“I just thought you looked entirely too hot.” Smoking, really.

I give him a wide grin as I drift my fingers into the wet snow and make another baseball sized lump.

“You’re playing with fire, frosty.” He drops the head of the ax next to his feet and leans on the handle. His lips purse as he watches me toss my newest projectile between my hands.

“It’s too nice out to be serious today. I choose—” I whip my arm back and let loose in one swift motion. “—violence!” I shriek before turning and running away.

I’m laughing so hard I can barely breathe as I run for the door to the cabin.

Before I’ve taken half a dozen steps, the weight of his body slams against me from behind and his arms wrap my waist, carrying us both into the thick blanket of snow.

He twists, landing first with me on top of his hard chest.

As I struggle to get off him, he flicks a peppering of snow at the bare skin of my neck, making me giggle and scream when it goes down the oversized collar of my shirt.

I manage to flip to face him, pushing my palms onto his scalding pecs.

But then time slows.

My smile fades when the heat of his body works through my damp clothes.

How did I not see that chiseled jaw and the gold flecks that dash through his silver irises? Or the embers that burn behind them as he stares at me?

With his sharp inhale, it moves me over him, shifting me until I’m inches from his lips.

“April,” he says hoarsely.

What is going on? Why do I feel like I have a bonfire burning inside of me? “Yea? Ready to admit defeat?”

The corner of his mouth turns up. “This is really damn cold.”

Before I can protest, he rises and lifts me with him, setting me deftly onto my feet.

It’s only after we’re standing that I feel the chill of the wind start to bite into me.

Tiny beads of ice sting into my skin making me tighten the baggy flannel.

He jogs over to the shed to snag his coat and a quick armful of firewood, then follows me into the cabin.

Stomping the snow from our shoes, the damp and freezing temperature catches up to me. I’m shivering so hard my teeth chatter.

But it was worth it.

“Think the other one is dry by now?” My fingers bury into the warm cloth of the sweatshirt I was wearing early.

It’s better than what I’m wearing.

Goosebumps cover his arms, hidden when he covers them with his thick shirt. His jaw clenches, sending a starburst to his temple as the muscles work while he stokes the wood stove.

Is he mad at me?

I’ll just duck behind the corner and change into the hoodie.

Maybe whatever that was I thought I felt was wrong.

“Wade? It’s Ford.” His deep voice carries in the tiny room.

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