Page 47 of Snowed In on Valentine's Day

My eyes flared with indignation. “Why?”

“Just let me in.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I said, “No.”

He looked away for a moment and closed his eyes slowly before refocusing on me. “I’m obviously not leaving you alone.”

With my eyes widened, I fumbled for words. “Huh? You … why not?”

“I think you know why.”

My eyes narrowed. “I don’t.”

Before I could respond or even take a breath, he closed the distance in a second and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, his fingers threading up through my damp hair.Before I could process the shocking feel of his hands on me, his lips urgently descended on mine. I gasped against his mouth, and he gently pulled back so that his burning eyes met mine.

I shivered from head to toe and tried to form words. But I couldn’t even form a thought, much less actual words.

When I swallowed and licked my lips, his fiery gaze settled on my mouth before he leaned in painfully slowly, and I was vaguely aware of my hands gripping his solid upper arms as our lips met again. I leaned in, sliding my hands up to his thick shoulders to pull him toward me.

His hands were gentle on my cheeks, and he kept the kiss slow, tender, exploratory. But I wanted the urgency, the frantic rush, so I could lose myself in this …

Somewhere from beyond the heady feeling I’d succumbed to so easily came a voice, a whisper only.

What are you doing?

My awareness rising, I tore my lips away from his and pushed back against his chest before stepping back. I put my hand on my own chest, trying to catch my breath, with my eyes wildly searching his face, taking in the raw passion in his already handsome face as he gazed at me with heavy lids.

Still panting, I sputtered, “What—what the hell was that?”

His eyes became clearer as his face settled into a frown. “What?”

Isn’t the question obvious?

“Why did you kiss me?” I demanded, tugging on my robe strings to confirm they were still tied tightly.

He merely shrugged and strode over to my couch. And then he sat down.

The man just kissed me senseless out ofnowhere, and now he was going to sit down and make himself at home?

What alternate universe was this?

When he merely gazed at me from the couch, I shook my head in confusion. “What are you doing here anyway? You can’t just … march in here and demand to stay.”

“I can’t?” He shrugged. “Well, I just did.”

I gasped. “Well, the answer is no. You—you need to go. I need … space.” My fingers touched my lips absently. “I don’t understand what just happened.”

“You’re overthinking,” he said while leaning back against the sofa cushion.

I scoffed. “You’reunderthinking.”

He sighed and crossed his legs at the ankles while saying nothing. When did he take his boots off? I didn’t even notice.

And why was he getting comfortable on my couch?

What just happened?

I sat down on the recliner, several feet away from the lavender couch where he was relaxing, and bent down to cover my face with my hands.

---