Page 36 of Snowed In With the Maverick
“Did we blow a fuse?” she asked. She blinked, trying to adjust to the darkness, but it was pitch black.
“I think it’s the storm,” said Seth. “Do you have a backup generator?”
Andrea shook her head, but then realized he couldn’t see her. “No,” she said. “I was planning on getting one but haven’t gotten around to it yet.” Add it to the list of the six hundred other things she needed to do over the next while. This one, however, might move up to the top of the list. She slipped her phone out of her pocket and turned on the flashlight. “I’ve got some actual flashlights in the kitchen cabinet,” she said. “I’ll grab them.”
Seth turned his phone light on too and she could see him nodding toward the fireplace. “I’ll get a fire going.”
She was about to say no, that she’d take care of it, as the host, but there was something about the way he said it, not that he thought he was the only one who could do it, but because he wanted to be helpful, to contribute.
“Thanks,” Andrea said. “Matches are in that silver tin on the mantel.”
She left Seth arranging firewood in the living room and retreated to the kitchen, the phone lighting her way although her new home was already so familiar to her, she could have navigated it in the dark. What was much less familiar, however, was sharing the space with another person. Not only was Seth staying overnight, but now they were without power.
When she returned to the living room with her large flashlight, which, luckily, had fresh batteries, she realized they wouldn’t need it in that space. Seth had been successful in starting a small but glowing fire that bathed the space in warm, flickering light.
“Nice work,” Andrea said. She perched on one of the single chairs, watching as Seth added some newspaper to the base of the flames, then used the fire poker to adjust the placement of the logs. “Boy Scout?”
He turned and grinned, the sharpness of his jawline lit up by the dancing flames. “Taylor,” he said. “My dad was pretty big on us all learning some basic life skills. Start a fire. Change a tire. File taxes.” He poked the fire again. “Deal with an egomaniac.”
Andrea raised an eyebrow. “A life skill, to be sure.” Although the one she’d dealt with she was able to scrub from her life. She knew very well that Seth was talking about his dad, and clearly, things were complicated. What was worse? Losing a parent before their time, or a lifetime with one who didn’t feel like a parent at all?
Either way, hearing Seth say it caused a pang of sympathy. Part of her wanted to probe further, see if he wanted to talk about things. The other part of her knew that opening that door might add to the intimacy of the evening. The type of intimacy that would lead to greater closeness and stoke the flame of attraction that was already burning brighter than the flames in the fireplace.
“I’m going to bring down some duvets from upstairs,” she said. “The couches are pretty comfortable. And way better than sleeping in a freezing bedroom.”
* * *
Seth knew very well there wasn’t a lick of sleep in his future. Someone had to keep the fire going through the night, and he wasn’t going to let it be Andrea. Never mind being in the same space as her. “Need any help?” he asked. She shook her head, her soft, shiny hair glistening in the light of the crackling flames.
While Andrea disappeared upstairs with the flashlight, Seth took a moment to compose himself. Since the moment she’d shed her jacket at the party earlier that evening, his senses had been in overdrive. And now, in what would otherwise be an inconvenient situation, he found himself about to spend the night with the most interesting and beautiful woman he’d ever met, and despite his overwhelming desire, make sure she felt safe and comfortable in his presence.
The thing was, as much as his innermost drive wanted Andrea, he felt this strange sensation of calm, like he could give her all the time in the world to get to the place where he was. He had no issue exercising patience, and just the inkling of a promise that one day she would be open to him was more exciting than any one-night stand or fling he’d had in the past.
Andrea was a woman worth waiting for.
“Hopefully this will be enough,” Andrea said, reappearing at the base of the stairs, her arms piled with duvets and a couple of pillows. He stood up to help her with some of what she was carrying, and as she passed him half the pile, he took in the gentle swell of her pink lips, and the constellation of freckles that adorned her fair skin. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail now, and even in her fleece button-up shirt, the curves of her lovely figure were on full display. “Thanks,” she said.
Seth helped her cover the couches with fitted sheets much too large for the cushions, then a thick duvet on each one. They’d be warm enough as long as he kept the fire going.
“My first overnight guest,” she said.
“We didn’t discuss the rate,” Seth said. “Or if there are any upgrades available.”
Andrea grinned. “Given the circumstances, I think a comped stay is in order. And I’d offer you the walk-out suite. It has great views of the mountain range, and a pretty nice jetted tub…”
“But I’d rather be here. With you,” he said, the truth escaping without a second thought. Her playful expression shifted at his words, and as he waited for her response, he detected a flicker of desire in her eyes.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said, her voice suddenly low and breathy.
Seth nodded and watched as she placed the pillow she was holding down on the couch, and moved to where he was standing.
“I’m glad you’re here, but I’m also kind of terrified at the same time,” she said quietly.
“You don’t need to be afraid of me,” Seth said. He stroked the soft skin of her palm with his thumb. “I’m not going to try anything on you. And I’m not expecting you to want the same thing as me.”
“And what’s that?” she asked.
“I think you know very well what that is,” he said. “I want you. Every part of you. But like I’ve already told you, I’m willing to wait.” As he said it, he thought it might just kill him, but he was resolved.
