Snowbound Hearts (11 page)

“Stevie! You’re alive,” the voice came over the line.

“George, you sorry sack of shit, you’re late!”

“Nice to hear your voice too. How are your supplies holding out?”

“I’ve already had to eat one of my legs, so you assholes better hurry up and get out here.”

Audrey clamped a hand over her mouth, and her eyes brightened with a smile. Her voluptuous breasts bounced erotically as she giggled silently.

“I’m guessing you had enough to feed four people for a week, so I figure you’ve got plenty left.”

“Yeah, yeah. Why didn’t you guys come get me in one of the four-by-fours?”

“The bridge is out, and the ice brought down so many trees it’s taken a while to get the road clear. They’re building a temporary bridge so we can get the trucks across to come get you. The word is maybe another hour until it’s ready to cross, but that still leaves us twenty miles away. The line guys just have gotten the phones fixed. The tree that took out the bridge brought down the phone and power poles. There’s no telling how many trees are down between here and there.”

“There aren’t any down out here that I am aware of,” Stephen said.

“Great. Maybe you’re far enough north that you didn’t get any of the freezing rain.”

“Yeah, I think it’s just snow out here, but it’s really deep. So when do you think you’ll be here?”

“They’re going to run a snowplow in front of us, and we’ve got a bunch of guys with chainsaws, but it may be this evening or tomorrow before we get there. It just depends.”

“Well, at least you’re on the way.”

“Hey, listen, there’s a little chick in the last cabin on the road. It’s a few miles away from you, but they want you to gear up and hike out there to see if she’s okay. They’ve been trying to reach her on the phone, but she’s not answering. The cabin owner has a pair of snowshoes stashed behind the firewood box on the back porch, so strap them on and get going. This is your big chance to be a hero, buddy. Call me back as soon as you see her.”

“Yeah, George, she’s here with me. She tried to drive out the first day the storm hit, but she put her car in the ditch right near the end of the drive. She’s been here ever since.”

“Oh
really
?” George asked, going extra heavy on the sarcasm. “What does she look like, Stevie?”

“Five three or five four. A hundred and fifteen pounds, maybe? She’s shrugging her shoulders. I’d guess thirty-eight, twenty-four, thirty-six. She’s shrugging again. She has this long, silky auburn hair that hangs almost halfway down her back. Perfect skin, with light brown freckles all over. A smile so bright that it’s light could actually escape from a black hole and these big brown eyes, the kind that make a man feel like melting into a puddle on the floor.”

George cleared his throat. “Sounds like your dream girl, Stevie.”

“Yeah, she is.”

“You’re a lying sack of shit. Now get your ass out there and check on that chick because she might be in trouble.”

Stephen shook his head, still gazing at Audrey’s naked body. “He doesn’t believe you’re here.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“Stevie, that sounded like a female voice in the background. How did you do that?”

“George, I’ll let her speak to you.” He handed the phone to Audrey but put his head close to hers to hear what George had to say.

“Hi, George, I’m Audrey”

The line hissed quietly.

“George, are you still there?” Audrey asked.

“Yes. That’s called stunned silence. So you’re really there?”

She chuckled and shrugged. “The last time I checked. It’s just like Stephen said. I ran off the road. I saw smoke coming from the chimney so I knocked on the door. I’ve been here ever since. Hey, are my friends there?”

“No, they were afraid to venture out, but they called the sheriff and let him know where you were. Audrey, this will sound like a silly question, but was Stephen’s description of you accurate?”

Audrey sighed. “Stephen made me sound a lot prettier that I really am, but it was mostly accurate.”

“Hey, George!” Stephen yelled. “Strike that last comment. She’s sizzling hot, no exaggeration.” Stephen winked at her.

Her cheeks turned red and her eyes began to glisten. “I think he’s wearing rose-colored glasses, George. Why did you ask anyway?”

“Stephen can explain it to you, if he wants. We’re down at that little store about ten miles from the bridge, and they’re telling me that we need to get going. We’ll see you soon. Let me talk to Stevie again.”

“Bye, George.” Audrey handed the phone back to Stephen.

“Yeah, George, what’s up?

“Stevie, I don’t know how you managed it. Only you could be lucky enough to get snowed in with your dream girl. I’ll let you get back to
whatever
you were doing. We’ll be along as soon as possible,” George said and hung up.

Stephen set the phone in its cradle and slipped his arm around Audrey’s waist. “So, I suppose we should get dressed and grab a bite to eat. There’s no telling when they’ll be here.”

“Or we could not get dressed, grab a bite to eat, and then get into the bed and snuggle under the covers until they get here.”

“Does that mean we can pick up where we left off before the phone rang?”

She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I lost my self-control, Stephen. I almost went where we can’t go.” Audrey twisted her engagement ring around her finger. “You have to help me because my willpower is totally gone. Promise that you won’t take me no matter what I do or say, even if I beg you.”

He slapped a hand to his forehead, wondering how they had taken such a big step backward. “So, it’s all on me to be strong and resist something I don’t want to resist? Okay, Audrey. If that’s the way you want it. You asked me to trust you, and I want you to trust me too. I’m here for you however you need me. But there’s a condition. As long as you’re wearing that ring, I won’t take you, but when you take it off again, you’re mine forever.”

“What makes you think I’ll take it off?”

“You’ll take it off because you can’t have me while you’re wearing it. Sooner or later you’ll realize that this is not a fantasy. You’ll figure out who you were meant to be with, and it’s not the guy who gave you that ring. If we have a deal, I want to hear you say it.”

“Okay, if I take it off...”

He shook his head, determined to have her make a definitive statement. “No. When you take it off, you’re mine forever.”

“Is that what you want, Stephen, me—forever?” She held him tighter.

“Yes, Audrey, that’s what I want, you and me forever.”

She relaxed and sank deeper into his embrace. “All right, Stephen. When I take off my engagement ring, I’m yours forever.”

“Okay, that’s excellent. Take it off anytime you’re ready. Now would be perfect.”

Audrey stood gazing up at him.

“You’re not going to take it off again, are you?”

“Honestly, Stephen, I don’t know what I’m going to do.” She glanced at the window and pointed. “It’s still snowing. We have time. Now, can we eat and go snuggle under the covers?”

He pulled her close, reveling in the sensual touch of her skin against his. “There’s not much I’d rather do than snuggle naked with you in the bed.” He slipped a finger under her chin and tipped it up, then pressed his lips to hers. She puckered for an instant but quickly pulled away.

Chapter Six

After breakfast they got back into bed. Audrey climbed onto Stephen and straddled him like a lover. Her warm, wet flesh, as smooth and soft as fine silk, touched down directly onto his shaft. It would have been a simple matter for him to shift his position and take her, but the decision had to be hers. If she wanted him, a slide forward, then back would do the trick. He had made his wishes perfectly clear to her, and he knew she wanted the same, but she wouldn’t make the movement necessary to satisfy both of their desires. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down, squashing her ample breasts against his chest.

Audrey squirmed, raking her nipples back and forth across his. “Okay, why did George want to know what I look like?”

Stephen kissed her neck, inhaling her scent. “It’s silly.”

Audrey rested her head on his shoulder and kissed him under his jaw. She rotated her pelvis around in little circles. “Oh yeah? Well, I like silly, so you have to tell me all about it.”

Stephen groaned and raised his hips, applying more pressure where their genitals met. “I think that was my line, but—okay, I’ll tell you. Do you have any idea how difficult this is for me?”

Audrey giggled. “I thought you were going to say
hard
.”

Stephen chuckled. “That goes without saying, doesn’t it?” He slipped his hands down and grasped her bottom to keep her from rising off him.

She spread her legs wider, allowing her full weight to rest upon him. “Yeah, it really does. I’m still waiting for my answer.”

“All right. Do you know how sometimes guys get to drinking and start talking about women? Well, on one occasion after
many
too many beers, I described my dream girl to my friends and—you’re her. I know that sounds stupid. It’s only a coincidence, but...” He trailed off, not knowing what else to say.

Audrey didn’t say anything, just buried her face into him. A wet trickle ran down his neck onto his shoulder.

“Audrey, are you crying?”

“No, of course not, don’t be silly,” she whispered. “Please hold me, Stephen. I want things to stay exactly like this.”

Stephen caressed her back and held her tight. “You know my friends are on the way to get us out of here. They could show up at any time. We should probably get dressed, unless you don’t mind getting caught like this.”

“I don’t want this to end. Keep your arms around me and make these few remaining moments last forever.”

Stephen stroked Audrey’s long auburn hair and lay gazing at her pretty face. A single tear trickled from her eye, rolled along the valley between her nose and cheek, and dripped onto his chest. A muffled buzz off in the distance found its way into Stephen’s ears.

“I hear a chainsaw. It’s George and the guys. As much as I’d like to stay right here forever, they’ll be coming through the door in a few minutes.”

“I hear it too.” Audrey sat up, wiped her face, and gazed toward the window. “I’ve had the best time of my life, Stephen. I’m sorry it’s over.”

“Don’t be so fatalistic, Audrey. Just because were going home doesn’t mean things can’t be as good for us.”

“Look outside, Stephen, the snow has stopped.”

He turned his gaze toward the window. A ray of sunlight glinted off the frosty panes of glass, illuminating tiny dust particles floating in the air. Never in his life had he hated anything so passionately as that beautiful stream of light. The dismal, gray world of gloom, so full of hope and dreams, was gone, washed away by a flood of golden sparkles. Audrey put her face into her hands and wept bitterly. Stephen went to her side and took her into his arms, unable to graciously accept the defeat he’d just been handed.

“Audrey, if you’ll get rid of that ring, we can have a normal relationship.”

She stiffened her body and shrugged him off. “I have to go back to my life, Stephen. Our fantasy is over.”

“Well, I don’t have to go back to anything. I can make a new life wherever I want. All I need is for you to tell me that you want me. You said you didn’t want it to end, and I distinctly heard the word forever. I’m game, Audrey, so what do you want?”

She folded her arms across her knees and put her head down onto them, but didn’t answer.

“Are you going to leave me in silence? For God’s sake, say something.”

“I’m sorry, Stephen, I’m so sorry.”

***

George and the rest of Stephen’s friends made it to the cabin a little while later. Laughter, slaps on the back, and curious glances at Audrey were spread liberally around. Their cheerful spirits only served to darken Stephen’s mood. Twice in as many weeks his world had been shattered by a woman. The first he now realized had been for the best, but nothing good could come from Audrey walking out of his life. Every failed relationship he experienced had led him to her. She was the one waiting at the end of the line. The one he was meant to be with forever. Nothing had ever been more certain to him, and yet he had no choice but to let her go. She wouldn’t allow him to love her, regardless of the pain he knew that decision caused her. If she would give him a logical explanation, though he would never be happy about losing her, he might be able to accept the situation.

George strolled over to Stephen, sporting a devious grin, shot a sideways glance toward Audrey, who was near the door, buttoning her coat, and raised his eyebrows twice. “Stevie, we’re ready to pull the car out of the ditch. Are you coming with us or going with her?”

Stephen watched Audrey step out the door with Johnny and shook his head. “What took you so long to get here?”

George looked a little bewildered, apparently because Stephen had totally ignored his question, but didn’t inquire further. “We didn’t know you were out here, Stevie. I called and left you a message that we were canceling because of the weather. When I didn’t hear back from you, I rode by your house. Your truck was there, so I knew you didn’t come here, because nobody in his right mind goes off to the woods and leaves his truck at home.”

“It wouldn’t crank, and I didn’t feel like fooling with it. The roads are pretty good, there wasn’t supposed to be any bad weather, so I drove my car.”

“After I didn’t hear from you for a couple of days, I started getting concerned. I finally called the cabin owner, and he told me that you came out two days early.”

“So that’s why nobody came looking for me, but what about Audrey?”

“Her friends claim they called the sheriff’s department the day it started snowing. The sheriff’s department claims they have no record of a call from them until this morning. No one is sure what happened.”

Stephen and George trudged down the driveway and met up with the rest of the guys as they were getting ready to wench the car out of the ditch.

“Hey, check this out,” Johnny said, looking at Audrey’s car. “This little sapling is the only thing that kept her from going over the cliff.”