Snowy Encounters (8 page)

He looked down at his bare chest and
unbuttoned jeans, and cursed.

Chapter Fourteen

Her teeth clattered against the brisk cold.
Idiot that she was, she’d left her coat by the side of Cole’s
house. She should have gone home, but she hadn’t wanted to.

She needed to think. If only jealousy wasn’t
eating her alive and making her sick.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she trudged
through the woods. Her thick sweater did nothing to protect her
from the chill. She found her favorite spot near Death’s Peak and
leaned against the tree. Her eyes took in the magnificent view. The
steep slope was a big draw for skiers. From here, she could see the
town, the Main Street shopping, the residential areas nestled in
with the trees, and more snow. The early evening sun cast an
orange-yellow glow over the landscape, providing some warmth.

This was the one place she’d always run to
whenever troubled or angry. And normally, Cole would show up to
tease her and make her feel better. But not this time.

He was too busy with the waitress.

She rubbed her hands and wondered what they
were doing. Did it matter? It wasn’t as if he’d declared he
couldn’t live without her. If he had, she may have kicked the other
woman out herself, but then what right did she have? She wasn’t his
wife anymore. And the more she thought about the past, she was
probably a coward for running, childish for believing she needed to
be his first priority before the lodge, and she’d seen everyone’s
pride in how Cole had helped rebuild the town, infusing the area
with tourists and drawing in more visitors than Five Oaks had ever
had. She wanted to be proud, but she couldn’t. If he hadn’t had the
lodge, then he may have loved her more. She reached up and touched
her lips. A groan escaped as she recalled the intensity of his
mouth on her before Brie had rang the doorbell. Her already hard
nipples ached. Not only from the cold, but the thought of Cole.

Was he kissing the other woman now? Were they
in bed together?

A scream surged up her throat and she let it
out. It didn’t make her feel any better. Tears welled in her eyes
and she shivered. Emotionally conflicted along with sexually
frustrated, she cursed Cole Harmon and hoped he was happy for
uprooting her life again. She shouldn’t have returned.

“Hey, short stuff.”

She whipped around, lost her balance, and
fell, landing on her already bruised bottom.

A smile teased Cole’s lips as he stood over
her. He held out his hand. “You done?”

She glared. Relief rolled in her stomach. He
wasn’t with Brie. “What are you doing here?”

“This is where you always go when you’re
upset.”

Pulling her up, he turned her around and
dusted her butt. And she allowed him to before facing him again.
She shivered, unsure whether from the cold or his touch. “I haven’t
been up here in a while.”

“I know.”

“Why aren’t you at the house with that
woman?”

He looked her over from head to toe as if
checking for injuries. She warmed under his inspection. “Well, I
did tell you I’d let you push me down the slope. Now seemed like a
good time.”

Once she would have laughed at his teasing,
but she didn’t feel it. “Just go away.” Her teeth clattered as she
became aware of the chill again.

Cole sighed and opened his jacket. “Come
here.”

She sneezed, reluctant to move, even though
all she wanted was to rush into his arms and soak up his heat.
“Buzz off.”

He laughed. “Fine.” His hands dropped and he
started to walk away.

Panic rushed to her throat. “Wait. Where are
you going?”

He paused, glancing at her over his shoulder.
“You told me to leave.”

She frowned. Tears pricked her eyes. “I’m
cold.”

“Well, that’s what you get for running around
without your coat.”

“It’s at the house. I had to take it off so I
could fit through the window.” Her lips quivered.

“You can wear this.” He started to take off
his jacket. Maddy launched herself at him, landing against his
broad chest with a grunt and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her
face buried into his wool sweater, the threads tickled her numb
nose.

Cole adjusted his coat and hugged her against
him. “You’re like a frozen brick.”

Maddy scoffed. He smelled so good, like pine
needles and the spicy soap he’d always used. She should have been
angry with him, but at least he wasn’t in bed with the other woman
as she’d feared. She tilted her head back. A primal need coursed
through her. Lifting her hand, she gripped his chin, forcing him to
look at her. “Have you slept with her?”

Confusion swarmed his face. “Brie? No, she’s
a friend. If you had stayed, you would have seen that.”

Her eyes searched his. A slow heat trembled
down her spine. He’d come after her. That was all that mattered.
“Do you want me?”

Startled, his features
softened. “Do
you
want me?”

She bit her lip. Pride and need warred inside
her chest. She wanted him more than anything. Her insides
tightened. She wanted him to fill her, make the aching emptiness go
away, but what if they fell back into the same routine? Could they
pick up where they had left off? Was she willing to give up her
life in the city?

“It doesn’t matter.” He lifted her up against
him and kissed her. All doubts fled her mind as she kissed him
back. She needed him at the moment. They could solve their problems
later. His hands settled around her butt, lifting her up against
him as her legs wrapped around his waist.

He drew away, and she cried out. “Let’s go to
the truck.”

She tugged at his hair, bringing her lips
down on his. “No.”

“I can’t see, babe.”

She paused. Her skin still chilled, but she
knew what she wanted, what she’d fantasized for so many years.
“Take me here.”

Cole froze. “Are you crazy?”

She shook her head then nuzzled his jaw to
the pulse behind his ear. With a light nip to his earlobe, she blew
at the spot. Cole shivered. “Right here.”

“You’re insane.” He groaned as she sucked on
the skin above his pulse.

“Either you take me here, right now, or…”

Cole leaned back. “Or what?”

Maddy grinned. “I’ll push you down the
slope.”

He blinked. A slow smile spread over his face
as he backed her against the tree. Nuzzling her throat, he trailed
his mouth along her jaw to her lips. “Guess we can’t have
that.”

Maybe she was being ridiculous. It was cold
out. But she didn’t care. She wanted him. Now. Gripping his
shoulders, she deepened the kiss. The rough bark rubbed against her
skin through her sweater. Cole’s hand slid over her breast and she
moaned. She needed to feel him, taste him as he’d done her. She
couldn’t stand another moment. Maddy wiggled to be let down, and he
released her. She slid, refusing to break contact with him as her
feet touched the ground and fingers worked his belt.

Cole reached under her sweater, his warm
hands grazing her abs then to her bra. He unclasped the front hook
as she undid the button of his jeans. She cried out when he cupped
her breasts in his palms. She wanted his mouth all over her again.
Needing to feel skin to skin, she whipped her sweater off. His eyes
widened.

“Oh, babe…” Cole bent, taking her nipple in
his mouth. Her head fell back against the tree, hair catching on
the bark, but she ignored it, only conscious of the sensations he
drew. Her body flushed, her fingers gripped the waist of his jeans,
working her hand to wrap around his cock. She whimpered then gasped
as a frigid shower washed over her. Cole jumped away.

Any arousal died a sudden
death. Covered in snow, Maddy shivered and glared up at the now
clean tree branch. Her eyes narrowed as they fell on Cole, who
stood brushing off his jacket. And laughing. She sneezed and
shivered, readjusting her black lace bra and picked up her sweater
off the ground.
Killjoy.

He shook his coat off and wrapped it around
her. After buttoning her up, he pulled her against him. “Yeah, I
don’t think this is going to work here.”

She sniffled. “The snow hates me.”

He chuckled. “Let’s get to somewhere
warm.”

Maddy nodded. She’d known the idea was
insane, but her stupid eagerness had made her into a fool. Again.
Why couldn’t she ever come off as graceful and smooth in front of
Cole? If she wasn’t falling, then she was just tripping over
herself. Cole swung her up in his arms and she snuggled close, just
reveling in the feel of his strength. “You know, it did seem like a
good idea at the moment.”

She caught the amused quirk of his mouth, but
he focused on the white-covered path to his truck. “Don’t worry.
This isn’t over. I’ll let you show me your good ideas when I get
you warmed up.”

Her breath hitched. The cold forgotten. “I’m
holding you to that.”

Chapter Fifteen

Cole thought long and hard. After bundling
Maddy in the cab of his truck, they drove off. She shivered in the
passenger seat, even with the hot air shooting out of the vents. He
curved an arm around her and pulled her across the bench to his
side.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

He glanced down, reaffirming his decision.
Her lips quivering and eyes shining with unshed tears from the
cold, she wiggled closer. As much as he wanted to pull the truck to
the side, strip her of all her barriers and make love to her, he
needed to do this right. It may be his one last chance for him to
convince her to stay. Knowing Maddy, she’d run when she’d get the
chance and he couldn’t have that. Her mother expected her to stay
for the grand opening but Maddy had already repeated to him enough
times she had to get back to work since she’d already helped him
get the party ready.

“I’ll send someone to bring your rental
later, but I’m going to take you home first.” He spoke slowly.

“Okay. And then what?”

Drawing in a deep breath, he hugged her
close. “We’re going to the party tonight.”

Maddy jerked back. “Why? I thought you wanted
to go…” Her voice trailed off.

“I do.” He gave her a squeeze. “But I don’t
want to rush this.”

She sidled up to him again, pressing her lips
against his check to his ear. “We’re not rushing, Cole. It’s not
like we’ve never…”

He smiled, but cleared his throat when her
fingers brushed over his denim-clad erection. “Honey, let’s just
wait.”

Maddy glared and sat back, crossing her arms
over her chest. “I don’t understand you.”

I don’t either.
But he knew he couldn’t mess this up. He didn’t
want just one night or two nights with Maddy then watch her leave
again. No, he couldn’t have that. He had one more card to play and
if that didn’t work, then it was pointless. The three years of
waiting for her to come back to see his success and realize she’d
made a mistake in leaving him drove him to work harder everyday.
The town’s pride in his physical accomplishments didn’t matter as
much as Maddy’s opinion and if she didn’t see that he could provide
for her and offer her a secure future than compared to when they
married, then he didn’t know what to do. His mother had left when
she saw his father’s lack of motivation as the town sheriff, but
Cole had more to show off. Maddy had to realize he did this all for
her.
Hell, I’ll buy her own business if
she is determined to work and be a career woman.

The truck drew pulled up to the Glover’s
residence and he turned to Maddy. “I’ll come pick you up at
seven.”

Maddy frowned. “I don’t want to go to the
party. It’s going to be weird if they see me there with you. The
town thinks I ran out on you. Why do you want to bring me?”

Cole sighed. Since he’d found her at Death’s
Peak, memories of their past rushed at him, reminding him of all
they’d been through and he wanted it all back. He wanted to seek
her out and tease her every time she was mad. He wanted to pick her
up and hold her every time something happened, when she was sad,
angry, and even happy. But if he rushed in and made love to her,
what guarantees did he have that she wouldn’t leave right after?
She told him she could live anywhere, but he needed to use the time
he had to show her what she would miss if she left Five Oaks again.
“Because I’m expected there, and I want to spend time with you. I
have to show up.”

Maddy crossed her arms over chest. “I don’t
want to go.”

“I promise we won’t stay long.”

She eyed him warily. Fear that she’d refuse
whirled in his mind. He didn’t know how else to convince her. He
could seduce her now and be done with it, but it wasn’t what he
wanted. He needed to show her how much she meant to him.

“All right, say I go with you, and then
what?” Her nose wrinkled in annoyance.

Relieved, he smiled. His hand lifted and he
trailed a finger along her cheek. “Then I’ll take you some place
special and make love to you until you realize that you never want
to leave.”

Her breath hitched. “Tell me it doesn’t
involve snow.”

Laughter rumbled up his chest. He leaned in
and brushed his lips against her. “No, but I promise we won’t
freeze this time.”

Chapter Sixteen

Maddy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear
as Cole lifted her from the cab of his truck and helped her to the
ground. He deliberately held her close as she slid down his front.
Smiling coyly, her hands settled on his shoulders. “We won’t stay
long, right?”

Cole grinned. “Nope. I got plans for us
tonight.”

Her heart skipped. Ever
since this afternoon, she’d been too giddy to stay still. After
he’d dropped her off, she’s used the time to prep for the night.
Hope and joy flared in her the moment she’d heard his parting
words.
Then I’ll take you some place
special and make love to you until you realize that you never want
to leave.