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pasta salad, a tomato, and cucumber. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” From behind her, a bite finally edged Wyn’s tone. “See? I can give short answers too, if that’s what you want.”
    Heat suddenly exploded inside Maddie. She whirled on Wyn, every bit of fear and unwanted physical attraction and confusion about him bubbling fast to the surface. “You’re here because I wasn’t given any good choices! I’m not sure what you want me to say!”
    Wyn shot away from the counter, all six-foot-four of him consuming the room. “I don’t know how to talk to you any more either, Maddie! Cut me some slack!” Just as fast as he’d shouted, he snapped his mouth closed, shook his head, and ground his fist against the counter. “Shit. I’m sorry. I apologize.” He took a moment, then smiled awkwardly. “Let’s start over. How about for the moment you give me the directions to my room?”
    Her chest heaving much too fast, the beat within almost painfully hard, Maddie clutched the food to her chest like a shield. More than anything, she did not want him to know the power he still had over her. “There are four free ones to choose from upstairs.” Once again today, her words and tone more carefully controlled than ever before, Maddie answered, “You can have whichever one you want.”
    With an abbreviated bow, he gave her a two finger salute. “I’ll do that. Thank you.”
    Once Wyn left the kitchen, Maddie put down her dinner, covered her face with her hands, and stifled the threat of tears. What the heck am I doing? Maddie hated being bitchy with Wyn, and hated even more that she’d become a person who couldn’t control when she was. The snark and cutting responses came from one place inside her: fear. She knew it. Worse though, she knew Wyn knew it too. He knew she was afraid of his presence in her home, and that gave him leverage, something she could not afford to hand over to him.
    I changed that once . Maddie sat up as the memory filled her psyche. One night, many years ago, Maddie had taken a chance, let go of her sarcasm with Wyn Ashworth, flung her soul out into the bitterly cold night air, and hoped he cared about her enough to catch it and keep it safe…
    * * * *
    …Knit cap pulled down over her ears, scarf tucked securely around her neck, gloves protecting her fingers, her wool coat buttoned up tight, Maddie stepped out onto the porch of Aidan and Ethan’s cabin. She clicked the door securely closed behind her, trapping the jovial merriment of the party within the home.
    Bitter wind swept through the night air, pushing through the myriad of trees, creating a whistling effect that carried through the woods. Porch lights and track lights along a gravel walkway showcased elongated circles of emptiness on the rugged front lawn, highlighting that everyone with sense remained cozy indoors. Vast swaths of nature, void of human intruders, loomed far and wide, but Maddie traipsed down the steps and started down the path anyway, a woman on a mission.
    A few minutes ago Maddie had spotted Wyn slip quietly out of the party, unnoticed by all the revelers. But not her. Maddie noticed everything about Wyn, much as it tormented her that she did. She hated being so fascinated by an older guy who would never view her as anything more than Aidan and Devlin’s kid sister, someone worthy of minor teasing and not much else. It was different for her. She secretly really liked him, much more than she probably should.
    Because she paid such close attention to Wyn, she’d noticed him take a call on his cell, step into the bathroom with the phone to his ear, and come out a few minutes later white as a ghost. He’d immediately, visibly searched the room with his gaze, not stopping until it had landed on Ethan. At the same time, Aidan tugged Ethan into his arms, whispered something to him, and Ethan laughed and pulled Aidan in for a kiss. Rather than go to his brother, Wyn had tucked his head down, casually moved to the