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any…problems.”
    Her hesitation reminded her that Angelina had been part of the cleansing ceremony around Adam’s hot tub that night. She understood why this situation was so difficult for Cassie.
    “For the most part. It seems that I am the problem more than he is. When do you think Marc and the others can start digging out from the other side?”
    The pause set her on alert. “I can’t speak for Marc…. He’s…not…” Angelina’s sniffle made Cassie wonder what had happened.
    “Is everything okay?”
    A longer pause punctuated with more sniffles followed. “I don’t know. He’s…” Angelina’s breathing sounded shaky. “We just haven’t been able to work things out. I don’t know if we ever will, but I’m sure my brothers and their rescue squad teams will help as soon as the blizzard is over up there.”
    “Angelina, what happened? You two seemed to have a lot to talk about at daVinci’s the other night.”
    “I can’t talk about it right now.”
    “Okay. I understand.” Cassie would never pry. There had been many times she did not wish to share her feelings, too. “Thank your brothers for me.” Normally, being snowbound made her feel safer, but with Lucas in her bed, she no longer enjoyed that sense of security.
    “Listen, Cassie, tell Luke not to worry about his horses. Matt’s loving every minute of this. He’d love to have a place like Luke’s. He’ll stay at the ranch until Luke returns home and is back on his feet. Beats his tiny apartment in Leadville.”
    “How can Lucas contact him to check on the horses? I know he is going to worry no matter how much we try to reassure him.” Like Lucas, she would have worried if she had been on the other side of the avalanche and cut off from her alpacas, especially with Graciela in her condition. She walked over to her desk and jotted down the number on a slip of paper.
    Angelina’s voice came through the phone, stronger now. “Lucas? Surely he hasn’t forgotten his name!”
    “No! It is just that…Luke seemed so…familiar. I was not comfortable calling him that.”
    “How are you doing, Cassie?”
    I am trying to keep myself emotionally distant despite our being thrown together like this .
    Cassie cleared her throat. “I am fine, thank you. Just tired.” She had not slept much while in bed with Lucas the past two nights. Blankets and the space heater were enough to keep him warm now. She could sleep on the floor by the fire or on the nearby loveseat, which was plenty long enough for her. While the cot in her studio was much more comfortable, she should remain closer to Lucas in case he had a relapse or needed something.
    “We love you for taking care of our friend. I know this isn’t easy for you.”
    “I am only doing what anyone would do.”
    Even if it kills me.
    Something told her she would never be the same.
    After saying goodbye and disconnecting the call, she stared at the open bedroom door a moment before pivoting around and heading to the kitchen. Certain he would sleep for a while, she decided to prepare a heartier soup to nourish his body—and speed up his healing.
    The tactile memory of her body pressed against his sent an uncharacteristic wave of heat into her face before her stomach churned. She thought she might be sick. Even in his weakened state, the muscles under his skin spoke of strength she would be hard-pressed to overcome if she had to fight him off.
    Being alone in this isolated cabin with any man other than her brother scared her beyond reason, but Lucas Denton had a charm about him that most likely weakened the resolve of many women.
    Not Cassie. No man could charm her. Never again.
    Lucas. Somehow calling him by his formal name made her feel less intimate with him, despite the fact they had spent two nights together in her small bed. She threw a handful of amaranth into the pot and stirred absently as she tried to shake off the memory of his body on top of hers. The smothered sensation dragged her