want to talk about?â
âWho says I want to talk at all?â he asked and gave her a slow smile.
She stiffened and her features went cool and dispassionate. What did it say about him, Sean wondered, that her reaction only fed the hunger gnawing at him? This womanâs obvious reluctance to admit to what was simmering between them only intrigued him further.
So maybe, he told himself, the secret to surviving close quarters with Kate was to go ahead and give in to the sexual tug happening. If they tried to ignore it, the next few days were going to be misery.
âYeah,â she said, âthatâs not going to happen.â
âNever say never,â he told her with a careless shrug. âWeâre stuck together and Iâm pretty damn charming.â
A hesitant smile twitched at her lips briefly. âI think I can control myself.â
âWeâll see, wonât we?â He was a man who loved a challenge. And Kate Wells was surely that.
âRight. I think Iâll bring in more wood.â She pushed herself to her feet and looked down at him.
âThought we had enough.â He glanced at the high stack of split logs heâd already carried in and set beside the hearth.
âCanât have too much,â she said, pulling her jacket on.
He knew a displacement activity when he saw one. She was trying to get some space, some distance from him, and damn if he was going to let her. âIâll get it.â
âI can do it,â she said and left without another look at him.
Muttering under his breath about hardheaded women, Sean grabbed his jacket and followed. He walked through the mudroom and stepped out onto the wide, covered back porch in time to see Kate grabbing several big logs. âLet me get it.â
âI said I donât need help,â she countered.
Sean came up beside her just as she whirled around to face him. Her elbow caught him in the chest, and he took a step back and hit the edge of the top step. Off balance, his arms windmilled as he felt himself falling and knew he couldnât stop it. The fresh snow cushioned his fall and puffed up around him in a cloud. He was flat on his back, staring up at still more snow falling out of a steel-gray sky.
âOh, God, are you okay?â Kate dropped the wood she held and reached out one hand to him. âI didnât know you were there, really.â
Sean only stared at her. Snowflakes gathered in her hair, on her lashes, on the collar of her coat. Her hand was out toward him, and he grabbed it. But rather than take her help to get out of the snow, he gave a hard yank and pulled her down to join him.
She gave a half shriek when she landed on top of him, then immediately struggled to push herself up again. But having her body pressed along his felt so good, Sean was in no hurry to release her.
âWhatâs the rush?â he asked, mouth just a breath away from hers.
âItâs freezing.â
âCuddle up, weâll keep each other warm.â
Three
âY ouâre crazy,â she said with a shake of her head. Thick, heavy snowflakes kept falling all around them, landing on his lashes, his cheeks.
âAnd charming. Donât forget charming.â
âRight,â she said, laughing. Damn it, he really was charming. Most men getting pushed into a snowdrift wouldnât have been so nice about itâthough heâd made sure to yank her into the wet cold just to keep things even. âPulling me into the snow? Charming.â
He grinned. âYou started it.â
She had. And now that she was lying on top of him, she couldnât really regret it. âYouâre enjoying this, arenât you?â
He slid one hand down her spine toward her behind, and her eyes flashed in warning. âYeah. I guess I am.â
âLike I said. Crazy.â
âKiss me once and weâll get out of this snow.â
Kissing Sean Ryan was absolutely not