Read Why not Wyoming? (Wyoming Wilds Series Book 1) for Free Online Page B

ever ready for that. Like you
said, at eighteen you weren’t even thinking of the possibility. I admire the
strength it took to face it all alone.”
    “Thank God writing is like therapy, only cheaper.”
    CJ chuckled. “That’s how I feel about nature. It doesn’t matter
what time of year. If I’m feeling stressed, I grab a pack and hit the trails.”
    Annie searched the endless sea of dark pines. “You could wander
for days out there and not see another living soul.”
    The thought was comforting and terrifying at once. She shivered
and he pulled her closer.
    “I should get you back inside before you freeze or your family
comes looking for you.”
    “Are you more worried about your reputation or mine, big guy?”
    CJ chuckled. “Being caught alone with you would only boost my
reputation.”
    “So you think. Ignore any pitying looks from my family.”
    “I’m enjoying getting to know you, figuring out what makes you
tick.”
    ”I’m a writer. My mind is a scary place.”
    “I don’t scare easily.”
    Annie paused at the door, hands resting against his chest.
“That sounds promising.”
    CJ’s finger hooked under her chin, lifting her face. His lips
were warm and firm against hers. For a moment, the soft beard made memories of
her dad flash through her mind. Then he deepened the kiss and all such thoughts
fled. She blinked up at him when he finally pulled back. Her hands were fisted
in his coat, body leaning into him. Nothing parental in that. Already on tiptoe,
she slid a hand behind his neck and tugged him back down to steal another kiss.
    He hijacked what was meant to be a brief brush of her lips. One
of his hands cupped her jaw. His lips were teasing and tempting. They kissed
until her lungs and calves burned. Thank God he was still holding her when he
broke the kiss. Dizzy and breathless, she rested her forehead against his
chest. Finally, she cleared her throat and nodded.
    “Very promising.”

 
    Stomping his boots off, CJ blew into the cup of his cold
hands. He’d been up early this morning trying to help their limited crew clear
some of the snow. Now he was looking forward to hot coffee and, hopefully, a
glimpse of Annie. Sleep had been hard to come by last night with her face
haunting him every time he closed his eyes. When he’d finally dozed off, she’d
been right there with him. If her retro polka-dot bathing suit hadn’t been
enough to make him contemplate the cost of putting a hot tub in at his place,
his dreams had.
    “Good morning.”
    CJ spun around, a blush already starting to crawl over his
chilled cheeks. The subject of his fantasies stood in front of him holding out
a mug of steaming brew. He prayed she couldn’t read his mind.
    “Good morning and thank you, thank you,” he said eagerly accepting
the offered coffee. He took a sip and sighed. “You’re a goddess.”
    Annie laughed and put a finger to her lips. “Not too loud. With
that kind of flattery, you’ll have the girls fighting me to bring you coffee at
the door.”
    “I don’t think there is too much fear of that.”
    She nodded toward the door. “How does it look out there?”
    “The wind has let up and the snow coming down is minimal. I
would say if it stays like this, the plows will clear the roads by tomorrow,”
he said stripping off the last of his gear.
    “I hope so. I love my family, but I’ve had enough togetherness
for a while.”
    “Another rough morning with the bride?”
    Annie rolled her eyes. “The mother of the bride this time. My
aunt is stressing over everything from return flights to the freshness of the
cake. Like anyone ever really enjoys the frou-frou frosting monstrosity that is
wedding cake. When I make that leap, I’m thinking cheesecake.”
    “You can’t go wrong with cheesecake,” he agreed, nodding
sagely. “Baked, frozen or boxed. It’s all good.”
    “Right? They even sell the filling in a tub now so all us lazy
people have to do is spread it in a graham cracker crust