by Cindy Stark
“So soon?” Scott asked.
“It’s been known to happen,” Rick continued. “If we get a big storm, the pass can be closed for a couple of days, and no one gets in or out.”
“Sounds romantic,” Mary said.
Erin fought the urge to roll her eyes. Everything sounded romantic when a person was in love. When a person wasn’t, normally romantic things could be downright painful.
Like the crooning ballad that began to play.
Annabelle sat straighter. “I love Wilma Burgess. Henderson and I loved to dance to Misty Blue.” She shifted on the couch and used a remote to turn up the volume.
“It’s a hauntingly beautiful song,” Mary agreed.
Scott stood. “Care to dance?” He held out his hand to his wife, and she accepted.
“You should ask Erin, Rick. I’m sure she’d love to dance, too.”
Erin stiffened. The last thing she wanted was to be closer to the man who’d slighted her. “Oh, no. I’m just fine.” She couldn’t meet Rick’s gaze.
Instead, she saw Annabelle give Rick the evil eye, and the next thing she knew, he stood in front of her. “May I have this dance?” His deep voice rumbled as his dark, seductive gaze sent nervous shivers through her body.
Chapter Four
Erin glanced up and inhaled a quick breath. If she said no to Rick’s request, then she would be the rude one, and she wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. “Sure.”
She grasped his hand, and he wrapped his strong fingers around hers in a firm embrace. Her pulse raced like an avalanche down a mountainside, and she was sure he’d feel the powerful beats beneath her skin.
“This is wonderful,” Annabelle exclaimed from the sidelines. “We should do this with guests more often.”
Rick tugged her into the center of the room, leaving enough space between them and the other couple and then turned to her. He placed a heated hand on her back while still holding her other. She cautiously put her fingers on his shoulder and prayed she could keep her cool exterior in place.
Unmistakable power rested beneath his shirt. She’d watched these same muscles flex and bunch earlier in the day when he’d been chopping wood, and now only a soft piece of cotton kept her from outright touching him. Her gaze caught on the intricate tribal tattoo peeking from beneath his shirt, and she wished she could lift his sleeve and examine it, curious about its design.
“Relax,” he whispered in her ear.
She flicked her gaze to his, flashing a warning look into his dark eyes. She might have agreed to dance, but she wasn’t inclined to project her friendliness beyond what social graces required.
“You won’t dance very well if you don’t,” he continued.
A whiff of his sexy cologne assaulted her, bringing forth conflicting desires. His scent made her want to move closer to him, and it softened her stance whether she wanted it to or not. “Maybe I don’t want to dance.”
He tightened his hold on her and smiled. “Then why did you say yes?”
The real question was why was she even the slightest bit attracted to a guy who could turn on and off his charm like a new faucet, who also happened to have a serious girlfriend. “I didn’t want to disappoint Annabelle or our guests.”
He twirled her and then pulled her back against him, his hard body bumping hers, sending sparks of feminine delight shooting through her. “I can certainly understand that.”
She tried to read his expression, but he’d turned his back to the fire, hiding his features in shadow. With darkness claiming the space outside the large windows, the sight of him holding her reflected against the glass, and it momentarily stole her breath. If someone was outside looking in, he’d think they made the perfect couple.
Physically, Rick was her dream man. Tall. Broad shoulders and chest. Short, dark hair the color of deep, polished wood, and eyes that kept secrets buried within their dark depths, but could see through her like she was a ghost.
Socially, Rick was another matter. He needed to learn manners like the nearby ski resort needed snow. It’s a wonder he’d managed to convince a girl to like him, period.
A hint of lavender caught her nose. Erin glanced to see if her aunt was moving about the room, but she still sat on the couch, her face alight with warmth and happiness. Strange how that scent hit Erin every so often.
The song ended, and Erin all but ran from Rick’s grasp. He seemed more than willing to let her go.
With his swagger in full force, he approached her great aunt. “Miss Annabelle, may I have this dance?”
“Why, of course.” Pleasure reflected in her words. Despite the loss of her beloved husband, she still knew how to grasp each strand of happiness heaven dangled her way. Smart woman.
The newlywed couple continued waltzing through the next song while Rick twisted and turned Annabelle across the carpet. Their actions afforded Erin the perfect opportunity to study Rick without being obvious. Much. Annabelle did catch her once staring at Rick’s muscular legs and wiggled her brows in response.
Erin gave a quick shake of her head to warn her aunt not to go there and looked away.
Soon, a slower song began pouring out of the speakers, putting an end to Rick and Annabelle’s dance.
“Goodness, Rick. You sure know how to show a lady a good time.” She glanced at Erin, mischief in her eyes. “How about another dance with Erin?”
His shrug was so nonchalant and indifferent that she wanted to give him a look of disgust and walk away. If he wanted the pleasure of her company, he needed to put in more effort and ask her himself.
“Actually, I wanted to sneak out and head to bed,” Erin said as she stood. “Seven hours on the road today wore me out.”
Annabelle’s expression fell. “Are you sure, love? We just started.”
“Just because I’m leaving doesn’t mean you have to stop. It’s like removing the fifth wheel. You all will run just fine without me. Better, actually. Now everyone will have a partner.” She took Annabelle’s hands and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Erin turned to Scott and Mary and called out a good night. They responded in kind. She gave a curt nod to Rick and escaped the room.
The air in the darkened hallway cooled her skin. With the fire and all the dancing, the atrium had become quite warm. And stifling. She preferred the quiet of her own company instead.
She gripped the polished banister and headed up to what would be her room for the next two weeks.
* * *
As he began to dance with Annabelle again, Rick watched Erin leave the atrium, a mixture of loss and relief running through his veins. Keeping his distance from her would be difficult. The flash of fire in her eyes when he’d told her to relax had sparked a definite interest inside him, and the way her soft body had molded to him as they’d danced had tempted him ever closer to the edge. He wanted to know her better, wanted to ask how she’d come to be in his part of the world.
But he couldn’t. Those thoughts would lead him down a road he couldn’t afford to travel. Not if he wanted to remain faithful to Melinda.
He glanced down at the woman who’d been like a loving grandmother to him for the past ten years and knew that he’d been caught staring.
A knowing twinkle hovered in her eyes. “She’s pretty, no?”
“Very,” he agreed, one-hundred percent on guard with the meddling old woman. He wanted to be angry with her, but he knew deep down she only wanted to see him happy. Annabelle had been there for him when he’d had no one else, and that earned her a lot of latitude.
“I knew she’d be perfect for you the moment I saw her. To think, she’s of my own family. What could be more perfect?”
He gave her a gentle turn, increasing her smile. “That’s very nice, but you know I’m waiting for Melinda to get her degree. Then she’ll be home.”
She shook her head, disappointed. “Don’t be a fool. You and I both know she’s not coming back. And even if she does, she’s not good
enough for you. Henderson never had anything good to say about her, and she was his granddaughter.”
“Stay out of it, Annabelle.” He repeated the warning he’d given her a thousand times. “This is my life. I’ll live it how I want, and I’ll love who I want. Henderson didn’t know her like I do.”
She released an exasperated sigh. “And you don’t know her like I do. I’ve seen her soul firsthand, and it’s not a pretty thing.”
Annabelle and her paranormal visions. He shrugged. “I’m sorry, Annabelle. You can bring around all the beautiful women you want. I get to choose who I spend my time with.”
“Melinda hasn’t come to visit once since she left. Does she even ever call?”
Not often enough. “We talk.”
“You’re a downright, ornery fool,” she said as the song ended. “One of these days you’ll see I’m right.”
* * *
Two hours later, Erin lay in bed, warm beyond belief. She’d kicked off her blanket and quilt, but still couldn’t cool down. She would blame the heat from the fire downstairs, but the atrium sat at the back of the house while she was in the front. Maybe old buildings had a harder time regulating heat than newer ones.
The house had quieted down over an hour ago, and she assumed everyone had gone to bed, and thankfully Rick had gone home. They were probably all sound asleep. Everyone except her.
She was sleeping in a foreign bed, and anywhere but her own bed always proved difficult for her. Tomorrow, she’d check the little store in town for a sleeping aid.
For now, maybe a cool glass of water would help. She grabbed her cell phone to light her way and exited the bedroom.
The quiet darkness of the house seemed creepy, and it felt as though someone watched her. But that was silly, she convinced herself as she descended the stairs.
The wooden floors were cool against her bare feet, and it made absolutely no sense that her room would be so warm.
In the kitchen, she flipped on the light and found a glass in the cupboard. The water from the faucet chilled the tips of her fingers. It seemed everything was cold but her. She filled a glass and drank it down, grateful for the refreshment. Maybe now she could sleep.
She was almost to the top of the steps when an eerie feeling raced across her skin again.
“Erin?”
The sound of a man speaking her name caused her to drop her phone, and it hit the stairs with a thud.
“Shit.” She glanced forward, trying to identify her companion, though she was pretty sure it was Scott. When she couldn’t make out anything beyond a shadow, she bent to grab her phone and angled its light, surprised to find Rick in the hallway with her.
“Rick?” A quick shiver raced through her. He wore nothing but a pair of flannel bottoms, his naked chest as glorious as she’d imagined. Her body responded to the sight of him, tingling with electric awareness.
“You okay?” His voice actually held concern.
“I couldn’t sleep and needed a drink of water.” She hesitated, trying to stop her heart from racing. “Why are you still here?”
An awkward pause spread between them, and for a moment, she wondered if he’d answer.
“Didn’t Annabelle tell you? I live here.”
No. She had to bite her tongue to keep from vocalizing the word in a negative manner. “Uh, no. She didn’t mention it.”
“Oh. Well. Now you know.”
“I guess I do.”
More uncomfortable silence spilled into the dark hallway.
“I’ll say goodnight, then. Again.” She would curse her awkwardness, but she’d like to see any other red-blooded female stand before a Greek god and be more eloquent.
“I’ll get your door.” In the dim light, he reached out and opened her door for her.
“Thank you.” She squeezed past him, and though she tried not to touch him, her shoulder brushed the bare skin of his chest.
“Good night,” he said, his voice deep and sexy, and she refused to acknowledge the way his words sounded like an invitation.
“Night.” She shut the door harder than she probably should have and leaned against it. How the hell would she sleep now, knowing he was mere doors away?
* * *
Early the next morning Erin cracked open her door and peeked into the hallway. It was empty. She hurried across the hall and into the bathroom for a quick shower.
When she descended the stairs an hour later, the house was quiet except for a few subtle sounds coming from the kitchen.
Inside, she found Annabelle looking more tired than she would have liked. Thankfully, Rick was nowhere in sight.
“Good morning,” Erin said as she entered the room.
“Well, good morning, love.” She cracked an egg into a large bowl. “How did you sleep?”
“It seemed a little warm. Did it feel that way to you, too?”
“No. I was perfectly comfortable.” She began whisking the contents of the bowl and then eyed her again. “You’re far too young for hot flashes. I’m not sure what the problem might have been. I’ll have Rick check your room.”
“No, it’s okay.” The last thing she wanted was to have Rick in her space. “It wasn’t that hot. I’m sure tonight will be much better.”
Annabelle scattered chopped spinach and mushrooms along with diced tomatoes across the bottom of a large baking dish before pouring the egg mixture on top.
“Would you be a dear and go rap on the Fincher’s door and let them know breakfast will be served in a half hour?”
“Sure.” She turned to leave.
“Let Rick know, too, okay?”
She swallowed, trying to keep a smile on her face. “Of course.”
Erin grumbled all the way back up the stairs. She didn’t want to invite Rick to breakfast. To be honest, as much as she liked Mary and Scott, she really wanted to spend some time alone with her great aunt. She only had two weeks, and she wanted to hear stories and soak up her aunt’s great attitude. With all of the other people around, that was beginning to seem more and more impossible.
At the top of the stairs, she glanced down the hall, realizing she didn’t know which room belonged to the Finchers and which was Rick’s. The door next to hers was open and must be Annabelle’s.
She took a deep breath and approached the room across from hers. She rapped her knuckles on the worn wood and waited. A moment later, Mary opened the door.
The breath Erin held eased out of her. “Sorry to bother you. Annabelle sent me to let you know breakfast will be ready in thirty minutes.”
Mary smiled. “Thank you. I really love the family feel of this place. So much nicer than a hotel room.”
Erin found herself mirroring Mary’s expression. “I’m glad you’re enjoying your stay.”
Mary glanced back into the room as though checking to see if her new husband was listening. Apparently satisfied, she leaned closer. “Can I just say, you and Rick make the cutest couple. How long have you been together?”
Erin blinked in surprise. “Oh, no. You’re wrong. We’re not together. I’m a very single lady. In fact, I just arrived in town yesterday, too.”
Mary seemed surprised. “You did mention a long drive, but I thought you were coming home. I was sure you two were a couple. You look like you’re meant to be together. You know, the way couples seem when they’ve become very intimate?”
“Uh, sure.” She backed away. “But no, not us.”
Was the woman crazy? Erin had been stiff as an old board in Rick’s arms while they’d danced. He’d even said so himself.
“Then I’d suggest you check his marital status and go for it if he’s single. You guys are fabulous together.”
Erin forced a chuckle, though she knew full well Rick wasn’t available. “I’ll have to do that. In the meantime, I’ll see you downstairs in just a bit.”
“Absolutely.” Mary nodded. “Looking forward to it.”
Erin rolled her eyes in disbelief as she headed toward the other closed door. No
way would she approach him. Not ever. They were meant to be together as much as fire and water.
And she would be the fire. He could be the cold, dampening water. It suited his personality so well.
She knocked on the second door, braced for another encounter. She’d deliver her aunt’s message and then walk away.
Several seconds passed and no answer.
She knocked again.
Where the hell was he?
And why did she care? If he couldn’t drag his butt out of bed to answer the door, he deserved to miss breakfast.
She turned and ran smack dab into Rick’s naked chest. A scream escaped her lips, and she barely had time to muffle it before it alerted the whole house.
“Oh my god. You scared me.”
He wore a towel draped low on his hips, his dark hair still wet from a shower. The scent of shampoo and sexy aftershave hovered around him, stirring her senses like a powerful tornado. If she’d wanted to see his full tattoo, she’d just been given the perfect opportunity. Heaven help her.
She knew right then and there she’d never be able to erase that image of him from her mind. Like ever.
“Is Annabelle still in her room?” he asked, his brows furrowed.
“Annabelle?”
“Yes. That’s her door. If she’s not already up and at ‘em, something is wrong.” He pushed past her and opened the door.
“Wait.” She grabbed the bottom of his bicep, stopping him from entering Annabelle’s room. “I thought this was your room.”
He frowned at her. “My room is next to yours.” He lowered his gaze to where she still held onto him, and she let go like she’d grabbed a piece of hot coal.
“The door was shut. I thought it must be your room.”
“Annabelle usually keeps her door shut. Some of the guests aren’t always the most trustworthy, you know.”
She blinked. Everything he said made perfect sense and made her feel like an idiot. “Good to know.”
He remained staring at her, making her uncomfortable. With so much hard muscle glaring in front of her, she couldn’t keep from glancing at his chest.
“What?” she finally said.
He arched a brow as though he knew how he affected her. “I’m waiting for you to tell me what you came to say?”
