her wounded ego.
But she was not that woman anymore. She got out of bed, looked out her window for a moment, then donned her dressing gown and went into the kitchen.
Ty was actually glaring at the coffeepot, drumming the countertop with impatient fingers waiting for it to brew. The radio was on at a very low volume next to him.
He looked up at her, looked away, clearly not happy to see her. He removed the pot and stuck his travel mug directly under the drip.
She ordered herself to face it head-on. “Look, Ty, I just looked out my window. Still snowing. We’re going to be stuck here together for a few more days.”
He nodded, put the cup to his lips. “Yeah, I saw the snow, too. The road reports are the only thing on the radio. Some roads are open, but there are travel advisories on them and the weather warnings haven’t been lifted.”
“So, you’re stuck with me.”
He winced and rolled his shoulders uncomfortably, but didn’t argue with her blunt wording.
“Ty, I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable in your own home. I’m not going to break into pieces because you made it clear you don’t find me attractive. You’ve done me a favor, actually. I should be all done looking for heroes.”
He choked on the coffee. He set down the cup. He stalked over to her.
“Don’t find you attractive? Are you crazy?”
She looked up at him, drank in the fire in those sapphire eyes, the way his pulse beat in his throat, the tight line of his jaw.
“I find you way too attractive, Amy.”
“You do?” For a moment, she felt her whole world start to shift, but then she reminded herself that the new Amy Mitchell needed to be more cynical, more pragmatic. “Or you’re just saying that?”
His mouth fell open. His eyes spit blue sparks of pure heat. “I don’t just say things. How can you not know that about me?”
“We hardly know each other at all. It feels as if we do because of how we’ve been forced together, but I shouldn’t have said what I said last night. It put you in an awkward position. But don’t worry, I don’t plan to moon over you.”
He moved in closer, his eyes still burning with a deep blue flame, like the one that hovered over the hottest part of a fire. And then his hand moved, almost as if it were against his will, and his finger traced the line of her mouth before his hand went to the back of her head and buried itself in her curls. He drew her close.
The blue fire that had been in his eyes sizzled briefly in the small space between them, singeing the air, making her lips tingle.
“Oh, Amy,” he whispered, and then he took her lips with his.
Inferno.
It was everything she had known it would be, and it was so much more.
As his lips, remarkably soft, astoundingly sensual, claimed hers, her world made the final melt into his.
The touch of his lips intensified, took charge and then surrendered to her. He was gentle, and fierce and hungry. He was tender and ruthless, taking and giving.
It seemed to her his kiss asked her not to submit to him, but to be worthy of him. And so she gave back. Everything. For the first time in her life, she gave every single thing she was. Her gentleness. Her fury. Her hunger. Her uncertainty. Her yearning. Her dreams. Her strength.
When it seemed as if there would be nothing left of either of them except smoldering ash, Ty pulled back from her.
He took a step back. His shoulders were heaving as he raked his hand through his hair, tossed her a troubled look.
She took a step toward him, not ready to let go.
He took a step back from her.
“Amy, we are in a complicated situation here. It is incredibly intense. Giving in to this will only make it way more complicated. That’s what I was trying to tell you last night when I walked away. Now, I’m going to my dad’s. I’ll be gone a couple of hours and that should give me a chance to cool off and put my head back on straight.”
Terrible to be so thrilled that she was responsible for the fact he did not have his head on straight.
“How are you getting to your dad’s in all this snow? Why don’t you just phone him?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Hmm. For a simple cowboy you seem to have a complicated life.”
“Some days are worse than others.” His eyes trailed to her lips, and then moved swiftly away. He jammed his coffee mug back under the drip, waited for it to fill partially, then took a huge swig. He was going to burn his mouth on that coffee if he didn’t watch out.
“I’ve got a sleigh. I’ll hook up a couple of the big horses to it, put a few supplies in, in case he needs them.”
“I’m coming.”
“I just said we need to cool off.”
“I’ll try to keep my hands off you. But, Ty, I am not missing a genuine sleigh ride for anything.”
Ty looked torn, but then he gave in. It was not like him to give in so easily, and she felt her heart warm as much as it had for the kiss. He wanted to share this experience with her and Jamey. Their worlds were not yet finished melting together.
“Now, what do you think your dad might need? We’ll bring him the last loaf of fresh bread and—”
“He doesn’t need the last loaf of fresh bread,” Ty said sourly.
“Ty! We can always make more.”
But he still looked sour as she found a box and with her good hand started loading a few basic supplies, including the fresh bread, into it. Jamey woke, and without being asked, Ty disappeared down the hall.
When he came out the baby had already been changed and was in a fresh Onesies.
An hour later, with Ty carrying Jamey in his little blue snowsuit, they made their way down to the barn. The snow was still coming. But did it seem a little lighter this morning?
Handing Jamey to her at the barn, Ty left them. He returned with two horses, one lead rope in each hand, and brought them through the open barn doors. The horses were absolutely huge, golden-colored with heavy white manes and tails, and white feathers around their feet.
“Their feet must be as big as pie plates!” she said.
Maybe her awareness had been heightened by that kiss, but every single thing seemed to shimmer this morning.
She was so aware: Ty in a sheepskin-lined jean jacket, dark cowboy hat, leather gloves, looking strong and rugged and calm and self-assured—the quintessential cowboy. And the horses: clouds of breath, the warm smell of them, the squeak and jingle of the leather harnesses as Ty got them ready.
“Can
