you damn sure didn’t try a second time, so don’t be blamin’ the dog.”
A smile tickled the corners of his mouth. He swiped his felt hat off with a flourish, tossed it on a hay bale, and drew her close with one arm. “If that pesky dog jumps up on us, ignore it.”
“Yes, sir!” she said breathlessly as he ran the back of his rough hand down her cheek and tangled his hands in her dark hair.
His lips met hers in a fiery clash with enough heat to melt every drop of snow in the canyon. Tongue met tongue in a mating dance that left them both breathless and still wanting more. She’d had passionate kisses before, but Creed wasn’t just kissing her, he was making love to her with his lips and tongue. She could actually feel her boots leave the cold concrete floor and float toward the rafters.
He drew back and she thought he mumbled her name, but it could have just been a moan like what came from her throat when he nuzzled inside the collar of the coveralls and strung kisses from her ear all the way back to her lips.
That kiss was even hotter than the first one. She tried to think of a kiss in the past that had turned her knees to jelly and erased every sane thought from her mind. But her mind had shut down and her body had taken over. The fickle thing wanted to sling all its clothing off and feel more than Creed Riley’s hands on her neck and his body pressed to hers so tight that even the north wind couldn’t find a way to get between them.
She’d had kisses, but she’d never had one that made her completely crazy with want. She’d have to keep her distance from him for sure because if one make-out session in a freezing cold barn could create so much heat, they’d burn the house down if they ever tumbled into a bed.
Or better yet, wrapped up in a blanket in front of the fire, she thought and then blushed at the visual of him naked with the fire reflecting in his green eyes.
When he pulled back the second time she inhaled deeply and laid her head on his chest. Even through all the layers she could hear his heart thumping like he’d run a mile in hundred-degree heat.
She tried to force her feet to take a step backwards, but her feet were glued to the barn floor. She was a grown woman, not a hormonal sixteen-year-old girl who chased down good-looking cowboys in the barn to steal a few kisses. And as such, she had to step back, walk away, and not look back. Falling for Creed Riley would be disaster.
One day, for God’s sake! That’s all I’ve known this man.
The argument began with common sense and her heart taking opposing sides.
You’ve been waiting for Creed Riley your whole life. How big is that hole right now? her heart asked.
Hush! He won’t stick around here past Christmas, common sense said.
She never knew a heart could talk until she heard it say loud and clear, I want Creed Riley for my Christmas present.
Dammit! common sense yelled. Don’t listen to that worthless organ in your chest. You can’t have Creed and Grand both, and remember who’s been there for you your whole life.
Creed hugged her tightly and said, “Well, that made me hungry. Matter-of-fact, I’m starving. Let’s go cook breakfast and check on the livestock in the house.”
Sage looked up at him.
Where in the hell had that crazy fool notion of wanting Creed for Christmas come from? It was just a kiss and she’d only known him for a day. The blizzard must have frozen the part of her brain that made adult, sensible decisions.
It wasn’t until then that she realized she had unzipped his coveralls and her hands were warming against the warm flannel of his shirt. No wonder she could hear his heart beating so well! She withdrew them and brought a full load of guilt with her. She could not, she would not kiss him again.
“I’m not grumpy anymore.” He grinned.
She removed her hands and he zipped his coveralls. “Me either, but I am hungry.”
* * *
Creed’s stomach growled, but food was the last thing on his mind. He could not fall for Sage Presley, not now. Maybe later on down the road it could happen, after he’d bought the ranch and they really got to know each other.