Mine - HelenKay Dimon Page 0,8

or two slower than usual. How instead of talking and standing around, she should be running, but her muscles betrayed her.

“And now threats.” She forced the words out over the rush of blood whooshing in her ears and the sudden shaking in her knees.

Those dark eyes gleamed. “Consider it a promise of things to come.”

For a second she thought about taking her chances in the cold and snow. Seemed safer. “Be careful what you wish for.”

That smile of his came whipping back. “Challenge accepted.”

THREE

Gabe got her back inside without strangling her. He had to win some sort of prize for that restraint. That and for not kissing her, because he sure as hell wanted to, almost did. Now came the ultimate test . . . keeping his mind on the job and off her.

He reset the trap that guaranteed he’d know if someone ventured past his outer line of defense to the porch. Then he locked the door. Spinning around, he came face-to-face with Natalie. This close, he could see shivers race through her and hear her teeth click together.

Her eyes clouded with a telltale haze and she headed for the wood-burning stove along the far wall. All that did was give him a front row seat to that ass. Not that he could take any time to enjoy the view. Not with her in this condition. She looked ten seconds away from a hypothermic coma. Which was weird since his skin was on fire. Just trying to breathe made the walls of the tiny cabin close in.

Other than a threadbare love seat to his right and a small kitchenette running along the wall to his left, there wasn’t much else in the cabin. Except her. She was right there in the middle of the room, which put her about six feet away from him. Six short fucking feet.

He drew in a deep breath and fought for the well of control he normally took for granted. “Take your clothes off.”

She turned around nice and slow. The move had her flannel shirt gaping open to show off a peek of skin and the thin white T-shirt underneath. “If that’s your line, it needs work.”

“The order has more to do with not wanting you to freeze to death.” The way her nipples pressed against the tee had his gaze bouncing up and down her impressive body, but he forced his expression to stay blank.

She scoffed. “Nice of you to care.”

“I doubt I’d get paid if you died because you got cold.” And she was not dying on his watch. He forbid it. To help make that happen, he scooped a blanket off the love seat, thinking to wrap her in it after.

“Aren’t you practical?”

“To the bone.”

She glanced at the doorway to the bathroom. Doorway, no door. Not enough room for those in the small space. The person who built the place had the good sense to tuck the toilet around the corner for at least a shred of privacy, but the shower was right there. Right in the line of sight from the doorway. No curtain. No wall. Nothing.

She looked back at him. “You can wait outside.”

Tempting. If he didn’t worry she’d pass out and drown herself, he would. Maybe the fresh air would kick-start his common sense, but that would have to wait. “I’ll stay here.”

She crossed her arms in front of her. “I’m not going to run.”

“You’re right.” He doubted she’d take that risk. They shared some skills, and she had to know running meant jumping into one of the traps he’d set for the people who might come after her. “I wouldn’t let you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Is this some sort of play for control? Like you’re trying to break me or something? Because you can’t. Others have tried and failed.”

Interesting. The assessing gaze. The stiff body stance, which said she’d closed the door on listening to reason. He suddenly knew what it must have felt like to work for her. She didn’t take any shit. A good philosophy and one he shared, but now he needed her to just obey and make his life easier. “Stop with the modesty. This is about getting you into a shower and warm again.”

She glanced over her shoulder at the open doorway then back again. “You think I’m embarrassed to get naked in front of you?”

“I don’t know why you would be.” He assumed she’d had sex before. A woman didn’t look like that, go through life with that confidence, without enjoying some