One Snowy Night (Sweet Home, Alaska #1) - Patience Griffin Page 0,49

whimpering.

“I’ve got him,” Hope said. Then there was a pause. “I can’t move with my arms full. Donovan, you’re going to have to pull me out by my legs to get me and Boomer out of here.”

“Hold on.” He latched onto her ankles and gently tugged. He could hear her making cooing noises to Boomer to calm him down until he finally pulled the two of them to freedom.

She rolled to her side and lifted Boomer up. “Go to Daddy.”

Donovan took Boomer and held him tight. “You scared me, little buddy. But I’m glad you hid under there, where you were safe.”

That was when Donovan realized Hope wasn’t wearing her coat! Her sweatshirt and jeans were covered in leaves, dirt, and snow, and her face was smudged as if she’d rolled around under there on purpose. But she was grinning at him, and the sight of her was the best thing he’d seen in years. He couldn’t help himself; he hugged her, the puppy between them. Then he did the stupidest thing. He kissed her. Just a thank-you kiss. But instantly it felt like so much more.

Familiar. Like sunshine. Or hot cocoa on a cold day. But most of all, goodness.

Kissing Hope felt more right than any other kiss he’d had in seventeen years. But Hope had killed Beau, tilted Donovan’s world out of place to the point he hadn’t recognized it. How could kissing her now make his world click back into place? Wonderful memories . . . and pain. The good mixing with the bad.

It was wrong on so many levels to kiss Hope now. Beau’s laughter was gone. His grandmother’s loving smile, too. Donovan awkwardly pulled away. Hope touched her lips, looking uncomfortable.

He focused on the one thing that would save him from this moment: Boomer is okay!

“Thanks for saving him.” He rubbed Boomer’s head, avoiding her eyes. “I’ve really gotten attached to the little runt.”

“You always did love Berners.” She shivered.

Donovan put his hand to her back. “Go. Get inside and get warmed up by the fire.”

She must’ve been freezing because she hurried away. When they came around the corner, Courtney was almost to her car with her designer purse looped over her arm. She halted. “Hope, good lands, what happened to you?”

“She rescued Boomer from under the back deck,” Donovan said proudly.

Courtney looked repulsed. “You’re a mess.”

Donovan didn’t care what Hope looked like. He couldn’t help himself; he picked a leaf out of her hair. “Get inside, Hope.”

He turned back to Courtney. “I’ll talk to you later.”

He didn’t wait to see if she had more to say, but instead followed Hope into the lodge.

Those few steps gave him a short moment to reflect, but it wasn’t enough time. He didn’t know why he’d kissed Hope. Surely it was a knee-jerk reaction. He should’ve stepped away after the hug.

But Hope had found Boomer! And he’d lost so much . . . just like her . . . which was something he’d never thought of before.

Chapter 10

HOPE STOPPED JUST inside the doorway and spoke to Donovan without turning around. Without gazing at his face.

“Look, just give me a moment to warm up. Then I’ll get back to work on Wandering Moose Cabin.”

She still couldn’t believe he’d hugged her. Kissed her! Of course, it was for no other reason than she found Boomer. But apparently, her pounding heart believed what it wanted to believe and hadn’t gotten the memo that Donovan didn’t want her anymore.

It had been so long since she’d been in a man’s arms. This man. The only one she’d ever loved, the reason her heart was doing triple time now. Her body remembered Donovan and had wanted to mold herself around him. But Donovan wasn’t hers anymore.

“Go back outside and catch Courtney.” Hope picked up Boomer as the puppy was trotting for the kitchen. She needed someone to calm her down, and Boomer would do. “I know you two have business to take care of. I’ll be out of here in a second.”

She started to walk toward the hearth, which was putting off plenty of BTUs. But she was stopped when Donovan laid both of his hands on her shoulders and spun her around.

He bent his knees so he could look into her eyes. Was he trying to slay her right here? It certainly felt like it.

“Warm up, then take the rest of the day off,” he insisted.

She shook her head, kind of mesmerized.

“Full pay, of course,” Donovan said. “You deserve it for what you