Taming His Montana Heart(66)

When he blinked and brought her into focus, he realized she looked as emotionally done in as he felt. “I wish we could too. Maybe in a few days…”

“I’d love that.”





Chapter Twenty




Because it hadn’t snowed during the night, the snowmobile didn’t need to be wiped off. They loaded their belongings onto it and locked the cabin door. However, instead of taking off, they slowly approached the trees where the wolf had been. Haley took pictures of the prints the animal had left. Shaw called her attention to an indentation with dark grey hairs in it. She had no doubt the wolf had bedded down there. After she snapped more shots, they backed away while looking all around. There was nothing left to do except return to their respective responsibilities.

Yesterday and this morning had exhausted her. Just the same, she’d embrace any opportunity to return to the bed they’d shared. Now that they’d made love, she felt comfortable turning her body over to him and exploring his. Their relationship was still taking form. It might always be like that, but she loved where it was now—even with what they’d dumped on each other.

No, especially because of what they’d shared.

As she pulled up her pants legs in preparation for getting on the snowmobile, something struck her in the back near her shoulder blades. She started to whirl around only to nearly lose her balance on the uneven ground. Another something landed in the same place.

Shaw, standing about fifteen feet away, grinned as he reached for another double handful of snow.

“What—hey, no fair!” She scooped up her own weapon and started patting it into a ball. “Absolutely no fair!”

“Doesn’t matter. I couldn’t resist.”

Neither could she. Shaw turned out to be a rapid-fire expert. However, he didn’t take enough time to compact his snowballs. As a result many of his missals fell apart before they reached her. She could have crouched behind the snowmobile but then she wouldn’t be able to see her target. Her front was getting snow-plastered but more of her snowballs were landing.

“I’m your boss.” He announced, swiping snow off his chin. “You’re not supposed—”

“I’m off the clock. I can do anything I want.”

Their fight might have continued if they hadn’t started laughing. Before long she couldn’t stop giggling long enough to keep making snowballs. She tried scooping up snow and throwing it at him, but it didn’t work. Even when he advanced on her, looking like the abominable snowman, she couldn’t get her act together for the tears running down her cheeks.

“Now you’re in trouble,” he warned.

She tried to backpedal only run into the snowmobile. “I’ll tell. I’ll tattle.”

“To whom? You’re at my mercy.”

She dodged to the side as he launched himself at her. Unfortunately, her attempt to escape buried her in the snow. He plopped beside her, scooped up a double handful of the white stuff, and deposited it on her head. “Ready to surrender?”

“Not fair.” By rolling on to her side, she managed to free one arm. Her other arm was beneath her.

“There’s no fair in snowball fights.” He helped her onto her knees. “I’m shocked you don’t know that.”

She started wiping snow off herself. “Just wait until next time. I’m the queen of sneak attacks. You’ll never know when I’ll strike.”

He dug under his collar for the snow there. “Then I guess I’ll have to keep an eye on you all the time.”

All the time. “Promise?”

His smile kept growing as he drew her against him. “If you want me to.”

“I want.”

Her admission slipped through her and became her truth. She planted her gloved hands on his cheeks and shook some of the snow off her hair, making sure it landed on him. They’d only known each other for a short time and their romance had barely begun, but this complex man was already the most important person in her life. Beneath his considerable physical strength and intellect lay scars only she knew about. He wouldn’t have revealed the scars to her if he didn’t trust her.

Trust.

“I don’t regret anything I told you.” She saw her breath and felt his warmth. “I want you to know that.”

His smile slowly faded, replaced by contemplation. “I feel the same way. The only thing I can say is the time had come.”

“An end to bottling things up inside us. The beginning of—something.”

“Something? I’m not interested in trying to give what we have going a name. I just want it to happen.”

“Evolve?”

“And grow.” He kissed the tip of her upturned nose followed by touching his lips to her forehead. “Thank you for being you.”

“And thank you for being you.”

*

Their words had been enough—for now. There was still much they needed and wanted to say, but there was no need to hurry. After all, Lake Serene was their home. One day at a time they’d grow closer, deeper. More in love with this land and with each other.

More content than she remembered ever being, Haley tightened her hold on Shaw’s waist and pressed herself against his back. If the snowmobile never needed gas, they’d glide over the snow until the sun set, until the moon painted the land in pale blue. By then they’d have made a circuit around the lake, stopping to take pictures of the creek weaving around snow-frosted boulders and downed trees. They’d have spotted elk and located a beaver mound, come across a bear’s den.