head-over-heels in a heartbeat. Adam had always scoffed at the silly, romantic plots, because only buffoons and simpletons believed in love at first sight. Evidently, he was a buffoon. Or a simpleton. Or both. Because he believed in it now, with every beat of his Kasey-filled heart!
“So, thanks for saving my life,” she said again. And fluttering her long, thick lashes, she added in Scarlett O’Hara fashion, “You’re mah hee-roe!”
Hero?
The word echoed, thudded like a hammer in his head, because he was anything but a hero, and he knew it. Luke knew it, and so did Wade and Travis. And Buddy—the man who’d asked Kasey to marry him— he knew it best of all!
“Well,” Adam said, taking another step back, “guess I’ll let you get a little shut-eye. Quite a day you’ve had, what with getting mired in the mud, lost in the woods…” His voice trailed off… meeting up with your father’s killer, he finished silently. “If you need anything, anything at all, just make yourself at home, okay?”
She nodded. “Okay, and—”
Unable to listen to another word of gratitude, he held up a hand; what he’d done for her to date wasn’t half what he owed her. He turned quickly and headed for the bedroom, amazed at how difficult it was to walk away, to put even these few yards of hardwood floor between them.
“G’night. And thanks again, for everything.”
“You’re welcome,” he muttered, closing the door.
Adam rubbed his jaw. He should’ve stoked the fire. Should’ve double-checked the door and window locks. Should’ve made sure she had everything she needed. Should’ve kept your hands to yourself!
The memory of Kasey—so tiny in his arms, so strongand yet strangely vulnerable—sparked in his mind. Adam rubbed his eyes, but the vision seemed tattooed on the insides of his eyelids. “What you don’t know can’t hurt you,” he whispered. The old adage made perfect sense, suddenly, because he’d given in to a weak moment, and more than likely, he’d be sorry in the morning.
In truth, he was sorry now.
Moments ago, he’d held perfection in his arms.
And he’d never again be able to settle for less.
The quiet pop and crackle of logs burning in the grate and the steady thrum of rain on the roof lulled Kasey into a near-sleep state. Drowsily, she glanced around the cabin’s living room, where everything, from the deep green plaid valances above the dark wood-trimmed windows to Adam’s well-worn brown recliner, reflected the flames’ buttery glow. It was a tastefully designed space that made her feel safe and secure. Had he hired a professional to create the cozy atmosphere, or had he chosen the furnishings himself?
No, more than likely, the woman in his life had helped Adam make the decisions. And surely there was a woman, right? Not a wife—he came and went too freely to be a married man, as evidenced by his ‘get away from it all’ weekends—but maybe a fiancée, or at the very least, a girlfriend….
The picture of him holding another woman the way he’d just held her started an ache inside her, and considering the suddenness of their relationship—
There it was again…the R word. You’re behaving like a silly schoolgirl in the throes of your first crush!
Well, that made sense, sort of. After all, she’d been stranded in the middle of nowhere, during a wild thunderstorm. She’d been afraid, cold and wet, and hungry, and he’d come to her rescue, even before he saved her fromfalling into the fire. Maybe what she was feeling wasn’t the beginnings of love, but gratitude.
Their embrace, their kisses, sizzled in her memory. Hugging the pillow to her, Kasey sighed dreamily. If that was gratitude, she could live a lifetime feeling grateful!
She rolled onto her side, one arm crooked beneath her head. Eyes closed, she inhaled the manly mix of pine needles and bath soap clinging to Adam’s sweatshirt sleeve. It was a scent she’d recognize anywhere, especially after
“So, thanks for saving my life,” she said again. And fluttering her long, thick lashes, she added in Scarlett O’Hara fashion, “You’re mah hee-roe!”
Hero?
The word echoed, thudded like a hammer in his head, because he was anything but a hero, and he knew it. Luke knew it, and so did Wade and Travis. And Buddy—the man who’d asked Kasey to marry him— he knew it best of all!
“Well,” Adam said, taking another step back, “guess I’ll let you get a little shut-eye. Quite a day you’ve had, what with getting mired in the mud, lost in the woods…” His voice trailed off… meeting up with your father’s killer, he finished silently. “If you need anything, anything at all, just make yourself at home, okay?”
She nodded. “Okay, and—”
Unable to listen to another word of gratitude, he held up a hand; what he’d done for her to date wasn’t half what he owed her. He turned quickly and headed for the bedroom, amazed at how difficult it was to walk away, to put even these few yards of hardwood floor between them.
“G’night. And thanks again, for everything.”
“You’re welcome,” he muttered, closing the door.
Adam rubbed his jaw. He should’ve stoked the fire. Should’ve double-checked the door and window locks. Should’ve made sure she had everything she needed. Should’ve kept your hands to yourself!
The memory of Kasey—so tiny in his arms, so strongand yet strangely vulnerable—sparked in his mind. Adam rubbed his eyes, but the vision seemed tattooed on the insides of his eyelids. “What you don’t know can’t hurt you,” he whispered. The old adage made perfect sense, suddenly, because he’d given in to a weak moment, and more than likely, he’d be sorry in the morning.
In truth, he was sorry now.
Moments ago, he’d held perfection in his arms.
And he’d never again be able to settle for less.
The quiet pop and crackle of logs burning in the grate and the steady thrum of rain on the roof lulled Kasey into a near-sleep state. Drowsily, she glanced around the cabin’s living room, where everything, from the deep green plaid valances above the dark wood-trimmed windows to Adam’s well-worn brown recliner, reflected the flames’ buttery glow. It was a tastefully designed space that made her feel safe and secure. Had he hired a professional to create the cozy atmosphere, or had he chosen the furnishings himself?
No, more than likely, the woman in his life had helped Adam make the decisions. And surely there was a woman, right? Not a wife—he came and went too freely to be a married man, as evidenced by his ‘get away from it all’ weekends—but maybe a fiancée, or at the very least, a girlfriend….
The picture of him holding another woman the way he’d just held her started an ache inside her, and considering the suddenness of their relationship—
There it was again…the R word. You’re behaving like a silly schoolgirl in the throes of your first crush!
Well, that made sense, sort of. After all, she’d been stranded in the middle of nowhere, during a wild thunderstorm. She’d been afraid, cold and wet, and hungry, and he’d come to her rescue, even before he saved her fromfalling into the fire. Maybe what she was feeling wasn’t the beginnings of love, but gratitude.
Their embrace, their kisses, sizzled in her memory. Hugging the pillow to her, Kasey sighed dreamily. If that was gratitude, she could live a lifetime feeling grateful!
She rolled onto her side, one arm crooked beneath her head. Eyes closed, she inhaled the manly mix of pine needles and bath soap clinging to Adam’s sweatshirt sleeve. It was a scent she’d recognize anywhere, especially after
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