Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Holy cow,” Zane exclaimed as he hurried down the hallway into the kitchen. “I can’t believe how hard it’s snowing. I can’t keep up with the shoveling. By the time I finished the front, the back needed more work. I’ll go back out after I warm up and clear it again. But we might have to leave it until the snow stops. It’s practically a blizzard.” He flopped into a chair and rubbed his hands together to warm them.
“I can’t believe how bad it is. You’ve done more than enough for one day. The company I hired will be by in the morning to shovel. Thank you. Let me fix you a hot drink to warm you up. What would you like?”
“Hot cocoa if you have it. I’ll throw in a shot of Kahlua if that’s okay. I have a bottle in my room.”
“Fine by me. I’ve got a bottle in my suite. No need for you to rush upstairs.” Clara poured milk in a pot and put it on to heat. She stood beside the stove, keeping her eye on it.
Zane leaned back to stretch out his neck, gazing at the ceiling above Clara. He jerked upright. There was mistletoe above her head. How had that gotten there? He’d planted six bunches around the inn three days ago and hadn’t managed to catch her under one yet. It hadn’t occurred to him to put one right where she stood every day. Someone was brilliant. He’d give the praise to Wren or Noah. Or maybe Jenn had done it the other day.
He stood and walked up to her. “There’s an unwritten law that if a woman is standing under mistletoe, a gentleman is obliged to kiss her.” He looked up.
“Oh,” she whispered. “And what is the woman’s obligation?”
“She must submit without complaining, of course.” He looked down at her, giving her plenty of time to resist or move away. He wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to kiss her again, but he wasn’t going to force her either.
“Fine. If I must.” A smile played at the corner of her lips, telling him she didn’t object. Her tongue darted out and back in.
There was way he could resist that. “I’m going to kiss you, Clara.” He inched forward.
“Shut up, Zane.” She yanked his head forward and pressed her lips hard against his. He froze for a second, startled.Hell yes!He returned her pressure. Tasting, teasing. Pouring out the emotions he didn’t dare speak aloud. He was full on, balls to the wall, in love with her and couldn’t say a damned word about it because his presence here was temporary.Unless he left the city and found a place in Coyote Creek. He’d never ask her to give up her life here. It wouldn’t be fair. He pulled back slightly, looking down at her.
Her long lashes drifted shut. Her lips parted and his tongue dove deeper. Cinnamon, vanilla, sugar. She tasted like coffee cake and sweet sexy woman. His heart pounded as he pulled her into his embrace. Chest to chest, her heartbeat mirrored his. Chimes rang out.
Chimes? He’d never heard music from a kiss. He’d heard of fireworks, but not music. They chimed again.
Shit. Doorbell.
He inched backward. “Clara, honey? I think someone’s at the door.” Her eyelids fluttered.
“What?” She blinked.
Thank heaven she was as affected as he was. He’d hate to be the only one totally turned on by a simple kiss under the mistletoe. “Doorbell. I think you have company.”
“Everyone’s already in for the night. Who’d be out in a blizzard like this?”
“No idea. Did you want me to answer it?” She seemed a little shell-shocked. She nodded. “Okay. Hold tight. I’ll go see who it is.” He smiled all the way to the door. Not just because of the kiss, it felt incredible to do this little thing for her. To help her. To be a part of her world. He unlocked the door and opened it. A sixty-something couple stepped inside.
“Oh, thank goodness,” the woman exclaimed. “We thought you weren’t going to answer. We’d like a room. We can’t travel in this weather. We barely made it off the highway.”
“Come inside. Warm up. You can put your boots on the shelves and hang your jackets on the rack if you wish. There’s a box of slippers you can borrow from inside. Clara keeps them handy for guests who forget their own. Like me.” He wiggled his knit slipper clad feet. “I don’t know if there are rooms available tonight or not. But come inside, warm up, and I’ll find Clara for you.”
He was one hundred percent certain Clara had said the inn was full, but he sure wasn’t going to throw this couple out in a blizzard. He’d give up his room and sleep on the couch if he had to. No sense putting lives in danger for one uncomfortable night’s sleep.
“Clara,” he called lightly. “You have guests.” He led them into the common room where the embers of an earlier fire still burned. He tossed in a couple logs and closed the mesh doors. Heat roared out and the couple hurried to stand close.
“The heater went out in our car, just before we hit town. The guy at the garage said to come here.”
Clara strode into the room. “That would be my cousin, Carl. He owns the garage. Would you like a warm drink? I’m making cocoa.”
“Oh, yes, please. That would be incredible,” the woman said, brushing snowflakes from her salt and pepper hair.
“Zane, would you mind helping me?”
“Sure thing.” He knew what she needed. Another room. He’d offer his if she didn’t ask.
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