Page 34 of Sugar & Shadows

I threw some cash on the bar, then waved to Lucky and held the door open for Sabrina.

Rather than slow, the snow had picked up. We were in the middle of a full whiteout. We just had to cross the parking lot to our room, but from here, the place wasn’t even visible.

“Jesus,” I growled as she stumbled in her heels.

With every step we took, it became more likely that she’d wind up killing herself in the name of fashion.

The next time she tripped, she wobbled dangerously, like she was going down for real, so I snagged her by the waist before she could hit the snow.

“Enough,” I said, slinging her over my shoulder.

“Unhand me,” she screamed as she arched her back.

“No. You’re bound to break your neck out here. It’s bad enough your damn car can’t handle the snow. Now your feet can’t either?”

“This is battery,” she accused. She wiggled, the move sending the side of her round ass into my cheek. “I will press charges.”

Ignoring her, I stomped in my dress shoes through the thick snow toward the flickering No Vacancy sign.

I was enjoying myself more than I should. Generally I didn’t take pleasure from manhandling women. But then again, Sabrina Monroe was no normal woman.

She was a she-devil in heels and my responsibility until this snowstorm cleared and we could get back to town.

“I’m trying to keep you alive,” I hissed.

“By compromising my bodily autonomy?” she shouted. “I’d rather risk the injury.”

“We’re one hundred yards from the room. Just shut up and keep still. Wading through knee-deep snow is hard enough without you flailing and kicking.

“You are a fucking brute.”

Amusement shot through me. “The funny thing is, I’m not. You just bring it out of me.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time I brought out the worst in a man.”

“Nor the last, if we live through this storm,” I quipped.

“For a tough Vermont guy, you sure seem scared of a little snow.”

“I respect nature,” I retorted, tightening my hold on her thighs. “And understand its danger. I’ve seen too many lives lost to bad roads. And as much as I despise your obnoxious ass, I won’t have your death on my conscience.”

“God forbid Captain America do anything bad,” she trilled.

On the sidewalk outside the door, I set her down.

She pulled her skirt down, her chest heaving, glaring daggers at me. “I should press charges.”

“Feel free to call Nolan. I’d welcome a few hours of downtime in a cell right about now.”

“Really?” She cocked a hip.

Fuck. The attitude only encouraged me. Apparently I liked making her mad. Firing her up. Causing the calm, cool demeanor to crumble.

“Yes. A communal toilet would be far preferable to your presence.”

I slid the key into the lock and threw the door open. “Get in the damn room before you freeze to death.”

With a roll of her eyes, she pushed past me, kicked off the offending shoes and sighing loudly.