Page 37 of Drifter’s Heart

“Winnie?”

Her mouth catches mine in a searing kiss that I return despite the pain shooting across my head. But pain and pleasure meld as her tongue slides between my lips, wet and warm and inviting. It’s a kiss I’m into—right until I work out that her bid for intimacy is desperation for warmth. A shiver wracks her body and I haul her closer.

“Hell, girl. I’m sorry. I had no idea it would come down like that.”

Winnie laughs at me, even as her teeth chatter. The sharp scent of pine needles and her coffee from earlier wraps around me as I hold her tight. “I don’t care, you great oaf.” She bats at me. “It was worth it to see you lumbering about in Cord’s old jeans. Seeing you peel those things off will be hilarious.”

A reluctant smile curves my lips. “I love how you think… except I’m the bear in the jeans, aren’t I?” I hold her close and kiss her again, slower this time.

Winnie molds her body to mine, her legs wrapped around my waist. The softest sounds come from her as she rubs shamelessly against me. “Was this what you were going to show me?” she asks coyly.

“No, you little hell critter,” I mutter against her mouth. “Are you warm enough?”

“I can get warmer.” Her hands slide under my shirt, cold fingers pressing flat to my torso.

“Jesus. You are a special kind of ruin,” I gasp, pinning her hands to her sides. I walk her back to a tree and kiss her until she moans, and then detangle myself from her grasp.

A handful of heartbeats are all that stand between us, until a fat drop of water drips down my back. Not that it’s the distraction I need right now. Winnie pouts as she slides along the trunk. Her boots touch the ground and she leans there, a few feet of distance between us. I don’t close it, watching her for a moment, taking her in.

Christ. She’s mine. I itch to slam her back, rip that short onesie from her body and sink deep into her heat, but she won’t thank me for the mile-long nudie run through the rain back to my truck later. Instead, I hold out my hand.

“Come on, pocket rocket. Let me show you what I brought you out here for.”

Curiosity wins over the need lacing her blue eyes, their usually brilliant color matching the overcast sky that empties itself around us. Her hand falls into mine. I lead her through the dripping forest, dodging low branches as I try to memorize the path we’ve taken. It’s been a damn long time since I was out here last, and there’s no discernible trail beneath our feet anymore.

Winnie tucks tight in behind me, stumbling only once and swearing prolifically.

“There’s that mouth,” I murmur, keeping the smile that forms to myself.

Finally the forest opens out. By the time we reach my destination, the rain has slowed to a drizzle. I pull Winnie around into my arms, settling her back against my chest. “What I really wanted to show you. The ghost town was the bonus round.”

Winnie’s silence and her hands curled around my arms are all the gift I need as she stares out over the top of the waterfall that cascades into a wide emerald pool. The water sits in a crevasse of deep red stone that contrasts with the color of the water.

“That’s stunning,” Winnie whispers, leaning back into me. “How deep is it?”

I nibble her ear. “I have no idea. I’ve never reached the bottom.”

“Oh. West?”

“Yeah?”

“Is the water steaming?” Her breath hitches when I stroke my fingertips across her bare collarbone and linger there.

“You asked me for a date. I haven’t been on one for a while, but this is what I always imagined taking a girl out on.” But only with one woman.

“You’ve been planning this for… how long?” Her eyes never drag from the vista before us.

“Long enough. You’re about to get your wish, Winnie.”

“I thought I just did?”

I know her mind is going back to us running in the rain.

My laugh bounces off the mineral-rich rock face as I release her and strip my soaked shirt over my head. “Yeah. If I don’t fall over the edge of the falls trying to get these damn jeans off, you can laugh about it for years to come.”

Her lips twitch as she turns to face me. “Maybe I should have let you wear the hideous shorts.”

An hour later, trying to drag wet jeans back on, I’m inclined to agree. I pass Winnie a stash of thick yogurt granola bars I stocked up on, hoping she’d like them at some point, from my glove compartment before I reverse out the gate and lock Bilkhorn away from the world.