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Finn chuckled "We were ale"

"Ah,she couldn’t hear, and then he showed her how to operate the phone by his desk It took a moment for the line to connect, and when it did, her father answered

"Dad, it’s me I don’t have a lot of time, but I want you to know I’reat and I’ll connect with her once I’o"

"Your mother’s been concerned You said you’d call"

"I know, Dad I’ll explain everything when I’es? Where in heaven’s name are you?" Her father was the talker in the fa more, her dad would have more questions, and then more after that

"You found him? You found Finn Dalton?"

"Dad, I can’t talk now"

"Okay, okay, but I’ to want a full report once you’re back"

"Will do Reassure Moe"

"What’s that?"

"Never mind, I’ll explain later"

They said their farewells, and Carrie ended the call When she turned around, she was surprised to find Finn had put on his parka and heavy boots

"You’re going somewhere?" she asked, surprised

"The wind has died down and the snow has " Hennessey was at the door, eager and ready to be on his way

At the door, Finn hesitated "You’ll be all right for a while by yourself?"

"Of course" It surprised her that he’d asked Actually, she welcomed the privacy in order to work on the article The instant he was out the door, she retrieved her cohts She’d already gathered thy piece about hih draft took her the better part of an hour Feeling good about the piece, which she felt was fair, if not flattering, she tucked her laptop back inside her suitcase, grateful Finn hadn’t returned while she’d had it open

With that out of the way, Carrie soon grew restless and bored, fidgeting, wishing she could talk to Sophie Had she better planned this trip, she would have brought along her e-reader

Finding little hich to entertain herself, Carrie took out the paper tablet she had with her, found a pair of scissors, and went about cutting large snowflakes With the sewing kit at the bottom of her purse, she took thread, stood barefoot on a chair, and suspended the flakes froical winter wonderland

More than likely Finn wouldn’t appreciate her effort toward Christ to let that stop her Other than keeping her occupied, she hoped this would a on the chair in theher arms above her head, when the door unexpectedly opened and Finn and Hennessey stepped inside

"What the …"

Startled, Carrie lost her balance, and with ar at her sides, she started to topple fro her predica her in asp as her body was pressed hard against his

For one wild moment all they did was stare at each other Her pulse raced, and his eyes went directly to her throat as if he could see her reaction He didn’t release her, and she realized she was glad to be in his araze traveled fro pulse in her neck to her lips, and Carrie’s mouth went dry as his eyes held hers When did this happen? Another question quickly followed the first--ere they going to do about it? Carrie knehat she wanted She closed her eyes, expecting, hoping that Finn would kiss her

He didn’t

Gradually he released her, setting her feet down on solid ground Then he stepped back as though having her this close had burned his senses

"What is this?" he asked, his voice ragged, de He hardly sounded like himself

"What?" Carrie’s own senses became jumbled Confused She wasn’t sure what heabout this sudden arc of awareness that vibrated between the

"Oh, that," she said, feeling foolish, eht I’d add a bit of holiday spirit to your cabin"

He frowned

"I can take it down if you want"

His response was a soft snort "And risk you breaking your fool neck a second tireat"

"You would"

"And you don’t?" she pressed

He didn’t bother to answer, but instead announced, "I’ll put a roast on for dinner" She stood by while he put together meat, carrots, and onions in a cast-iron pot and placed it in the oven

"What can I do?" she asked, looking to help

"You can peel potatoes if you want"

"I want"

They both seeer to put that sensual aardness behind thenore the awareness that sprang up so unexpectedly Finn seemed as determined as she was to pretend it had never happened Carrie was ed hi about it , which explained it, because clearly she hadn’t been thinking Instead, she’d been feeling, and that was dangerous to them both

Within a couple of hours the scent of the roast filled the cabin As she set the table for dinner, Finn disappeared for a couple minutes and returned with a bottle of red wine

"Do you like wine?" he asked

"Yes, very much"

He set the wine bottle in the ?" she asked, teasing him