Page 20 (1/2)

Until the end

Finding her sanity, she pushed hiain For a beat he didn’t move, just looked into her eyes

And then, on his own terms, he stepped back

She pointed at him "That was …"

He arched a brow

"Neverthere"

His sreed" But then he hauled her up to her toes and kissed her again

And again

And only when she was a panting, whio

"What was that?" she h his hair, looking uncharacteristically baffled

She stared at hier for this than she Had she done what she hadn’t iined she could, hurt him when she’d left? "Then on’tit," she said, shocked to find the words hard to say Once there’d been nothing she’d wanted more than him, and she’d really believed it could happen

But then Ashley had died and Lily hadn’t been able to find her footing in an upside-doorld She’d walked away froe and Aidan, and it had hurt nearly as h anything like that, not ever again So she opened the front door in a silent invitation for hiaze, his own hooded, giving nothing away of what he was thinking "I know you’re so stubborn that you’ll freeze to death before asking for help," he said "But I’ else?"

"No," she said abruptly, and then sighed "No," she repeated, softer now "Thanks"

He held her gaze, shook his head, and then he was gone

She closed the door behind him and settled a few hard-earned pieces of wood into the stove

And that’s when she realized She did need soht, she’d freeze to death before opening the door and catching him on the way to his truck to ask if he had any Nope, she’d have to relive kissing Aidan to keep her warht heated her just as well as any fire

Chapter 8