by Skye McNeil
Kicking her legs, she made it back to the hole in the ice and drew in a deep breath before the current pulled her back in again. I’m going to die. And it’s all because I wanted to impress Jared into liking me. Dammit, Bobbi. What a horrible reason to die. I see it now, Roberta Davis, died while showing off. She did her best to grip the ice, but her gloved hands did little to help her cause. It was then her body began to sink little by little. The temperature dropped further as the sun’s rays shrunk from her sight. The murky water swept across her face along with leaves and other debris. Bubbles floated up toward the surface, and she realized then they were hers. So much for all those swimming lessons.
A jolt snagged her waist, pulling her upward. She thrashed and swam toward the surface until a vicelike grip caught her wrist. As if by magic, her body popped out of the water and onto a snow bank. Sputtering, she kept her eyes closed just in case this was heaven. She wasn’t ready to see the pearly gates. Wouldn’t it be warmer? She thought when her teeth chattered.
Strong arms picked her up and cuddled her against a solid chest. If this was heaven, she was all for it.
“Dammit, woman, I said slow not hop around like a fucking bunny.”
Sliding her face up toward the voice, she cracked her eyes open and drew in a struggled breath. Jared’s face was a combination of pissed and concerned. It was glorious. His shoulders sagged when he met her gaze. “Thank God you’re alive.”
Her muscles shook violently, the chill now seeped into her bones, and he pressed her further into his embrace. “Because I’m going to kick your ass,” he grumbled, a hint of teasing in his voice.
She smirked despite the hypothermia. “Kiss my ass?”
He pulled her back and pressed his lips to her forehead. “If you’re lucky.”
Snuggling deeper into his wide chest, Bobbi chided herself for enjoying the near-death experience. If Jared was the light at the end of the tunnel, she wouldn’t mind one damn bit.
»»•««
Jared tossed another chunk of wood in the fireplace and listened to the comforting crackling. Its temperature calmed his wild heart. No other sound filled the cabin, and he was grateful for it. The Davis and Whitaker families were at the large cabin up the road, indulging in a dinner of pot roast, cooked carrots, mashed potatoes, and carrot cake. It was one of his favorite meals, so Asher promised to save him a hearty plate.
A small snort broke the quiet. Pushing up to his feet, Jared followed the adorable noise to the single bedroom on the floor. He wasn’t disappointed when Bobbi’s delicate face met his sight. Her long eyelashes rested against chapped, red cheeks, a momentary souvenir of the day’s audacious events.
Careful not to wake her, he traced the side of her face with the back of his fingers. His heart seized when she rolled her neck toward his touch. This one was good, though, and not like the heart attack she almost gave him when he saw her head dip into the icy lake not three hours ago. She hadn’t stayed awake long after he pulled her out of the water. He’d carried her up the hill where her cousins were watching. After getting her to the cabin, he’d let the slew of anxious women take over.
Jared sank into the chair from the dining room he’d dragged into the room an hour ago. He was adamant he be the person to stay and keep watch to make sure Bobbi didn’t take a turn for the worst. His military training coupled with advice from the families guaranteed the redhead would live to see another day.
Her left arm flopped out from under the thick layer of blankets. With care, he tucked it back in its place but not before kissing the back of it.
“I’m sorry.” He tucked the blanket up to her neck. There was no reason to be apologetic, but he had the urge to say it anyways.
A magazine’s glossy cover on the bedside table caught his eye. It was one of those girly ones with tips about fashion. He’d seen her nose buried in it on the plane. Let’s see what you’ve been reading.
Flipping it open to a dog-eared page, the article name threw him for a loop, “How to Make His Christmas List.”
His brows shot up when he saw the tiny checkmarks by the bullet point, Walk around in just lingerie.
Chuckling, Jared skimmed the rest of the list. There was no way in hell she’d meant for him to catch her mid-dance party turned cleaning routine. Her shocked expression couldn’t have been manufactured. She wasn’t that good of an actress. Once he finished the long article about how to snag a man by the holiday season, he softly chuckled and glanced at her. His sleeping princess thought she could worm her way into his heart by following these idiosyncrasies? He rubbed his tired eyes. “Ah, babe, you already did. More than once.”
“It’s not your fault,” a raspy voice stated.
Startled, Jared dropped the magazine as if it’d burned him. “Bobbi?” He searched her face and breathed a sigh of relief when her blue eyes made their appearance.
“Hey, Ranger. Good work out there.”
He wanted to kiss her until she passed out again. Seeing her not only all right but also her normal cheeky self made his heart sing. “Ranger?”
She nuzzled against the pillow. “Well, you are a Ranger, and you saved my ass like a true hero, so I think it fits.”
He swept a tendril of auburn hair from her face. If any person outside the Army tried to call him such a nickname, they’d be on the other end of a death glare. But from Bobbi, he liked it. Hell, he loved it. It made him feel a little better about the atrocities he’d done as a Ranger.
“If you drove like a normal human being, I wouldn’t have had to save your ass,” he gently scolded then softened his tone. “And I was getting rather fond of your ass being near me.”
She blushed and winced as she sat up.
“You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”
Bobbi reached for the glass of water next to the bed. “Swimming in freezing water isn’t my idea of a fun day.”
He watched her closely to be sure she didn’t exhibit any dangerous signs of exposure or prolonged hypothermia. For the moment, she appeared fine.
“I’m not going to explode,” she joked, placing the empty cup on the table.
“No, but I’m not taking any chances. You’re liable to detonate something.” He obscurely kicked the magazine under the bed. She didn’t need the damn thing. She never did. “Or someone.”
Chapter Seven
“How’s our invalid doing?” Bobbi heard her mom ask the next evening. She’d been isolated at the cabin and abandoned by everyone for the snow carriage ride. Everyone except Jared. He stayed steadfast in his role of the gentry.
“Better I think,” Jared’s friendly response rumbled from the living room.
Drying off from her warm shower, she smirked as Jared and her mom chatted like old friends on the other side of the door. He remained himself, and she was thankful for his quiet nature. Jared didn’t put on airs for anyone. She liked it about him. Her ex-boyfriend had been the exact opposite. Now, as she thought about it, most of the men she dated were pushy and conceited. Jared had his own flaws, but none that added up to her exes. While Asher told her the younger Whitaker was a playboy, Bobbi didn’t see him as one at all. Sure, he could charm any lady, but he didn’t. At least not around her. She couldn’t believe he was infatuated with her cousin either. Erin was high maintenance, and he’d already rejected her once. They’re friends. Nothing wrong with it. The more she thought it over, the less she wanted to talk to Erin or Jared about their relationship. She was sure she could handle the response.
She lotioned her legs and wondered how the rest of her family was doing. After sleeping off and on the day before, her muscles were too sore to do anything of note for a day or so. Slipping into a pair of yoga pants and a fleece sweatshirt, she padded to the bedroom and grabbed one of the romance books she brought from home. A little escape from reality was in order after yesterday. If Jessie’s recommendation held merit, this particular book was the way to go. She wasn’t familiar with the author, but the cover art was sexy.
The edg
e of her magazine poked out from under the bed. “How’d you get here?” She snatched it up and haphazardly scanned the one and only article she cared to reread.
“Well, I guess I can cross be vulnerable and eat junk food off the list.” She put little check marks by them and pulled on her slippers. “This is ridiculous. I don’t need a stupid list.”
She opened the bedroom door and saw Jared in one of the chairs by the enormous window of the A-frame cabin. But it’s working. He offered to stay behind and even told Erin to leave earlier. If his words didn’t mean anything, his actions did.
The aroma of coffee compelled her feet to the kitchen. She snagged a mug and filled it to the brim. It smelled almost as good as it tasted. “This is amazing,” she complimented after taking the first sip.
Jared put down the book on Colorado archaeology. “Asher likes to boast about his brew, but it’s an old family recipe.”
She shook her head. “I’ve had Asher’s. This is different.” She took another drink, savoring the flavors. “Better.”
Her praise seemed to please him, and he stood. “Asher puts cinnamon in his. I put cinnamon and vanilla in mine.”
Bobbi leaned against the counter, her book now long forgotten. Why read about romance when you’re in a real life novel? “Hmm, it must be the combination. It’s my favorite, you know.”
His toned body made it to her location, and she surveyed his form. The brown sweatshirt couldn’t hide his muscular torso, and the light wash jeans made her recall the strength in those long legs. He smelled like a wintry day, woody and crisp. It wasn’t a scent she’d come across before in a man. It was now her favorite, and she doubted it was a cologne. It was simply Jared.
“I noticed.” He stole her mug and took a drink. “You smell amazing, although, I like the peach and rose perfume you wear too.”
She bit her lip and retrieved the coffee mug, only to place it on the counter. “It’s actually my body wash.”
He let out a huff. “Well, damn.” Leaning over the counter, he inhaled. “You need to stop smelling so good.”
“Why?”
Jared cupped the side of her face and moved around the kitchen island. He tilted her head up and burrowed his nose to the side of her neck. “Because it makes me ravenous for your body.”
She gasped at the sultry words. She’d never expected any such phrase to escape his bearded mouth. His brother, sure, but Jared? No way. Bobbi found herself holding her breath as she studied the soft bristles along his handsome face. Only his bright green eyes lured her away from staring at the dark shadow all day.
“I should, um, read for a while.” She pulled back and grabbed her book, making a beeline for the couch.
Jared let out an exasperated breath as she cracked open the spine and settled a warm quilt over her lap. She’d forgotten her coffee, but with the way her body buzzed from Jared’s words, she wasn’t as cold as she let on.
“Romance, huh? I should’ve guessed as much.” He sank onto the other end of the couch.
Damn, should’ve sat in the recliner, she thought but nodded nevertheless. Being this close to him all alone in a cabin sent all sorts of naughty ideas to her mind. “Yep, they’re my favorite. I read all of Asher’s even before I knew who he was. I went all fangirl on him when I found out his identity. You should’ve seen me. It was beyond embarrassing.” She sighed at the memory.
Stretching out his legs, Jared slouched in the cushion. “Yeah, Asher has a way with words.”
“Oh, please, so do you,” she pointed out. “From what I’ve heard, you’re the Whitaker family heartbreaker.”
He let out a muffled laugh and stared out the window. “I suppose you could say so, but don’t let Asher fool you. He was just as much of a ladies’ man as I was in high school and college.”
“And the Army,” she filled in. With their staggering good looks and military tags, Bobbi was positive both men got their fair share of women fawning over them. A twinge of envy coursed through her at the thought, so she stuck her nose in the book.
She was about halfway through the first page when she felt Jared’s gaze on her. Doing her best to ignore him, Bobbi shifted in her spot. “Can you not watch me while I read, please?”
“Why? You’re cute when you read. You’re all serious, and you rub your lips together.”
Bobbi set down the novel and gave him a pointed look. “I’m trying to enjoy a romance book about a hot firefighter and a school teacher. Don’t you have some push-ups or something you can do?”
Jared’s face broke into a wide grin. Before she could stop him, he chucked her book behind him and cozied up to her. “What? You don’t think I’m fit enough?”
“Oh, uh, no—you’re plenty fit.” She unabashedly slid her eyes down his body.
He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Then maybe it’s because I’m not a hot firefighter?”
She gulped hard. “No, I like you being a Ranger.”
“Hmm, then it must be because the book is full of hot and sweaty sex.” His green eyes dipped down her chest and then back to her face. “And well, we haven’t done that.” He smirked. “Yet.”
Pushing his chest, Bobbi frowned. “Nope, it’s because you’re staring at me while I’m reading.” She stood and retrieved the forlorn book. “Women like to be wooed, and I bet this author does it quite well.”
Jared jumped over the back of the couch, blocking her exit. Tugging her to him, he cradled her chin in his hands until she was nose to nose with him. “I bet I can do it better.” She cocked her eyebrow up, but he continued. “I bet I can make you fall in love with me in the amount of time it would’ve taken you to read your book.”
The book in her grip fumbled to the wooden floor as his words registered. This was far better than the dialogue the best seller could give her. This was real, genuine, and increasingly addictive. She didn’t want to read a dusty book when she could have the hero in physical form. “Those are some big promises.”
“You’ll soon discover I don’t say something unless I can follow through.” He leaned down but didn’t kiss her. It took all of the resistance in her body to stop from capturing his mouth with hers until he consumed the very essence of her lips. “And I can with you, Bobbi.”
“Wh—what’re are we doing the rest of the day? I’m sure my mom has it all planned out.” As much as she wanted to see Jared make good on his words, she couldn’t cross the line until she knew what was going on with him and Erin.
“Yep, she did. While you were showering, she gave me the schedule.” He put distance between them and opened the freezer. It appeared, he needed to cool his jets just as much as her. “Hope you brought your swimsuit because we’re heading to the hot springs in an hour.”
Alarm flashed through her. She’d packed one, of course, but with the new way Jared was acting toward her, she almost didn’t want to strip down for him. Again. She couldn’t trust what she might do if her hands were anywhere close to his near naked form. “Good thing I shaved.” Her eyes bugged when she realized her thought was said aloud.
Jared took out leftover pizza from the refrigerator and bit into it. “Darlin’ you could be a furry Wookie, and I’d still like you. I’m not picky,” he said, nudging her elbow on the way back to his book. “It’s not the outside that matters.”
Heat flooded her blood. What the hell? The article is working! How is this possible? She just about waltzed into the bedroom and snuck another checkmark by the one about smelling like yourself then went in search of her suit. If she kept it up, Jared might fall for her before their holiday was over. She studied the purple bikini. Did she want to fall? Hell…yes.
»»•««
Jared snuck out of the cabin when the Davis’ returned from their horse-drawn ride through the snow. He needed to speak with Erin before things got complicated. Hell, they were already more complicated than he expected. Finding her in the living room of the large cabin, he yanked her away from wandering ears.
“Whoa, calm down ther
e, Davis. We’re not a couple,” she whispered with a smirk.
“I know. And I wanted to talk to you about it.” He saw Grandma Jane toddle up the stairs and disappear before he went on. “I need you to stop our charade.”
“Damn. Not even a kiss? This sucks,” she jested.
“Be serious.” She wiggled blonde eyebrows. “Okay, okay, I know I got you into this, but I changed my mind.”
Erin pulled a book from the shelf behind Jared and thumbed the pages. “You fell for her when she fell through the ice, didn’t you?”
He clenched and released his fists. Was it so simple? Did seeing a potential world without a sassy Bobbi push him off the ledge? He needed to be honest with himself. “No, I fell for her long before. I couldn’t accept it before now though.”
Shaking the book in the air, Erin hugged him. “Not to judge, but you didn’t even need me.”
Jared squinted in her direction. “I guess not, but I needed to make sure she wasn’t toying with me.” He pulled out his phone and flipped to his photos. “I wasn’t off since she’s trying to pull a fast one on me after all.”
She grabbed the phone and reviewed the image. He’d managed to take a quick picture of the article in Bobbi’s room when she was sleeping. Slow, giddy laughter erupted from Erin. “She’s doing these things to win you?”
“Yes, but I caught on. Not fast enough.” He pointed to the marks by the completed ones. “She attempted this one, but I think I caught her in the practice run.”
“This is so Bobbi.” Erin couldn’t stop laughing, causing eyes to glance their way. “So, then you’re going to play into her scheme or will you resist?”
Contemplating the options, he stuffed his phone into his back pocket. “This afternoon, I played along, but I may play a little hard to get.”
Erin’s eyes turned serious. “Don’t break her heart, Jared.”
“Oh, I won’t.” He poked her side. “Thanks again for I guess having my back.”
“No problem. We’ll be family soon enough if I know my cousin.” Moving away, she flicked her blonde braid over one shoulder, “And to show I have no hard feelings, I’ll help you with number three on the list since the only eligible bachelors are family or you. I think she’ll give up quickly when I smother you with affection in the pool.”