He assessed his options. He could try following the cable back to the kink, undo the knot, and continue on. Or, he could use it to make his way back to the big house and regroup or send a fresh man out. The other option was to unhook himself, trust his sense of direction, and try to make it to his house without the rope, a foolish but possibly time-conserving idea. The thought of wasting any more time while Kiki might be freezing to death ruled out the first two. He untied the knot that secured the lifeline to his belt. Then he yanked on the twine twice, as hard as possible. The boys at the house might be able to feel those tugs. They'd be less likely to risk their own lives coming after him if they thought he'd made it to the bungalow. He let the rope drop, praying for a divine hand to guide his steps, and continued on.
When Harden arrived on his doorstep, the lack of lights deflated his spirits. He knew he'd find the place empty. She hadn't locked the door, so getting inside proved easy in spite of the snow drift in front of the house. The place stayed toasty, and he quickly shed his coat, scarf and gloves. Rubbing his hands together, he flipped a switch and light flooded the bachelor pad. He'd give himself a moment to warm up, then head for the outbuilding.
With his back to a heating vent, he tried to think if anything in his house might be helpful. The shed was approximately another 30 yards or so away. He grabbed a flashlight from a kitchen drawer, wrapped his scarf about his face, covering his mouth and nose, and ventured back outside.
Louis turned his body thirty degrees from his front door and tried to walk a straight line towards the storage building, keeping a beam from the flashlight a foot ahead of his legs. Visibility was no better than before, and he almost ran smack into the side of the shed. He shined his light to the left, revealing a foot or two of metal siding. Which way to go? He'd missed the door but had no idea by how much and in what direction. Snow piled over a foot high meant the ground gave no clue, and his calves and shins would soon be wet. He tried feeling his way to the left, but after a couple of minutes, he gave up and moved in the other direction, with each step lifting his feet above the snow level.
The wind continued to whip around him, but the warehouse seemed to provide some protection. Harden kept his hands in contact with the building's wall, proceeding to his right. He began to question if he'd given up too soon in the opposite path. He'd been inching on his current course for what seemed like an eternity when he felt a bump—a door jamb. He raked his hands up and down, searching for a knob. He hit another bulge. He'd found the hinges but missed the door handle. Back again, up and down.
There!
He gripped the doorknob with all his strength and turned. The door flew open and slammed against the wall, pulling him within. Louis swiftly shut it, eliminating the swirling snow that shot inside. He noticed that the floor was wet around the entrance. His eyes scanned the dim interior. The building's generator had cut out, and his flashlight provided the only illumination in the cold, dark shed.
"Kiki!" he yelled, moving the flashlight's beam from side to side.
There was no answer except for the howl of the wind. It shook the shed with the sound of buckling metal. Harden turned back towards the door. Her coat wasn't on the rack. He felt his heart pound harder as fear began to take hold of him. Was she lying somewhere out in the yard, frozen?
"Kiki!" he screamed again and began moving through the building, searching in a grid pattern between boxes and shelving. A center axis, where aisles crossed near the middle of the shed, formed a large open space. Harden could make out two good-sized crates positioned in the otherwise clear area. Shining his light through the metal shelves to each side as he progressed up the walkway, he saw no sign of the girl. The storm still roared, obliterating the sound of his boots on the cement floor. Arriving at the wooden storage units, he paused to consider his options. He'd covered almost half the shed already.
Louis watched as his breath blew like fog across the beam cast by his flashlight. He held the light at his temple, which allowed him to see large parts of the building at a glance. The cowboy slowly turned, illuminating the aisles which stretched in four directions from his location. He almost missed the narrow crawl space between the crates. Movement caught his eye. He dropped the beam between the boxes, at first thinking some kind of dark packing material had been left there. It took a moment for his mind to recognize the black mop. Kiki's hair, splayed over knees drawn to her chest, obscured the girl's face. Her hands, clenched together around her shins, looked blue.
Harden dropped to his haunches and placed one hand over hers. The girl shook her head then lifted her chin, as if coming out of a stupor.
"You all right, Kiki?" he said as softly as possible, but loud enough to be heard over the wind.
The girl gave him a blank expression.
"Come on now, let's get you up," he coaxed.
He set the light down and took hold of the girl's wrists, lifting her from the crawl space. Louis then brought her hands to his lips and blew on them. He removed his gloves and placed them on a nearby shelf, rubbing her hands between his.
Kiki began to realize where she was and what had happened. She tried to say something, but her teeth chattered instead. The cowboy pulled her to his chest, rubbing her back. He felt the girl tremble, then shake in his arms. He held her tighter, trying to stop her shiver. He ran his hands up and down her back. Her jacket and skirt were both drenched.
"Hey! You're all wet. How'd that happen?"
"S-s-sat in s-s-snow."
"What?" He sounded incredulous.
She realized how silly that sounded, but couldn't explain that when she'd slumped, exhausted against the shed's door, she had sat in snow blown in by the wind. Her body temperature had melted the icy particles, soaking her skirt and jacket. She intended to remove her wet clothing when she found her coat, but the lights went out during her search, stranding her near the crates. She'd sought shelter between them as the temperature dropped.
"Never mind," he said. "We've got to get you back to the house."
Harden lifted her chin with his finger and placed his other hand atop her head. He examined her face. The girl still quivered.
"C-cold," she said between clenched teeth.
"Ready to make a run for it?" he asked, glancing down at her high-heeled pumps.
Kiki moved her foot and kicked the flashlight over. A scream escaped her lips. The sudden darkness terrified the girl, and she threw her arms around his neck, clinging to him with a death grip.
"Oh, crap!" he said, tugging at her wrists. Her hands didn't budge and her nails dug into his skin.
He bent his knees, groping for the flashlight. Kiki clung to him like glue. When the lights went out in the shed, she thought the roof had caved in. She had hyperventilated until almost passing out before getting her emotions under control and finding a hiding place. She didn't intend to get stuck alone in the dark again. She laced her fingers together as tightly as possible and molded herself to the man as he lunged in one direction, then another, searching.
Finally, light filled the immediate area and she felt Louis stand upright, lifting her feet off the floor.
"Let go of me and remove your jacket," he commanded.
Kiki released her grasp and allowed him to tug the garment from her body. He removed his heavy outer layer.
"Stick your arm in here," he ordered, sliding the wool and fleece sleeve onto her right arm. He held the coat up while she guided her left hand inside.
The lining, still warm from the cowboy's body heat, felt far better than her wet jacket. Her trembling subsided as he buttoned the coat and turned up its collar, pulling her close. He gave her a reassuring smile and tapped her nose twice with his forefinger.
"Come on."
Harden took her elbow and guided her to the door. He said another quick prayer before hoisting Kiki over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She gasped as he jerked the door open and ran in the direction of his house.
Chapter 6
-A Night to Remember-
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br /> This time, he made a beeline for the other building's door—no detours. It was a good thing, too, because without his coat, he'd almost been frozen solid the few minutes it took to cover the ground between the structures. He deposited Kiki in the bedroom, stepped into the attached bath, and turned on the water.
"Strip off those wet things and take a good long, hot shower," he commanded, then left her alone.
Kiki did as told. She'd never felt this cold in her life. The steam and hot water helped ease the shivering, but her bones still felt frigid. Afterwards, she yanked on her new blue jeans and slid a black ribbed turtleneck over her head before pulling on socks and padding into the great room. Harden, his back to the girl, stood in front of a roaring fire with a blanket wrapped around his torso.
"Mr. Harden," she ventured, feeling weak and awkward.
He turned, and her mouth dropped open. The man was bare chested under that wool throw. She saw the corners of his mouth twitch.
"My shirt got wet on the trip from the shed," he explained, his eyes twinkling.
Kiki could only nod, and curled up in one corner of the sofa, averting her eyes.
"I'm going to whip us up some food. We're stuck here until morning or the storm dies down, whichever comes last."
She watched as his long strides covered the distance to the kitchen in just a few steps.
What am I doing in this God forsaken place?
A shiver ran up her spine as she realized how the night could have ended. She stared at the flames and watched as tiny glowing embers popped from the logs and floated upwards on a draft. Adrift in dismal thoughts, she lost track of all time.
"Hey! Don't look so dour. My cooking's not that bad."
Kiki jerked bolt upright at his words. He stood to the side, holding out a plate containing a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich, along with pretzel sticks. He'd found a dark sweatshirt to wear over his snug jeans.
"Didn't mean to startle you. Here, eat something. You'll feel better."
She took the plate from him and set it down on the coffee table before her. Harden walked around the low piece of furniture and sat next to her . . . close. She tried to ignore his proximity and took a spoon of soup to her lips. It tasted delicious. Before she knew it, she'd downed every last bit of food on her plate. The cowboy wiggled an eyebrow at her.
"Want seconds?"
"No, thank you."
He finished his meal and stretched his arm around her shoulders.
"You're shivering. Share some of my body heat," he said, pulling her close under his arm.
His closeness made her uncomfortable, but she needed his warmth. With his free hand, he played with the wet ends of her hair.
"Why didn't you follow my instructions, Little Lady?" he gave her a playful squeeze to soften his criticism.
The pressure he exerted on her arm might leave a bruise. She appreciated his light tone, but the man didn't know his own strength.
"What instructions?" she said without looking at him.
"When I left the shed after lunch, I told you to come up to the big house before too long, because the storm was moving in and it was gonna be a bad one."
The girl pulled away and glanced at him from behind long lashes, her eyebrows furrowed. She thought for a moment and exhaled a slow, steady stream of air she'd been holding in her lungs.
"I never heard you. I put my headphones on. Didn't you see me wearing them?"
"No."
Harden shook his head in regret. He hadn't looked back when he left the warehouse. The girl must have put her earbuds in then, before he barked his orders at her.
"It's my fault. I should have come back to check on you as soon as it hit. I got distracted with the herds and making sure all the hands made it back. I assumed you'd heard me. I'm sorry."
Did she hear that right? Was the long-legged, stubborn cowboy apologizing? Her face must have reflected disbelief, because she saw that twitch at the corners of his mouth again. She raised her eyes to his and caught him staring at her lips. With one swift move, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her over his lap. A gasp escaped her mouth, but he put a finger to her lips. Her head rested on the sofa's arm while her bum touched a cushion. Her legs were slung over his, and he leaned over her. Kiki swallowed hard.
"Now, I want payment for risking my life to save you, Little One."
He leaned closer and captured her mouth with a hard kiss. Everything in her wanted to yield to him, but she mustered all her self-control and resisted. Getting involved with a client was stupid, especially an incredibly handsome client with whom she was stuck, alone, all night. Harden drew away slowly and tapped his forefinger on her nose.
"That make us even?" she asked, regretting her cold tone as soon as the words left her lips.
"Hardly."
He allowed his eyes to briefly roam over her body before pulling her back up and tucking her under his arm again. She felt a blush heat her cheeks while her lips remained scorched from his kiss.
"What's your story, Kiki?"
"I don't know what you mean. My firm sent me here to catalogue an Asian art collection for a Mr. Liu."
Harden laughed out loud, a low rumble rippling across his torso. The man was all muscle as far as she could tell, tucked against his body. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and hide her face against his chest. She felt safe with him. Safe and in danger at the same time.
"I think there was a bit of a language barrier there. I was told Misters Al Shen and K. K. Tam would be arriving—"
"And I was told I'd be working for Mr. Liu. No one said a thing about a Mr. Harden," she interrupted, snuggling slightly against him without thinking.
"Mmmm," a satisfied hum came from his lungs, and he wrapped his free arm around her before she could pull away.
He rested his chin on her head, nuzzling her hair. His scent surrounded her as electricity ran from top to bottom through Kiki's body. She closed her eyes.
"What kind of a name is Kiki, anyway?" he asked, chuckling.
"It means child and—"
"Oh, so it suits you, Little Lady." More chuckling and another squeeze.
"Ouch. Careful. You don't know your own strength, Cowboy. And please, don't interrupt. It's rude."
"Sorry, Sensitive One."
"I was going to say, it's not my real name. What kind of name is Louis, anyway? Sounds kind of girly to me."
"Ouch. Now that hurt."
He rubbed his chin over her head again, mussing her hair, and held her even tighter. She could feel his stubble and hard, square jaw against her scalp. He shifted, and she felt his breath against her ear, caressing the sensitive spot on her neck, right below the lobe.
"Maybe Louis isn't my name either. At least not my first name," he said, his voice husky.
"What is it, then? Dallas, Cody, Maverick?"
He laughed again. Another quick maneuver, and she was back on his lap, his lips pressed against hers. At first his lips were soft and gentle, and this time she didn't resist. He placed a hand on her back and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. She was light as a feather in his arms. His mouth greedily covered hers, demanding more. Just as she thought she'd lose control, he pulled away, his breath ragged. He held her gaze, and the fire she saw in his eyes frightened her.
"Nope," he said, shaking his head. "We're not even yet. Not even close, Missy," he said, a devilish grin spreading across his face.
He tapped her nose again and tucked her back under his arm.
"You tell me your real name and I'll tell you mine," he said, sounding like an ornery school boy.
"No."
"Well, you can always keep calling me Mr. Liu," he said between chuckles. He added, "The staff couldn't figure out why you kept referring to me like that."
"Yeah, well they were no help."
"Come on, Kiki. Tell me your name," he coaxed, caressing her cheek with the fleshy part of his thumb.
Was this cowboy trying to seduce her?
"It's Beatrice." She gave in too easily, melting beneath his touch.
"It is not," he said.
"Sorry, but it is. Beatrice Mary Tam."
"Well, Little Lady, I think I've gottcha beat on that account."
"Why, what's your name, Louis?" she whispered.
She felt his muscles tighten and ripple across his chest when she uttered his name.
"Noble. Noble Louis Harden."
Now it was Kiki's turn to chortle. It began as a giggle, which she couldn't seem to control, the stress of the night taking its toll. Soon, an all-out belly buster made her grasp at her sides. She laughed so much, her ribs hurt.
"Well, I hope you live up to your name," she stammered between guffaws.
"I can see there's just one way to keep you quiet," he said before pulling her into another deep kiss.
He trapped her against his chest, and she parted her lips for him without thinking. Before she knew it, she was on his lap, her arms about his neck. She ran her fingers through his thick, sandy locks while he held her close, one hand at her back, the other on the nape of her neck. Her body was beginning to move in rhythm to his when she came to her senses. She forced herself to pull away from his kiss.
"Please stop, Noble," she said between ragged breaths.
He released her and she slid off him, leaving a distance between them. She cast a side glance his way and saw him clench his jaw.
"What's wrong? An ordinary cowboy not good enough for you?" he said, his tone cold and bitter.
Kiki tried to control her breathing.
"No. You're my client. It's not appropriate, and I . . . I . . . I just recently broke up with someone." She didn't know why she added the last part.
She could feel his eyes raking over her body. The searing heat she felt from his touch left her wanting more. How did she end up like this with him? She knew better.
"Oh," he said.
His tone was softer, so she risked a glimpse his way. His blue eyes appeared dark with desire. A few ugly thoughts drifted across her brain.
Is he trying to take advantage of me? Does he see me as an exotic oddity because I'm the only Asian in a sea of Caucasian cowhands? Am I just another notch on his belt?
A Lone Star Romance: Book 2 in The Only Love Series Page 6