Stroke of Love (37 page)

There’s one hell of a body beneath that parka.
She trembled again, but she couldn’t tell if it was from the cold or the thought.

She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing his goddamn sexy eyes again.
Look away. Just look away
.

His eyebrows drew together and scanned her face as intently as she had been scrutinizing his. The concern she’d seen earlier had vanished, replaced with something harder. Colder.

“What’s your name?” His voice was gruff.

She tugged off her hat, challenging him with a hard stare. “Siena Remington.”
That’s right
. The
Siena Remington
. Her snooty thought was wasted. By the look in his eyes, it was clear that he had no idea who Siena Remington was.

“Well, Siena Remington, I’m Cash Ryder. Didn’t it occur to you to put chains on your tires? Or maybe to skip your evening drive altogether?” He pulled his hat off, sending his dirty-blond hair tumbling down over his forehead. It brushed his lashes, softening his look as he raked his eyes down her trembling body.

Her heartbeat sped up again. He needed a trim and a shave, and she wished he’d put his hat back on. It was a lot easier matching his attitude when she didn’t know for sure how hot he was.

“Or maybe you couldn’t wait to show off your new designer jacket?” He smirked.

She pulled her hat back on, anger brewing in her belly. “It’s a rental car.” No way did she just almost die miles from home and then get rescued by a guy who looked like Chris Hemsworth and had a chip on his shoulder as big as Alec Baldwin.

“Why are
you
out in this mess?” She was shivering inside the truck and he was solid as a rock outside, snow piling up on his shoulders.
Of course he is
.
All that anger in his blood must keep him warm
.

He narrowed his eyes again. “Visiting my brother.” He shook his head. “Didn’t you think twice when you saw the snow?”

“I didn’t know it was going to be this bad. It wasn’t this bad in the city.” She slid from the truck to her feet and stood in front of him. Jesus, he was tall. And so damn close to her that she could feel his thighs pressing against hers.

He shot her a look. “Where are you going?”

“Walking.”

He grabbed her arm. “Oh no, you’re not. I didn’t just save your ass to have you die of hypothermia or get run over by a car.” He wrapped a powerful arm around her waist and lifted her back into the truck. “Close”—he locked eyes with her—“the door.”

“No.”

“Do you
want
to die in the cold?”

She pressed her lips together. “I’m not going to be the damsel in distress for some cocky firefighter to brag about rescuing.” She wiped the snow from her jeans where it had blown in through the open door. Damn, it was cold. And he was so damn hot, and such an ass, that she wanted to kiss him and smack him in equal measure.

He leaned in to the truck, his face an inch from hers. His eyes darkened to nearly black, and a grin spread across his lips.

Siena could barely breathe. She tried to blink away the heat that rolled off him in waves.

“I’m shutting the door,” he said in a seductive tone, as if he’d said,
I can’t wait to lick every inch of you.

Her whole body shuddered, and she wished her teeth would stop chattering, though she had a feeling it was nerves more than the cold causing it. “I’ll…call…”
Shit. Who can I call?
“One of my brothers to get me.”

“I already called 911, but I guess they’re overwhelmed with calls tonight.” He pressed his gorgeous mouth into a tight line, then leaned in close again. “You would make someone else come out in these conditions and risk their life when I’m already here, wouldn’t you?”

Yes! No! Shit, how did you make me sound so selfish?
She slammed her back against the seat and stared straight ahead, steeling herself for what was sure to be the ride from hell back to her apartment.

(End of Sneak Peek)

To continue reading, be sure to pick up the next

LOVE IN BLOOM release:

FLAMES OF LOVE,
The Remingtons
, Book Three

Love in Bloom series
,
Book Twelve