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When he was before her, the hard-on was still blatant, but
the wildness was missing from his eyes. He’d stepped back as if he couldn’t
bear to touch her.

“Are you testing me or something?”

“What?” Shane stopped pacing and stood in front of her.

“We’ve done a helluva lot more than kissing, Shane. Why are
you walking off your hard-on?”

“Because you’re going to go inside and trim the tree with
your mom, and I’m going to go work on my koa wood table. And we’re not going to
mess everything up with sex again.”

Gobsmacked, she managed to squeak, “Never?”

He picked up his hat off the deck. “At least for now.”

“And why do you get to make this rule?”

“I get near you, and I can’t think.”

Thinking was highly overrated. The attraction between them
was just part of the love she already felt for him. She’d been in the safe kind
of love before. It was warm and reassuring and lovely. But it paled in
comparison to what she felt with Shane.

“I don’t want to go back to how we were this past month.”

He shook his head. “Neither do I.”

“But you don’t want to have sex with me either?” It killed
her to phrase it that way. She wanted to make love with him. Wanted to shout it
out and shock him. But somehow she knew that was a bad idea. Spouting out words
of love after such a short time would make him turn tail and run.

“I want to boost you up against the siding and sink into you
until your brain melts.”

She swallowed. “Good plan.”

“But I won’t disrespect your mother or you like that. Not right
now when it’s not just sex for the fun of it.”

“It could be.”

“You don’t believe that any more than I do.”

Her heart tripped and then fluttered madly. “What are you
saying?”

“It’s not just sex, Kendall. It hasn’t ever been just sex
from the very first day.”

“You’re right.” She closed her eyes against his serious
expression. Did he have to look so ominous? Loving her shouldn’t be so grave
and sad. It was supposed to be hopeful and amazing.

Why didn’t anything work like it was supposed to between
them?

She met his gaze again. “It’s going to be crazy with Mom and
I getting ready for the Simmons family anyway.”

“It’s supposed to be warm for the next few days, so I’m
going to work on the dock.”

She frowned. “It’s too cold to stain it.”

“I have another idea.”

“Care to share?”

He shrugged. “It’s a surprise.” He leaned down and unplugged
the lights, letting her free.

She stepped out of her nest of Christmas lights. “Go ahead.
I’ll finish this up.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Mom made chili, so stop by for a bowl later.”

With the promise of food he gave her a rare smile. “For her
chili, I’ll definitely be back.”

Kendall returned the smile. She watched him head down the
stairs and back to the warm light of the barn. She slumped into a cross-legged
position and set to unknotting the lights.

* * * *

The next few days were a whirlwind of cleaning, decorating,
and readying the house for company. Word of mouth could make or break a B and
B, and Kendall wanted to make a good impression.

Poinsettias lined the stairs, and the festive lights glowed
against the night. She hung the wreath she’d bought on the door; a few
strategic holly berries added just the right touch and countered the fat,
sparkly bow.

Brody snored on the deck as she shoveled off the last of the
drifting snow. The wind had kicked up after the few days of sun and warmth and
brutally reminded them that it was the end of December.

Shane had indeed worked on the dock at the back of the
house. He’d built a simple pergola in the middle of the deck. He’d hung thick
canvas on two sides for people who wanted to sit out and look at the water but
didn’t want to freeze their butts off.

But instead of loungers, he’d built a sturdy bench swing
that created a stark and lovely touch at the center of her favorite space. He’d
also repaired the snowmobile that had been stored in the shed since last
season.

He was tireless. No matter how many tasks her mother found
to put on her list, Shane got them done without a complaint. He worked on his
furniture late into the night, and Kendall and Shane talked while he sanded or
varnished.

He even let her help. Under supervision, of course.

But as promised she didn’t get more than a kiss good night.
Sometimes the kiss was an electrical storm leaving her lit up for hours, and
sometimes it was sweet and sigh-worthy.

She was frustrated and touched at the same time. She
understood they were getting to know each other, but she had no idea where he
got the fortitude to send her off to bed alone every night. Kendall was ready
to climb out of her skin.

The Simmons family was coming in the morning, and her mother
was making a huge meal for Christmas. The family was staying from Christmas Eve
through the New Year.

Good money and with the extra meals, they were definitely going
to be making a tidy profit on the visit. Everything was about as perfect as she
could make it. So why did she feel so edgy?

The purr of a belt sander lured her into Shane’s sanctum. He
had a thick leather apron on to combat the dust, but it didn’t protect the arms
of his shirt. He was covered in a fine powder of pine. He’d gotten a few orders
for Adirondack chairs, and she couldn’t wait to sit in one once he was
finished.

He looked up with a slow smile. “Hey, Sunshine.”

Her insides felt like a ray of sunshine when he said it like
that. Low, intimate, and playful. A side to Shane she was seeing more and more.
“I heard the sander. Figured I’d check in on you.”

“Actually, speaking of sander, I found something at the back
corner of the shed when I got the snowmobile.”

“Dust? A mouse? Maybe even a ghost?”

His lips twitched. “No. Something more interesting.”

“Well, lay it on me. I was kind of hoping for a ghost. At
least we’d make sure to get in a travel guide with one of those.”

He shook his head. “An old mahogany headboard.”

“That’s better than a ghost?”

“You know how much mahogany costs?”

“I’ll give you that one. Probably expensive, huh?”

“Just a bit.”

Kendall hopped up onto his metal desk, swinging her legs.
“What are you going to do with it?”

“Haven’t figured it out yet. Just wanted to make sure it
wasn’t a family heirloom or anything before I took it apart and fixed it.”

“Go forth and be carpentery.”

He rolled his eyes. “Do you want to ask your mom?”

“No, it was from an old bed when we moved into the house.”

“Wow, older than I thought.”

“Is that a carpenter hard-on I see in your eyes, Shane?”

He stood up and brushed off the dust and shavings before
hanging the heavy apron on the hook by the door. “Not a carpenter hard-on.”

“Oh?”

He angled in between her knees and brushed the tips of his
fingers along her spine. “Nope.”

Enjoying the playful side of him, she leaned in and nipped
his lower lip. Instead of the usual teasing torment, Shane caught her mouth in
a sinfully full-on kiss. He ate at her lips, dissolving her brain as he opened
her wide and took what he wanted.

They were both breathing heavy by the time he took a step
back. She curled her fingers into the edge of the desk and moaned. “Can’t you
break your rule?”

He shook his head and took another step, then turned toward
the open door, and she could see him drinking in the cool night. She let her
chin drop to her chest before she hopped down and crossed the room to slide her
arms around him. She pressed her cheek against his hard, muscular back.

He brought her hand up and kissed her palm. “What time are
the Simmons coming?”

“Crack of dark.”

He laughed. “So that means you’re actually going to go to
bed now?”

She brushed the tip of her nose into the dip of his spine. She
was exhausted enough to be able to do just that. But she didn’t want to lose
any time with Shane.

“I’ve got hours of work yet, so it’s probably a good thing
you’re tired.”

“Don’t you sleep?”

He laughed. “I really don’t need much. Four hours and I’m
good.”

“I knew you were superhuman.”

He tugged her under his arm and around in front of him. He
dropped a chaste kiss on her lips and turned her toward the night and popped
her on the butt. Incredulous, she skipped forward on the momentum. “Good night,
babe.”

She trudged across the snow and up the stairs. When she
turned back, he stood in the door, but this time he waved before backing away
to the golden light spilling around him.

With the dawn came two cars full of the Simmons clan. Her
mother hadn’t stopped fussing over towels and linens. She even plumped pillows
on the sofa at the sound of gravel popping under tires.

Kendall met them at the door. An older,
salt-and-pepper-haired gentleman skipped up the steps, his hand outstretched.
“You must be Kendall. I recognize you from your picture on the Web site.”

“Yes, I’m Kendall. Welcome to the Heron.” She stood aside.
“This is my mother, Lily.”

“I’m Mark, and this is my wife, Jennifer.” He turned and
pointed out the rest of the visitors who were piling onto deck. She hoped to
God she’d keep the names straight before the end of the day.

Laurie and Todd, Susan and Scott, and their two teen girls,
Micah and Abby, all spoke over each other. Happy laughter and the excited
chatter of females oohing about the landscape and lake filled the air.

The teens were unimpressed until she showed them the back.
The huge bench swing propelled them both into action.

“Be careful on the water. It’s freezing,” Susan called out.

Kendall smiled. “Don’t worry. The swing’s very sturdy.”

“Should it be so close to the end of the dock?”

Kendall led Susan down the dock. “See, not as close as it
seems.”

“Oh, wow.”

Kendall folded her arms. “Beautiful, isn’t it? This is my
favorite view.”

“I can see why.” Susan’s face was flushed with cold, and her
smooth complexion spoke of days indoors.

Unlike Kendall’s chapped cheeks that wouldn’t stay
moisturized this time of year even if she slicked her face with Vaseline.

Susan turned bright blue eyes in her direction. “I can’t
wait to see our room. This whole place is so cozy and inviting.”

Kendall smiled and saw even more improvements thanks to
Shane’s hand with the landscape. Shoveled walkways, boards replaced, and a few
heavy blankets were folded on the chairs scattered around the swing. A bright
cobalt-blue-stained Adirondack chair sat in her favorite spot on the deck.

She swallowed down a lump in her throat and showed Susan and
her sister-in-law Jennifer the paths along the back of the house that hugged
the lake.

Half an hour later she had all the couples divvied up on the
second floor and the teens a few doors down. She remembered what it was like to
be fifteen and on the cusp of independence.

She found her mother in the kitchen pulling two coffee cakes
out of the oven with one already cooling on the table. “Smells amazing, Mom.”

“I want you to take half of that one to Shane. I saw all he
did outside early this morning even before we were up. He might be antisocial,
but he likes my coffee cake.”

Kendall laughed. Shane certainly had disappeared the minute
the cars had come up the drive. She’d thought he was sleeping, but the plowed
drive said otherwise. She wrapped half of the cake in tinfoil and kissed her
mom on the cheek. “The Simmonses are getting situated, and I know that Todd and
Mark were already looking for coffee.”

Lily nodded to the large coffee dispenser and a row of mugs.
“All ready for them.”

“You are a wonder, Lily Proctor.”

“I know.”

Kendall shook her head and escaped through the back door, crossing
the lawn to Shane’s domain. The whir of a drill and the scent of the strong
brew he called coffee met her at the door. He was crouched beside the table,
clamping a vise across the span of rich wood. With a deft hand he smoothed thin
slats of the koa wood along the middle of the table, giving it a distinct
stripe.

“It’s gorgeous.”

He looked up, then quickly away. “Thanks.”

The man was really bad at taking a compliment when it came
to his art. She held up the foil package. “Mom sent this.”

He quirked a brow. “Coffee cake?”

“You’ve got her wrapped, Oscar.”

He took the pastry. “I had to put up a heavy bag out back.”
He patted his belly. “Your mother’s going to give me a spare tire.”

She doubted it. The man was nothing but sinew and muscle
under the layers he always wore. She walked around the table and slid her
finger over the glass-smooth finish of the table. “I saw the Adirondack chair
you left out there.”

He shrugged. “You kept stroking the one I made for a client.
I figured you wanted one.”

“Did it hurt your heart to stain it blue?”

“A little.” He leaned against the table and crossed his arms
over his powerful chest. His arms seemed larger, if that was at all possible.
From all the labor he’d been doing on the Heron? Or maybe that heavy bag?

She curled her fingers under the fuzzy mittens she wore.
“Well, I love it. You didn’t have to do that, though. I know what a good price
you can get for them.”

“It makes the dock look good.”

“I’ll be sure to think that when I sit with a cup of coffee
later.”

He stood up straight and walked to her. He swiped the pad of
his thumb along her lower lip. “Merry Christmas, Kendall.”

“I…I didn’t get you anything.”

“I don’t need anything.”

“Will you be coming over for dinner tonight?”

“I’m not big for crowds. Looks like you’ve got your hands
full at the house.”