At Ash’s touch, a startled squeak escaped Sorene, before he effectively silenced it with his mouth.

Her stomach flipped just like when she took a jump on a snow machine. That initial soaring, followed by the freefall, the exhilaration before crashing to earth.

The crash would come, she knew, but her body wouldn’t obey her mind. It glorified at the feel of Ash, of being held by this man again. A man with strong shoulders and muscled arms that banded around her, making her feel protected while adding just a hint of danger.

She shouldn’t allow this—she needed to push him away, and she certainly shouldn’t be kissing him back. Yet, her lips parted and allowed him entrance, and she was lost in sensation. Sensations that woke her in the dark of night, her body yearning for the touch of a man.

This man.

A strangled groan escaped him and he tightened his hold, his hardened body pressing into the softness of hers. Feelings of euphoria, headier than any drug, shot off the Richter scale.

Oh, goodnight, she was in trouble. A huge part of her didn’t care, rejoicing in the pleasure coursing through her body like a rushing river after a dormant winter.

Hadn’t she toed the line, been a good girl, taken care of everyone? When was it her turn to cut loose, be irresponsible, and feel alive again? Clutched in Ash’s embrace made her feel more alive than she had in a long time.

Ten years to be exact.

She had to put a stop to this or she’d truly be lost. He would destroy defenses that had taken her a long time to erect.

A few more minutes, the wild side of her whispered. Give me just a little longer.

A few more minutes and she’d abandon all sense of rationality and tear his clothes off.

Wrenching his mouth from hers, he buried his lips over the sensitive spot on the side of her neck that had always brought her to her knees. “God, I’ve missed you,” he whispered. “My Wild Heart.” He’d loved her dad’s nickname for her and had adopted it back when they were thick as diamond willows.

Don’t nibble. She’d be a goner for sure if—

He nibbled.

His teeth closed over the area that had every objection mounting in her head fainting into surrender.

Encased in his arms felt like coming home. Her body recognized his, his mouth, the way he could electrify her with his touch.

Ash broke the kiss and released her, quickly catching her when she wobbled. “You still want me.” He gave her a satisfied smolder that had her anger returning in waves.

“You can kiss, I’ll give you that. Doesn’t mean I want you.”

“Want to put it to the test?

“Why you, arrogant moose turd.” She stepped back.

“Moose turd?” He laughed. “Still refusing to swear, are you?”

She fumed. “Curse words are a sign of a small mind.”

“You just insulted most of the population of Alaska.” He seemed to enjoy their banter.

How dare he when the very sight of him had her insides somersaulting. How could she work with him when she felt divided between throwing herself at him or just throw something at him?

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have kissed you.

What? Now he regretted kissing her?

“I just had to know if you tasted the same.”

“For what purpose?”

“Call it nostalgia.”

A shadow of sadness swept over his expression. It disappeared so quickly, she wondered if she imagined it.

“I don’t have the luxury of living in the past,” she said. “I have work to do. Either it’s just business between us or you send someone else here from Bleu Carpentry to work with me until Quinn is feeling better. In fact, that’s exactly what I want you to do.”

“There’s no one but me. The others are working on the Atwood project.”

She straightened and did her best to steel her expression. “I’m sure you’d rather be helping Leia than being here. Trade places with Bart. He understands my vision. I can work with him.”

Now it was his turn to close off his expression.

Bart was a notorious flirt, had been since high school, and while Sorene enjoyed working with him, that’s as far as her relationship with Bart went no matter how many times he’d tried to talk her into more.

“That isn’t going to happen.” Ash bent down and picked up the clipboard he tossed to the floor when he grabbed her. “Let’s get started.”

“Actually, let’s not. Dad just gave me the job today, and I need some time to figure out my vision. We need to reschedule.” If Quinn had been here, they would have laughed and inspired each other until they came up with a winning plan. If she waited long enough for Quinn to kick whatever had him under the weather, she wouldn’t have to deal with Ash at all. That would be best for her state of mind—not to mention, her heart.

“Sorene—”

She held up a hand to ward him off. “You need to go.”

Ash searched her expression and seemed to come to a decision. “All right. I’ll drop in tomorrow.”

“I’ll call you when I’m ready.” Which would be never.

“Be ready tomorrow. I’ll be here at noon,” he stated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

How dare he? He didn’t dictate to her when they would meet.

“This is happening, Sorene. Get used to the idea. We’re working together. And just so you’re aware, we’ll be hashing out our relationship too.”

“Excuse me? We have no relationship.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. The kiss we just shared proved that we do. Don’t push it.”

“You can’t tell me to not push it. Who do you think you are?”

“The man you loved.”

“That’s right. Loved, as in past tense.”

“We’ll see about that.” One last longing look that caused her to shiver and then he turned, leaving her alone in the cold-soaked cabin.