By the time I get Charlotte into my truck, there are thick flakes slowly falling. The weather bothers me because it can be like this one minute and the next you can’t see a foot in front of you. I also need a clear mind to drive us back and all I hear in my head is Charlotte’s, ‘Not yet’.

I could have had it all over and finished with Emma if I hadn’t wanted to do the right thing by the woman I’ve known since school. Charlotte’s hand on my face, makes me realize that I need to be free to be with her.

Quickly glancing at the sky, I kiss Charlotte on the cheek. “I’m going to find Emma.”

Charlotte looks concerned but nods. “Are you sure?”

“I never intended staying engaged to her, but she begged me to help her save face. So I did. I’m too damn nice sometimes. If you hadn’t shown up, I’d have come looking for you. That was the conclusion I was slowly getting to.” I briefly kiss her waiting lips and pass her the keys. “Slide over and turn the truck on otherwise you’ll be cold.”

She smiles and does as I suggest.

Not looking forward to this, I sigh and head back inside. I have no clue as to where I’ll find Emma so I head for the information desk. At least it will be quicker than searching the place.

“Hi, Tanner,” Colleen greets me, her smile cheerful.

I smile. “Hi Colleen, do you know where I can find Emma?”

“Sorry, you’ve missed her. She clocked out about thirty minutes ago.” She shakes her head. “I saw her leaving, maybe you can find her at home.”

I glance outside and decide that’s not an option. “I think I better head home before I’m stuck in town,” I mumble absentmindedly. “It’s going to be a big one, you take care Colleen.” Cursing under my breath, I run back to my truck and climb into the warm cab.

Charlotte takes my hands and rubs them between hers. “She wasn’t there?”

“No.” I kiss her cheek. “We need to leave before we can’t.” I reach over and strap Charlotte in beside me before doing my own seatbelt. “You’re about to be stuck on a ranch with me, I hope you don’t mind that?”

She chuckles. “Are you kidding me? I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be stuck with more.”

I quickly squeeze her hand before pulling out of town.

“This weather is really bad, huh?” she says quietly five minutes later.

I glance back at her and see the worry across her face. Clearly she was thinking back to her accident earlier. I turn my attention back to the road, the snow is falling in huge flakes but the visibility is fairly good so we’re lucky. The weather won’t hold for much longer though. “It’s winter in Montana. This is nothing compared to how it’s going to get very soon.” I lean forward and look up at the sky, my foot pressing down on the gas. “We need to get back before this hits, otherwise, we won’t be able to see the road.”

“My cousins live in Great Falls, and they’ve talked about winters like this, but this is the first time I’ve ever experienced it.” Charlotte burrows into her jacket. “How close are we to your place?”

I make a right turn. “We’re on the road now. Not far. Five minutes.” What I really want to do is rest my hand on her thigh, but, with this weather, I keep both hands on the steering wheeling, until I reverse the truck into the barn.

“How the heck did you do that? I’m struggling to see anything.”

“Practice.” I tug her jacket around her and fasten up the zipper right to above her neck. “Do you have a hat and gloves?”

She nods and grabs them from her purse. “My overnight bag is still in the rental.” She shoves the hat on her head before slipping on the gloves.

“I’ll make sure you get it back.” I squeeze her hand. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

On her go ahead, I run around and open her door, tugging her out and into my arms. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Stop worrying, I’m fine. Nothing a hot bath won’t cure.”

I groan, really not wanting the images of her naked and in a bath in my head, but, of course, that’s where I go. I remember her delicious curves under my hands, and I remember the sight of her in the shower, wet and covered with soapsuds. My body heats at the memory, and when I meet her gaze, I realize she’s remembering too.

Her cheeks flush but her eyes don’t leave my face while mine are doing some wandering of their own. She is so beautiful my heart aches as I drop my forehead to hers. “Make no mistake, Charlotte…as soon as everything between Emma and I is finished, you are going to be mine in every sense of the word.” I cup the back of her head and hold her against my lips as I place a kiss against her forehead, lingering for longer than I should.

Charlotte steps closer and wraps her arms around my waist, pressing her face into my chest. I hold her in place and feel her shuddering against me. We stand like this until the cold starts to seep through my jacket and I feel her shiver. “Let’s get inside and warm up.”

Keeping my arm around her, I guide her through the deepening snow into my home while my brain is scrambling to remember whether or not the place is tidy. To my relief, it is.

I turn her in my arms and unfasten her jacket, her eyes never leaving my face. Just having her standing in front of me spreads heat throughout my body. Her slim figure comes into view and it’s only the wince she tries to hide that reins me in.

“Let me show you to the guest room and then I’ll run you a hot bath,” I suggest, not missing the disappointment on her face.

She turns away. “Okay.”

“It isn’t okay.”

She turns her gaze back to me.

“I don’t want you in the guest room, Charlotte. I want you with me...not just in this house but in my room—in my bed.” I sigh heavily.

She swallows and nods, giving me a wry smile. “It’s okay. At least we’re going to get snowed in together.”

I groan. “That isn’t helping.” Curling an arm around her waist, I lead her upstairs. “This is the only guest room we have so I hope you’ll be okay in here.” The room isn’t perfect but it’s comfortable. “The bed has fresh linen.” I chuckle. “Mary, a woman from town, comes in a couple of days a week to clean. She always puts clean linen on this bed as well as mine.”

Charlotte chuckles. “She’s looking after you.”

“She always says that one never knows when an unexpected guest will arrive.” I roll my eyes. “She’s done it for years. No breaking the habit now.”

“You’re making me nervous,” Charlotte admits, biting her bottom lip. It’s been a long time since they were alone together in a bedroom.

Heat floods my cock as I reach forward and tug her bottom lip free. Her eyes flare with heat and I come close to embarrassing myself when she wraps her tongue around the tip of my finger, pulling it inside her wet mouth.

“You have me so close to pushing you down on the bed behind you…and you wouldn’t be able to walk afterwards. Neither would I,” I growl.

Challenge flares in her eyes as she rests her hands on my chest. Slowly caressing down my stomach, she dips lower, I can’t bring myself to stop her. I need to feel her hands on me. I’ve missed this woman more than my last breath. Having her here, in front of me, unleashes the fire in my stomach, and the desire in my balls that I’ve felt with her.

Her hand brushing over my erection causes a hiss to burst from between my teeth. She does it again and my treacherous flesh twitches and jerks against her palm. I quickly catch her wrist before she touches me again. I strain against my zipper imagining her mouth doing what she’s doing to my finger, but on my cock. Memories of those lips of hers have kept me awake at night.

My finger pops free of her mouth, and I quickly turn, stride out of the room and close her door. I lean against the wall, trying to catch my breath and rein in the release that is really close to the surface.

“Fuck!” I curse quietly.

She’s been inside my home for all of five minutes and I’m already seconds from coming in my jeans like a randy teenager.

I need to get myself under control but I can’t do that while I’m in the same room as Charlotte, especially when there’s a bed so close. Hell, whom I kidding. A wall will do. A floor even.

Pushing away from the wall, I shout, “The bathroom is through the door, everything you need should be in there. There’s a robe behind the door.” I don’t wait for a response and run downstairs to start the coffee.

I need a huge distraction to get my mind off of Charlotte. Knowing she’s upstairs, getting undressed and going to be bathing isn’t helping though.

Remember Emma!

“Emma,” I growl, and head for the phone on the wall. I pick up the receiver and debate the wisdom of telling her over the phone, and realize I can’t end things that way. We’ve been together since high school and no matter what she’s done...or the fact that I want to join Charlotte in the bath, Emma deserves more than a mere phone call. I’m not that big an asshole.

She didn’t consider you when she fucked someone else!

My conscience is a pain in the ass.

You did similar, even if you had just ended things!

“Ugh!” I grab the phone again and realize the line must be down. No dial tone.

I stomp away to the breakfast nook and looking through the large windows, the storm has gone from bad to worse. Not a thing can be seen.