Chapter 5
Dan
Lorraine moved ahead of me into the cabin, shaking snow from her coat and pulling off her hat and gloves. I closed the door behind us, sealing out the wind. We dumped the bags of wood. The sudden silence swallowed me whole.
She walked on the spot. “I can’t feel my toes.”
Her lips were purple.
“I’m surprised you can feel anything.”
She laughed and pulled off her boots. I helped her with her coat, which was heavy and wet. She moved towards the fire, hugging herself and shivering.
“You need to get out of those wet clothes,” I said.
Her eyes met mine, and my heart did a little leap in my chest. “Are you offering to help?”
I grinned. “That doesn’t sound as sexy as I imagined.”
The wind picked up, and the lights flickered as if in response. We both glanced up at the lights as they did it again. Lucky, we had a fire and plenty of firewood.
“I’m going to switch the lights off,” I said.
Lorraine stood in front of the fire and flexed her fingers. Then she attempted to undo her jeans, fumbling with the button. “My fingers won’t work.”
I made my way to her side and rubbed her hands between mine. I was sure she didn’t want to leave the fire; it was a comfort after the bitter cold outside. Even so, she was still shivering.
I held her gaze. “I’m going to strip you off as quick as I can and wrap you in a blanket. OK?”
She nodded. I grabbed a blanket off the couch and placed it on the hearth to warm up.
Then I proceeded to undo her jeans and pull them off her legs.
In a rush, I helped her take her jumper and shirt off.
I didn’t allow my eyes to stray, no matter how much I wanted to take her semi naked body in.
I grabbed the blanket and encased her in it.
After I made sure she was wrapped up tight, I bent down to check if her socks were wet. “Not wet, just cold.”
She nodded and stepped closer to the fire. “Your turn.”
I grabbed a blanket and then stripped off, conscious that she was watching me the whole time.
I hadn’t taken the time to look at her beneath all her clothing.
But she sure was taking her time looking at me.
My hands scrabbled. Not once did she look away.
Did she like what she saw? I’m sure I would have if I’d taken the time to study her.
I raised my eyes to hers and she gave me a small smile. I felt something shift between us with that subtle lift of her lips. Something quiet but profound.
“Are you feeling better?” I asked.
She sat on the oversized chaise at the end of the couch, tucking her legs beneath her. “Yes, thank you. That was the coldest I’ve been in years.”
I handed her the forgotten glass of wine and put some more wood on the fire before I sat beside her. “Me, too.”
She moved in closer.
The growing fire threw a warm glow across the room.
We sipped in silence for a while.
“Thank you for helping me collect the wood,” I said.
“We make a good team.”
“We always have.”
She nodded.
I set my glass on the table and leant back into the couch. “Do you remember at the end of high school when we went to the beach on our summer holidays?”
She laughed. “It was so windy and cold, and we shared my jacket, so we didn’t freeze.”
I’d loved every moment of being embraced in her warmth. We were a team, strong together, untouchable. “I was so disappointed the next day when the sun came out and the wind died down.”
Her eyes widened as she regarded me. I played with the edge of the blanket, letting its softness run between my fingers, then trailed my finger down her arm. Her skin was soft too.
“Even back then you didn’t need me,” I said.
“Maybe I didn’t need you, but I did want you.”
I drew back. “You never said so.”
“There was no point. You were going off to university and I was staying on the farm.”
And by the time I got back to start my own equine practice, she was married to that dickwad of a husband.
“What about after your divorce?” I asked.
“I didn’t have time for a man in my life. I had a farm to run and a daughter to raise.”
I nodded. The horse stud was a success under her watch. And Taylor was a testament to her good parenting.
“Besides, you had recently gotten divorced yourself. And you devoted so much time to the equine hospital.”
“It was a detriment to my marriage,” I admitted.
She smiled and caught my fingers. “I didn’t want to be second in someone’s life. I’d already done that.”
“So that’s why you always said no when I asked you on a date?”
“Yes. And then time moved on, and I had my life set in place.”
“And you didn’t need a man, just like you don’t need one now.”
She shrugged. “Maybe want won out on this occasion.”
My head was fuzzy, and I couldn’t think straight for a moment. Did Lorraine actually want me? Now? Long term?
“I’d rather this not be just a ‘this occasion’ situation.” I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed her fingers.
The only sounds in the room were our quiet breathing and the fire. I was lost in her brown eyes, hypnotised by the reflection of the flickering flames.
One second.
Had I pushed her too far asking for more?
Two seconds.
Never. Lorraine would never be intimidated by me.
She grinned. My heart soared.
“Well, that depends,” she said.
“On what?”
“Whether you kiss me or not.”
My breathing quickened and I leant in close to her.
“And whether you’re a good kisser.”
My lips brushed hers, feather light. “I’m good at many things.”