Let It Snow by Debbie Macomber

Author:Debbie Macomber [Macomber, Debbie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2019-09-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Slade spoke at last. “That shouldn’t have happened.”

“I suppose you want an apology,” Shelly responded, standing and brushing the snow from her pants. In spite of her efforts to appear normal, her hands trembled and her pulse continued to hammer away madly. From the beginning she’d known that Slade’s kiss would have this effect on her, and she cursed her traitorous heart.

He swiveled, shocked that she would suggest such a thing. “I should be the one to apologize to you.”

“Why? Because you kissed me?”

“I’m engaged.”

“I know.” Her voice rose several decibels. “What’s in a kiss, anyway? It wasn’t a big deal. Right?” Liar, her heart accused, continuing to beat erratically. It’d been the sweetest, most wonderful kiss of her life. One that would haunt her for a lifetime.

“It won’t happen again,” Slade said without looking at her. He held his body stiffly away from her. His façade slipped tightly into place, locking his expression right before her eyes. Shelly was reminded of the man she’d first seen on the plane—that polished, impeccable businessman who looked upon the world with undisguised indifference.

“As I said, it wasn’t a big deal.”

“Right,” he answered. The light treatment that she gave his kiss didn’t appear to please him. Standing, he stalked in the direction of the trees and stopped at the one he’d offered as a compromise earlier. Without soliciting her opinion, he began sawing away at its narrow base.

Within minutes the tree toppled, crashing to the ground and stirring up the snow. Shelly walked over, prepared to help him load the small fir onto the sled, but he wouldn’t let her.

“I’ll do it,” he muttered gruffly.

Offended, she folded her arms and stepped back, feeling awkward and callow. She’d feel better if they could discuss the kiss openly and honestly.

“I knew it was going to happen.” She’d been wanting him to kiss her all day.

“What?” he barked, heading in the direction of the house, tugging the sled and Christmas tree behind him.

“The kiss,” she called after him. “And if I was honest, I’d also admit that I wanted it to happen. I was even hoping it would.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about it.”

Slade was making her angrier every time he opened his mouth. “I said if I was being honest, but since neither of us is, then apparently you’re right to suggest we drop the issue entirely.”

Slade ignored her, taking giant steps so that she was forced into a clumsy jog behind him. The north wind whipped her scarf across her mouth, and Shelly tucked it more securely around her neck. She turned and took several steps backward so that the bitter wind buffeted her back instead of her face.

Unexpectedly, her boot hit a small, protruding rock, and Shelly momentarily lost her balance. Flinging her arms out in an effort to catch herself, she went tumbling down the hill, somersaulting head over feet until she lay sprawled, spread-eagled, at the base of the slope.

Slade blistered the wind with expletives as he raced after her, falling to his knees at her side, his eyes clouded with emotion.

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