SNOWFIRES by Caroline Clemmons Read Free Book Online

jabbing my rear with your lodge pole.”
    “ Don’t take it personally, Princess.
And thanks for the comparison.”
    “ It wasn’t supposed to be a compliment.
Turn over." She pushed at his shoulder. "Turn over now ."
    He rolled over, and she heard a quiet chuckle
as she folded with his body.
    Okay, so being held by him brought far more
satisfaction than snuggling to his back. But she remembered the
heat of his erection against her body and the almost overpowering
desire it created in her. Not that she’d ever admit it to him, of
course, but she’d be darned if she wanted temptation prodding her
all night. Maybe this was better after all.
    Her fists and elbows braced against his back
as she slid toward him. “I hate this mattress. It’s like being
trapped in a sausage casing while bouncing on a trampoline. Every
time you move you almost launch me.”
    "Relax, Princess. And try to keep your elbows
out of my kidneys, okay?"
    She gave a sharp nudge to his back. "Relax
yourself. Rein in those hormones and try for celibate dreams for
what’s left of tonight." Another dig with her elbow punctuated her
comment.
    He waited a few seconds. When he
answered she heard the laughter in his voice. "Now that is even less likely than hell
freezing over."
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER FOUR
    Holly wakened
to darkness broken by the eerie outside glow of the snow. A chill
met her warm skin when Trent slid from bed. She heard the rustle of
clothes as he dressed and she looked in vain for the illuminated
hands of the electric clock on the bedside table.
    "I can't see the clock but it can't be time
to get up."
    "According to my watch it's not quite four."
He pulled his jacket from the bed and shrugged into it. "The
power’s off and apparently so is the furnace. There's supposed to
be plenty of propane left. Better stay here till I find out."
    She heard mumbled curses as he bumped his way
through the dark and unfamiliar house. In a few seconds, he
returned to the bedroom doorway.
    "The kitchen range burners and bathroom
heater are still going. My guess is the furnace thermostat shut
down when the electricity went off."
    She reached for her clothes and slid to the
side of the bed. "I'll get dressed and look for candles and
flashlights. Give me a few minutes in the bathroom."
    "Um, until I get the generator going, there's
no water."
    "None?" Still groggy from too little sleep,
her mind absorbed his meaning slowly.
    “ Just whatever’s in the pressure
tank.”
    "I see. Electric water pump. So, no shower
and don't flush?" She heard his sigh.
    "Right. As soon as I find a flashlight, I'll
tackle the generator. In the meantime, you can go back to
sleep."
    "It's too cold.” She didn’t add without you here . “Besides, you said
the kitchen range works. If we find candles or lanterns, I may as
well fix breakfast."
    By the time Trent returned to the house,
Holly had their meal underway and the table set. He stamped the
snow from his feet then hovered near the range. With his arms
crossed and hands tucked up under his armpits, he shivered and a
low moan escaped his lips.
    "It's solid ice now over the snow." He looked
down at his legs. His jeans showed dark, wet patches. He cocked his
head and smiled at her, reminding her of a small boy caught in a
mischievous act.
    He chuckled. "I slipped a couple of
times."
    She ducked her head and hoped she concealed
the effect of his teasing smile and laughter on her senses.
Stepping around him, she vigorously stabbed the thick slabs of ham
furnished by her grandmother. Holly cleared her throat. "Did you
have any luck with the generator?"
    "Yeah. Bad news is it only works for the pump
and the barn. Good news is that at least we’ll have cold water. I
checked the animals, and everything looks okay for now. There’s
plenty of propane. Soon as my hands thaw, I'll get the furnace
going from its emergency manual control."
    Holly flushed with the memory of him warming
her hands and massaging her feet the evening before.