Page 75 of Confessions

“You little tease.”

“Me?” she asked innocently, and he crossed the few feet and threw himself over the bed.

“Yes, you.”

She laughed as he pinned her beneath the covers and kissed her.

“You are the most exciting, impulsive and impossible woman ever to set foot on this earth.”

“May I take that as a compliment?”

“Take it any way you like.” He kissed her gently, then propped his head up with one hand. “If you don’t get up, you’re in for serious trouble, lady.”

She knew that. But she didn’t want this bliss to end. She stroked his beard-roughened cheek with her hand and touched the tiny scar that sliced through one of his brows. “What’s this from?” she asked, and watched as his smile faded.

“Compliments of my old man.”

“But how?”

“We had a disagreement. He couldn’t get through to me with words, so he used his fist. Not here...but he hit me so hard I fell and cut myself on the stair rail. I think I was fifteen.”

Her stomach squeezed in pain. “What was the fight about?”

He snorted. “I can’t even remember.” He was stretched out on the top of the sheet and she saw the other scars on his body, neatly stitched gashes on his legs.

“And these?”

He glanced down when her finger touched one of the bluish marks. “From the accident,” he said coldly.

“The what?”

“In the boat. With Wynona.”

“Oh.” She drew back her hand, but he threaded his fingers through hers and sighed.

“It’s okay. That all happened a long time ago. Now, you’d better get up. I’d love to spend the rest of the weekend here, but unfortunately duty calls.”

“The mill?”

“The mill,” he replied grimly, as he reached for his slacks. “But before we go back, we should eat breakfast. Steak, eggs, pancakes—the works.”

She shook her head. “How about coffee and a piece of toast?”

“Whatever your heart desires,” he said, kissing her lightly on the forehead before throwing back the covers and exposing her naked form. With a sardonic smile, he kicked off his slacks again. “On second thought...”

* * *

BY THE TIME they returned to Gold Creek, the sun was low in the sky. Nadine thought about the work stretched out before her; she had promised Elizabeth new merchandise. Two of the jackets were complete, the third was almost done, but she only had about a dozen pairs of earrings finished. Then there was some Christmas shopping and planning the traditional meal for her father, the boys and Ben. And Hayden? Was that possible?

Hayden folded his hand over hers. “You could come spend the rest of the weekend at my house.”

The offer was tempting. “I don’t think so. I’ve got a lot of work to do—”

He placed his hand on her knee, and his gaze slid in her direction. “Won’t it keep overnight? I’ll build a fire and we’ll have eggnog and you can help me with my tree. Remember, I’m still an amateur at this.”

“You’re twisting my arm.”

“I’ll bring you back early in the morning, I promise.”