Page 39 of Ghost

She chuckled.

He forced his fingers to slide from her arms.“Let’s go.I want to get back and make that call.”

She nodded, and he led her to the front entrance.He snagged the keys from the hook, opened the door, and froze.“Shit.You don’t have shoes.”

Her lips made an O shape.“I’m sure I would’ve realized that in about five seconds.”She backed up.“If you want to go without me and just get—”

He bent and scooped her into his arms.She yelped as he swung her against his chest, cradling her as he’d done after she’d rolled down the hill the previous day.

“Wait.No, I can walk.”

He held her with one arm as he locked the door.He headed toward the garage on the path he’d carved in the white monstrosity covering the ground.“I know you’ve got a liking for frozen extremities, but I don’t have time to deal with frostbite.I’d have to cut your toes off after all.”

She smacked his chest.“That’s not funny.”

He snickered.

Her eyes, twin flames of seduction, bore into him.But playfulness glistened in the pretty blues.“You’d better be careful, Mr.Troy.I don’t need potassium chloride to finish you off.”

This time he laughed loudly.“First of all, you can come at me anytime, woman.I could take you out blindfolded.”

All right, so she’d put up a good fight the other night.Didn’t change the fact that if she were a man, they wouldn’t be having this conversation because she wouldn’t be alive.

He opened the man door to the garage, where his truck waited.He unlocked it with her still in his arms and opened the passenger door, lowering her onto the seat.

“Sure,” she said.“And what’s second?”

He rested his arm on the edge of the door.“Second, don’t call me Mr.Troy.That man was a piece of shit.”

He didn’t want to think about that bastard.It was one of the main reasons he chose not to carry the name Troy.He shut the door as his amusement leaked from him like air out of a tire.

Still, he wouldn’t mind if she tried to take him.And damn if he didn’t stop the direction of his thoughts when the image of her naked and on top of him gave him a rush of primal need.

Christ, he needed this woman off his mind and out of reach before he did something he’d regret.

CHAPTER 12

Mila wrapped herarms tightly around her chest as she sat in the passenger seat.Ghost had insisted on buying her a winter coat and boots, along with several other items.

Which was silly considering the deal they’d struck.If he stayed true to his word, he’d drive her back to Seattle later today.The boots and coat had been necessary, but she didn’t need a few pairs of pants, several shirts, a hoodie, and more than one pair of underwear.

“Thanks for everything.”

Ghost turned into his driveway.“Don’t mention it.No need for you to freeze any more than you have.”

“Still.You didn’t have to do that.”

He shrugged.“Just don’t run away again and we’ll call it even.”

A minute later, he drove his truck into the garage.She stepped out, but before she could reach for her bags in the back seat, he already had them in hand.

She followed him into the house.Ghost removed his shoes and coat, then hung her coat next to his in the hall closet.He retrieved his phone from his pocket and read something on it.

He handed her the bags.“I’ve gotta call my buddy.Go ahead and change if you want.I’m sure my clothes aren’t very comfortable.”

“Thanks.”She slipped off her boots and then ascended the stairs to his bedroom.As she shut the door, a wave of unease passed over her.

She set the items on the bed, and her gaze drifted to the large patio doors.She moved to them.Snow swarmed down over the dense woods, the flakes growing thicker and thicker.If the forecast they’d heard on the radio was accurate, they’d be hit with a huge snowstorm that evening.