Snowbound

“Oh.” Satisfied, the boy nodded. “That makes sense.

But you must have your own e-mail address, too, right?”

“Yes, I check that at the library when I’m down in

Danson.”

“Wow, not having a computer here must be weird.”

Everyone at the table except Fiona nodded in amazement and apparent sympathy for him. They couldn’t imagine a life so primitive it didn’t include unlimited

access to the computer.

After lunch, the kids dispersed, and Fiona went back

to the laundry room. John followed her, taking the precaution of closing the door behind him.

In the act of moving wet sheets between washer and

dryer, she looked from him to the door.

“The kids will wonder.”

“They’ve all set about their appointed tasks. I told

them I’d clean up from lunch.”

“You shouldn’t let them off the hook.”

“I was getting rid of them,” he corrected. “Washing

a few dishes is a small price to pay to get you alone.”

“Oh. In that case…” She flung a few wet towels in,

shut the dryer door and pushed Start, then came to him.

“And just why was it that you wanted to get me alone…?”

“To argue.” He reached up and smoothed her hair

behind her ear, loving the sleek feel, so different from

his own coarser hair.

“Um. About?” she whispered, lifting her face.

“Whether you should hand over the van keys to

Dieter and just stick around?”

He hadn’t known he was going to say that, or even that

he was thinking it. Oh, hell, he knew it was an impossibility, but a damn appealing one. He pictured the two of them standing side by side, waving as the van turned

onto the newly packed highway and sped up. He could

even see the faces in the window behind circles of steam.

Fiona laughed. “Maybe Dieter could take over my

classes, too. I’m pretty sure he’s smarter than I am.”

He nuzzled her nose. “I’m pretty sure Dieter is

smarter than just about everyone.”

Eyes closed, she murmured, “Smart enough to

realize you were getting rid of him?”

“Probably.” About to kiss her, John paused. “Or

maybe not. He’s a child.”

The way his hands moved up and down her arms, alternately caressing and kneading, was meant to be a distraction. Not enough of one, apparently, because she argued, “I’m not so sure about that. He and Willow are

definitely flirting.”

“They’re like fifth-graders. My friend says her friend

says Jennifer says Fiona likes me.”

Her breath escaped in a warm puff when she giggled.

“Fiona does like you.”

“Ah. Now we’ve achieved high school directness.”

She stood on tiptoe and nipped his lower lip. “Quit

talking.”

A rumble of laughter started in his chest. “Careful.

We may make it into college.”

“Probably not if the snowplow comes today…”

God. He wished it wouldn’t come. He wanted to

take her back into his bedroom and peel off her clothes,

then lay her back on his bed…

Not happening. She wouldn’t allow it with her

students in the lodge.

He kissed her with an edge of desperation. Maybe

similar thoughts were running through her head,

because she answered fervently, one hand gripping his

hair while the other arm wrapped around his neck. John

gripped her buttocks and lifted, hungry to feel himself

cradled between her thighs. She moaned and sighed

and stole quick snatches of breath when he lifted his

mouth, then met his lips as eagerly when he came back

for more.

He forgot they were in the laundry room, forgot

about the kids. Getting lost in her was so damn easy.

The skin on her neck was satin soft, and as he kissed

his way down, her throat vibrated with a hum of delight

that brought him back up to the lush pleasure of her

mouth. Her hips and butt were nicely rounded despite

her slender figure, her waist tiny. If her breasts hadn’t

been squished against his chest, he’d have filled his

hand with one, but that would have meant opening an

inch or two between them, and he couldn’t bear to do

that.

A distant sound didn’t penetrate. The dryer