She swallowed hard, the world around them disappearing as she lost herself in his gaze, his arms, the gentle way his fingers stroked her cheek. Amazing. No man had even come close to complimenting her that way. She’d have settled for not horrible.

He was Cassie’s brother and that should be reason enough not to let things go any farther. Hell, she could list a dozen reasons—most of them having to do with her lack of experience with relationships, even casual, physical ones, but she suspected it was already too late to cool things between them. She didn’t want to.

He moved closer, but this time she pulled back. Suddenly, she had to know. “Why did you follow me that day?”

He didn’t ask for clarification. “Because I understood how you were feeling...and I didn’t want you to be alone.”

Of course his situation had been different—with his dad just disappearing one day without explanation—but of course he had understood how she was feeling. And at the time, she’d instinctively known it. “I’m glad you were there.”

He pulled her closer again. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Her heartbeat echoed on the mountains as his lips inched closer.

She was so ready for this kiss. He looked and smelled so great and he was saying all the right things, touching her and looking at her the way she longed to be touched, admired. She closed her eyes, feeling his breath against her mouth.

“You two better eat, we have more skiing to do,” Garrett said, leaning over the picnic table, his face suddenly just inches from theirs.

Seriously?

Luckily, he moved away, laughing again before Reed could deck him. “Son of a...” he muttered.

Erika silenced him by placing a small peck to his lips. Not the passionate, desire-filled one raging inside of her, but a soft, tender hint of what she hoped was to come.

“That was hardly enough,” he said, his voice husky.

“Well, maybe you can convince me to try again later,” she said, a flirty adrenaline soaring through her as she moved away and continued to eat her hot dog. Not that she was hungry anymore. She could survive solely on this incredible feeling forever.

“You better count on it.”

Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“THANK YOU AGAIN for today,” Erika said as Reed pulled to the side of the road outside Cassie’s place. The sky was dark and the light snowfall that had started on their way back now blanketed the village with a pretty, glistening effect. Holiday lights on the lampposts and in the closed store windows created the perfect Christmas card scene.