Colton hugged Emma. “It was great having you and Simone with us this week.”

“We loved every minute of it.”

“Come see us again soon.”

“I’m sure Simone will be dragging me up here for another skiing lesson before too long.”

“I’m happy to give her another lesson any time she wants,” Colton said.

Will shook hands with Grayson. “Drive carefully.”

“Will do. Thanks for the beer.”

“Any time.”

Emma and Grayson ran out into the tundra, where the air was so cold, it hurt to breathe. He stayed with her until she was safely in the SUV and then ran around to his side and started the engine.

She immediately turned on the heated seat. “I’m going to miss your bun warmer.”

“Is that right?” he said with a low chuckle.

She snuggled into the seat. “Mmm.”

“I’m going to miss your warm buns.”

Emma laughed.

“Is the bun warmer the only thing you’re going to miss?” he asked.

“No. You know I’m going to miss much more than that.”

He gave her a small smile that let her know she wasn’t the only one wrestling with their impossible dilemma. “You want to go back to Molly’s?”

“What’re my options?”

“We could go to my place for a little while.”

At the thought of more time alone with him, her heart beat faster and her entire body felt warm despite the frigid temperatures. She knew what she ought to do—call it a night and go home before they could make things worse. But honestly, how could it be any worse than her leaving here tomorrow and not seeing him again for a long time? “We can go to your place.”

“Are you sure?”

“No,” she said with a laugh. “I’m not sure of anything other than I want to spend more time with you.”

He ran his finger over her cheek, and she felt his touch everywhere. “I want that, too.” His hand dropped from her face to shift the SUV into reverse. As soon as they were on the road back to town, he took hold of her hand, and he didn’t let go until they were parked in his driveway.

Before he shut off the engine, he leaned across the center console to kiss her. His hand sank into her hair, drawing her closer to him as the kiss went from sweet and tender to hot and bothered with one stroke of his tongue against hers.

She curled her hand around his neck and leaned in closer as their tongues engaged in a fierce duel.

He broke the kiss on a gasp. “Inside. Hurry.”

Chapter 15

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.

Without them humanity cannot survive.

—Dalai Lama

His urgency sparked hers as they dashed into the house and up two flights of stairs. Outside his apartment, he fumbled with the key and swore when it didn’t work on the first try.