Once inside the bedroom, I scurried over to the window. Snow fell in gusts, but with it covering everything, the entire ground glowed in the dim moonlight to my dark-adjusted eyes. A giant pine had snapped in half, a black silhouette against the snow. I shivered. Being stranded sucked bad enough, but having only backup power with the snowstorm of the century now just gearing up? I think God just smited us.

I headed back to the bed and climbed under the covers, tucking them under my chin. I lay on my side, watching the door. When I heard his footsteps a few minutes later, I tensed.

He carried a candle and its soft glow cast shadows over his cheekbones. Placing it on the nightstand, he sat beside me. “I’m sorry about this.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“Coming up here every year is my idea. You could be home, but now you’re stuck up here, worrying that we’re going to start eating each other.”

I laughed softly. “I really don’t think we’ll start eating each other.”

“Well, I hope if you do, you don’t start with my face. I’m told it’s my most valuable asset.” I could hear the grin in his voice and it made me smile. “But it’s going to get cold, Syd.”

“I know, but it’s not your fault. I like coming up here.”

He was silent for a moment. “You know, I never understood why. You don’t even like to ski or do anything like that.”

I chewed on my lower lip. “I like to spend time with you—with everyone.” My cheeks heated. “I just like doing this with everyone.”

Kyler reached over and in the dim light, he found the strand of hair against my cheek and tucked it back. “I’m glad you came.”

I got all kinds of warm at hearing that. “Only because you’d be all alone right now.”

He laughed deeply, and then cut a look toward the window as the wind screamed. “Nah, that’s not the only reason.”

Now my heart was doing jumping jacks.

Kyler picked up the edge of the blanket. “Scoot over.”

My eyes popped wide. “What?”

“It’s going to get cold in here, and I know you’re not sleeping because of the wind. I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.” He paused. “And besides, without a shirt, I am freezing my ass off right now.”

“Okay.” I stuttered that word like an idiot as I scooted over. Then I rolled over onto my other side, because I was sure I couldn’t face him in bed.

He slid under the covers, and even though a few inches separated our bodies, I could feel him. Totally weird, but my entire back warmed and the urge to wiggle back and really feel him was hard to ignore.