Behind them the dogs yowled and yipped, but they were both too focused on each other to pay attention.

“I thought it was a message. I thought you were saying you weren’t interested.”

“I was waiting for you to make the decision. But you walked in and treated me like a fellow guest in a hotel, not someone you’d spent the whole of the previous night naked with.”

She turned her head, but Robyn and Erik were harnessing the dogs to the sled.

“I think we might have had a misunderstanding.” When she looked back at him, he was smiling.

“Seems that way.” He hauled her against him, ignoring the bulky clothing. “You scared me to death, Alix. I thought that was the end. I couldn’t bear it to be the end.”

She hugged him back, relieved, emotional and, most of all, hopeful.

“Alix, Zac.” Robyn’s voice traveled through the frozen air. “We should leave now before we all freeze.”

Zac kept his arms round her. “This conversation isn’t over.”

“No.” And only now did she realize how cold she was. “I’m freezing. Are you freezing?”

“I’m so cold I can’t feel any of the essential parts of me.” He let her go, and they trudged toward the sled.

This time he sat behind her, and she was conscious of the press of his legs against hers and the pressure of his arms round her body.

Despite the intense cold, her heart felt light, and she couldn’t stop smiling. He’d been giving her space. Trying to be thoughtful.

The ride was exhilarating, and she knew she’d never forget the sheer thrill of it. She felt humbled to be in this beautiful place, surrounded by the sheer beauty of the frozen forest.

But most of all, she knew she’d never forget this moment with Zac.

What would have happened if she and Zac hadn’t had that conversation? They might have gone their separate ways, never knowing it had simply been a misunderstanding. And the responsibility for that was hers. That defensive wall of hers had come up again. In her instinctive attempt to protect herself she’d almost destroyed a chance at true happiness.

Never again. Never again would she let her issues get in the way of something good.

And now she couldn’t wait to get back to the cabin so that they could talk properly and be together.

They arrived back at the lodge, thanked Robyn and Erik and said a grateful goodbye to the dogs before walking back to the cabin.

They removed their boots and outer layers and were barely through the door before Zac grabbed her.

He groaned and kissed his way from her jaw to her mouth. “We wasted a whole damn night.”

“There will be plenty more.” She lifted her hand to his cheek, feeling the roughness of his jaw against her palm. “Well, at least a few more. Until I mess it up.”

“Could you stop assuming everything is going to go disastrously wrong? And you’re not going to mess it up.” He swung her into his arms and carried her through to the bedroom.