“How’s your chin and your tongue?” Lucy asked, giving Will her complete attention.

He waved off her concern, a playful smile on his face. “I’ll live.”

Lucy reached up and ran her fingertips along the edge of his jawline, then traced his lips. They parted slightly and she could hear his intake of breath. “Will …” They were all alone.

She rose on tiptoes, her hands finding Will’s chest to steady herself, then snaking up around his neck and nestling in his hair. He seemed mesmerised, his playful smile evaporating as his eyes rivetted to hers. She was gentle with her kiss at first, not wanting to hurt him, but in moments, his soft lips responded, and their mouths joined with a fervour that echoed her sole thought. We’re all alone. His tongue touched to hers and tasted faintly metallic. His arms encircled her, one hand flat against the small of her back, the other cupping her head, pulling her into the kiss.

It was impossible to know how much time passed and Lucy would have very happily retired to any of the rooms—upstairs or down—to take advantage of their solitude, but Will broke the kiss, panting slightly, and pressed his forehead to hers.

Had she done something wrong? Lucy stiffened, still caught in Will’s embrace, but unsure what to do next. What was the right thing to do after a kiss like that? From the recesses of her mind came a realisation. She had no idea how to answer that, because she’d never had a kiss like that before. No, she realised with some disdain, she’d got to the age of thirty-three without having any kind of true passion in her life. No wonder Will was backing away. Clearly, he was overwhelmed by how needy she was.

“Lucy, god, I want you so much …” Or not! “But … we’ve got that snowmobiling and snowshoeing thing.” Was he serious? He wanted to forgo making love to her to go bloody snowshoeing?

She pulled out of the embrace and smoothed down her hair. “Oh, quite right.” Will looked crestfallen, but how was she supposed to act? She’d thought that her sexy fantasy was about to come to fruition. Instead, she would be donning the giant eggplant snowsuit, possibly the least attractive article of clothing ever invented, and going out into the snow. The snow that she had travelled across the world to see. She bit her lip, cross with herself for being so petulant. There was definitely an unease between them now.

“Well …” Will shook his head, a bit like a cartoon character trying to set his mind right. “As soon as we’re ready, we’ll head out.” He gave her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and Lucy instantly decided to enjoy every ounce of their snowy excursion. It was obviously important to him.

She reached out and squeezed Will’s hand. “I’ll go and get ready.” She ran up the stairs without waiting for him to reply.

*