Jennifer Faye - Snowbound with the Soldier

Kara refused to let his gallant acts or obvious good looks change what she knew about him. When a relationship got too serious or hit a snag, he’d rather skip town than talk out their problems. She refused to get involved with someone she couldn’t trust.

His blank stare moved from the box in her hand to her eyes. “I have the water heated up. I just need to know if you want tea or coffee.”

“Tea.” Her mouth grew dry and she struggled to swallow. Giving herself a moment to suck down her embarrassment, she took her time returning the box to the dresser top. At last she turned. “I didn’t read about your heroism in the paper.”

He leaned against the doorjamb and crossed his arms. His eyes needled her. “Snooping, huh?”

She didn’t know if her face could get any hotter without catching fire. Unable to deny his accusation, she went with a different tack. “Such a great honor shouldn’t be kept a secret.”

“And that justifies you going through my things? Digging up unwanted memories?” The roughness of his voice spoke of a deep emotional attachment to the memories.

“Why were you honored?” she asked, needing to understand what had happened to him during those missing seven years.

“I did what had to be done. End of story.”

“Does everything have to be some sort of deep dark secret? Or is it just me that you refuse to be honest with?”

Pain reflected in his eyes, but in a blink, it was gone—hidden behind an impenetrable wall. Regret for snapping at him rolled over Kara. She hadn’t meant to make him defensive. She truly cared about what had happened to him.

“I’ll get you some tea.”

“You don’t need to bother.” She didn’t want to be even more of an imposition. “I can just wait in here, out of the way, until the snowplow digs us out.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“It’s for the best. This way we don’t have to get in each other’s way. You can go about your business like I’m not even here.”

“This room isn’t very warm. You’ll be a lot more comfortable in front of the fireplace.”

“I could just bundle up in a blanket.”

Why was he being so difficult when she was trying to make this awkward arrangement as tolerable as possible for both of them? Surely he wasn’t any more interested in spending time with her than she was about spending it with him.

“Suit yourself.” He shrugged. “But you should know that as soon as I get your tea, I’ll be in to get my shower. And with the bathroom being a bit cramped, I tend to strip down in the bedroom.”

Heat scorched her cheeks until she thought for sure her hair would go up in smoke. So much for her idea about keeping distance between them.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” she said. “You wouldn’t have a comb handy, would you?”

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