Her Hometown Hero(16)

"Okay, okay, you win," she cried as snow melted and slid into her ear canal. "It's cold as sin out here!"

"I could douse you like you just did to me." One of his hands pinned her  arms above her head while the other gathered a huge handful of snow.

"No, no, no! You win!" She closed her eyes and waited for impact. Payback was terrible, but she knew she deserved it.

When nothing happened, she cracked her eyes open and looked up. With the  fire that was burning in his gaze, she was amazed there was any snow at  all left around them. It should have all turned into steam.

"I have to taste you."

He bent down, and Sage thought about resistance for all of half a  second. The moment his lips touched hers, she was lost in a pool of heat  and desire so strong she didn't recognize the feelings.

His lips demanded that hers part, and she complied, opening herself to  him, tilting her head, squirming beneath his strong, solid, hot body.  Oh, this was a first kiss to end all kisses. This man wasn't messing  around. When he released her hands, she grabbed his head, holding him to  her, wanting more.

When his hand slipped up her side and rested on her shoulder, she pushed  against him. Just a little lower, she thought. His tongue sank into her  mouth, tasted her thoroughly before retreating, leaving her wanting  more.

"Sage," he whispered as he pulled back.

She moaned her disapproval, wanting this to go on, needing him to continue heating her from the inside out.

"Sage, you're going to get frostbite."

His head was too far away. That was her only thought. She needed him to  lean down again. Passion burned in his eyes, and to judge from the  hardness she could feel pressing against her core, he was also rather  excited about their kiss-so why was he pulling back?

It took a few seconds, but once the freezing snow registered in her  brain and the fog of passion began to clear, Sage realized what he was  saying. Her back was numb where she'd been cushioned against the white  powder.

Spence had a thick layer of snow in his hair, and as her vision went  past him, she noticed that the stuff was falling down even harder than  it had been a few minutes before.

"Oh," she whispered, her mouth opening, making it easy for snowflakes to fall inside.

"Let's get you indoors. We're not dressed for this. We can always finish  in the on-call room." He stood up, grabbed her hand, and hoisted her to  her feet.

She moved slowly beside him as they neared the doors. Once inside, as a  welcome blast of heat hit her, she was racked with uncontrollable  tremors. Her scrubs were soaked, and she was glad that he'd come to his  senses. She certainly hadn't been worried about hypothermia.

"I need to change," she said through chattering teeth.

He walked next to her. "Why don't I assist you?"

"I don't think so. We're at work, Dr. Whitman." She took off down the  hall, thankful no one was around. And more than thankful that he'd  allowed her to go. She just needed five minutes. That was all.

Sure. Five minutes was really going to help her fight her attraction to  Spence, especially when he seemed to have her in his sights for the  foreseeable future. While her brain was telling her this was not what  she wanted, her body was screaming that it was well past time to take a  chance and feel the heat of a lover-to feel the passion so many others  had experienced.

With a shake to clear her clouded head, she changed clothes, then hid in  dark corners of the hospital for the rest of her shift. If she was  lucky, she'd get away without further run-ins with her hot boss.

Of course, when had she ever been that lucky?
                       
       
           



       




Sage sneaked around the corner and peeked out. The coast was clear.  She'd managed to avoid Spence through the end of her shift-no trauma  patients, no one needing her to keep her on the clock beyond her  scheduled time.

Now she just had to get out of this building and safely home. After  zipping down the hall, she craned her neck to look around the final  corner and smiled when there was no sign of Spence anywhere. She was  home free.

Once through the outside door, Sage took a step back at the force of the  snow blowing toward her. It had been coming down hard less than an hour  ago, but right now it looked like a blizzard. The wind had picked up  and the snow was pelting her.

But there was no way she'd admit defeat. Determined to make it home on  her own, she figured it would take her two hours to make the  fifteen-mile trip. Where was a snowmobile when you needed one?

She had to keep her head down as she trudged to the employee parking  lot. When she spotted her car, she nearly cried. About eight inches of  snow were piled up on the thing, and there was no sign of a road  anywhere. Was she really going to let her pride compromise her safety?

As she turned back toward the hospital, unable to even see the building  through the thick snow that was falling, she squared her shoulders. Yep.  It looked like she was.

After scraping the snow away from the door with her gloved hands, she  was nearly a Popsicle by the time she was able to unlock the car. She  sat down in the seat, shivering uncontrollably, and missed the ignition  on her first try.

Using one hand to steady the other, she finally got the key in. Once the  vehicle warmed up, this situation wouldn't look so bleak. She cranked  the key, and her car groaned. "Come on, baby. You can do this. Just  start for me now and I swear I'll get you to the shop for a full  tune-up." She didn't care even remotely that she was speaking to a  blasted car.

She turned the key again, and the car coughed but refused to start.  "Come on!" she snapped, and slammed her palms against the steering wheel  in a mini tantrum. Her fury was suddenly interrupted by the opening of  her door, and Spence leaning into her space.

"Well, this is interesting. First, you cajole the car, make promises you  most likely aren't planning on keeping, and then you beat it when you  don't get your way."

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see if you really were foolish enough to try to drive your  little death trap in this weather. I was hoping you wouldn't be so  stubborn as to risk your life, but I was sadly mistaken." He propped the  door open, allowing a torrent of wind and snow to fall over her lap.

"Spence, you're letting the snow soak the inside of my car," she said as  she tried to get hold of the handle and pull the door closed.

He stuck out his hand. "Then grab your purse and let's get out of the cold."

"I told you I could get home, and I can," she replied, refusing to  budge. Yes, she knew she wasn't going anywhere, but he didn't have to  know that. If she could get the car started, she'd warm up and then  figure out a respectable plan B.

"Well then, it will be a long, cold walk, because as of twenty minutes ago, they closed the road that leads home."

"Okay, if that's the case, then how in the heck were you planning on getting home, much less getting me there?"

It looked as if she'd be stuck in the on-call room tonight. That would  be almost as pleasant as freezing to death in her car. She weighed her  options.

"Luckily, I have a brother who loves me," he said matter-of-factly.

"What does that have to do with anything?" This was a ridiculous conversation.

"Camden just so happens to own a couple of snowmobiles," he said, looking triumphant as he presented the ace up his sleeve.

"Well, they can only carry two people, so unless Camden can tow one  behind him, you won't be able to take me anyway," she said, hiding her  disappointment. The smidgen of hope of getting home quickly deflated.

"Since Michael is driving one, there will be two extra seats," Spence  said. "They should be here within ten minutes. If you don't mind the  cots in the on-call room, be my guest. I'm heading home, where it's warm  and quiet."

When he turned to walk away, she was filled with panic. It wasn't really  so bad to get a ride. It would be a very cold ride, but tomorrow was  the start of her first full two days off in months. She really didn't  want to be at this hospital when she didn't have to be. Besides, she  could ride behind Camden or Michael-she didn't have to be snuggled up to  Spence for the ride.                       
       
           



       

"Wait!" she called out, and he turned. It was probably a good thing she  couldn't see his expression. Any smugness she detected there would  probably make her change her mind-and she had no doubt he was feeling  pretty smug right now.

"Did you need some help back inside?"

His feigned innocence disgusted her. How could she ever have thought that he'd make this easier on her?