And just like that, her heart sank into a pit of darkness. "Don't take it back," she pleaded, unable to meet his gaze.
"Hey," he said, tilting her chin with a gentle touch. "I'd never take that back. It was-well, that was the sexiest thing I've ever been a part of. I can't stop thinking about it, honestly. I mean, when I think about you splayed against that tree, the feel of you … it's to the point of distraction today."
A relieved laugh left her lips, and she leaned her cheek against his hand. "I know it can't happen again, but I don't regret it either. Even if that's all I get, it's better than watching you from across the homestead, wondering what it would feel like for you to touch me."
"It won't always be like this. Erin will move on eventually and tire of the game."
She cast her gaze to the bassinet. "I hope you're right."
****
Aanon muttered a curse and yanked his oil-covered hand back. Damned snowmobile was going to be a beast to keep running this winter. The smaller one was working fine, but the older, larger vehicle had been begging repairs for three years. With Farrah at the homestead, they'd need both of them running and trustworthy. As much as he'd love to share a sled with her, her stomach was growing by the day, and he didn't want to run the risk of her falling off the back.
A slash across his finger wept red, and he staunched it with a semi-clean rag. His hands were covered in grease, and it was nearly dinner time, but he was running out of daylight to repair it. Bad weather was coming soon. He could feel it in his bones, and snow, unrelenting and unforgiving, would wash the last remnants of autumn from his home.
The sound of the four-wheeler and Luna's jubilant barking filled the barn, and helpless to his heart, he jogged to help Farrah untie the log she dragged behind the ATV. She didn't even need his help, which was somehow even more attractive.
With the tree untied, she unhooked the chainsaw from the front bars of the ATV and frowned at the hand he'd fisted to keep the rag tightly on.
"What happened?"
"It's nothing," he muttered in irritation at himself. "Just messing with the danged snowmobile."
"Oh. Well, let me see it."
Reluctantly, he pulled the wrap off and held it out for her inspection.
"Looks nasty. You should go clean it up before it gets infected. Maybe put a bandage on it."
"I will after I cut this wood. It's getting dark, and I want to turn in before the storm hits."
"It smells like snow," she murmured, brushing a finger along the cut. She didn't seem squeamish at the sight of blood, and the things he admired about her piled up with every conversation they had.
"I can cut the wood," she said. "I'll just use the chainsaw. This really needs to be cleaned."
Gripping the wrap, he dragged her waist closer and offered her a devilish smile. "Clean is overrated." Before she could react, he wiped the pad of his grease-covered thumb across her cheek, and she stood stock still, a gasp of shock frozen on her face.
"Aanon Falk, you've lost your mind. I dressed up for you today and you're getting me filthy!" The barest hint of a smile brushed her full lips, and he couldn't take his eyes off their shape.
"I did notice you were looking extra sexy today."
"Good. That was the entire point of me wearing my best work shirt." Sarcasm tinted her voice, and he dragged his gaze back to her dancing eyes.
"Someday, I'm going to take you out somewhere nice, and you can dress up in something other than your best work shirt."
"Don't tease me," she said.
"Not a tease. I can't wait to spend a day in town, just you and me." He stole a glance at the road to make sure no cars were making their way to the big house and leaned down to brush his lips against hers. She tasted so sweet, he brushed his tongue against the inside of her lip just to better drink her in. The way she melted against him when he touched her brought a shuddering sensation to his insides. She didn't hide that she was affected by him, and she was entirely too erotic when she made little helpless sounds in the back of her throat.
Pulling away to rest his forehead against hers, he gave her another wicked smile. "I like how you say my name when you're frustrated. It makes me want to kiss you until you forget what you're mad at me for."
"I still remember," she said, voice quaking.
Her eyes were glazed, and she blinked slower. He wanted to take her into his house and lose himself entirely. He couldn't' even remember being this happy.
"You dirtied my face," she said with a challenging smile.
Those lips that had the power to offer a simple smile eased all of his aches, enticing him to stay lost in them forever. Slipping his hands up her neck, he tilted her jaw back with two gentle thumbs and dipped his mouth to hers. Her lips were so soft, yielding to him as they moved against his, and his head swam with his want of her. No, not want. He needed her. If she left now, he'd be broken into a million pieces. Splintered so completely, he'd never be whole again. He hadn't even noticed how sad and dark his life had become until she entered it like a ray of sunlight that cut straight to his soul. He kissed her harder at the thought of losing her. He wanted all of her. Wanted her to open up about her past, to trust him with her secrets, to know her the way no one else ever had.
Her hands grew frantic and found their way under his jacket, then under his sweater. Cold fingers found the warmth of his skin, and he hissed as she raked her nails across his back. "Farrah," he warned. His control slipped by the second.
Pulling away with an unapologetic grin, she pecked his cheek and nose, then spun around. "You should really clean that cut, Falk."
He staggered forward a step, as if his body couldn't let go of her warmth. She sauntered toward the chainsaw. If he thought her controlling a tractor was sexy, watching her stick a boot across the wood to steady it, ripping the chainsaw until it revved and cutting confidently into the lumber was just about enough to demolish any lingering self-control he had left.
He was in it. This was deep in the murky forest of No-Turning-Back-Land, and he'd dived head first and weaponless into it with Farrah. A sudden fear washed over him that she'd leave, and he'd be shattered. It had happened before, and now this iron woman with the vein of delicious vulnerability had the power to destroy him where Erin had failed.
But watching her care for the homestead and listening to her defend it as paradise affected him in a way no other human being had managed. He trusted her beyond a doubt, and not because love was blind, but because she'd earned it. Because she was worthy of it.
As he strode for the house with the noise of the chainsaw as a soundtrack to his retreat, he smiled. If he was in it with anyone, Farrah was worth the risk.
****
The first wave of snow hit in the early hours of the morning. When Farrah had awoken, the homestead had changed. No longer was it green and muddy, but now was covered in a white blanket that sparkled in the sunlight. There was something so ethereal about snow that hadn't been touched. No tire tracks wound through the clearing, no boot prints graced the ivory sweep. Even the forest animals had huddled down against the frigid chill and kept their tracks from the homestead.
She slipped into her warmest clothes and brought Aanon a cup of coffee, black as he preferred. The snow hadn't hindered his drive to chop cords of lumber, and he turned at her approach with a slight frown. "Briney called and wants you to come work a double shift today."
"Good, I need the money."
He took the coffee and sipped a drag. "The weather should hold until tomorrow. That's when Mother Nature is going to dump a blizzard on us, but still, it worries me that you're going to town this close to a bad storm."
"I'll be fine. I'll keep an eye on the weather station at the bar, and if it comes earlier, I'll leave for home right away," she promised. If Briney was giving up shifts as often as he had been, she'd be able to provide for her baby in a way she hadn't considered before. It gave her hope. The life she could give wouldn't be fancy by any means, but she'd work to make sure her child never lacked anything important. More shifts broadened her list of options.
"I can't spare the whole day," he said, seemingly distracted. Gesturing to her woodpile, only half stocked, he said, "I had enough wood cut for one wood stove this winter, but we're playing catch up on your stove now. And trust me when I say we won't want to be going out in blizzard conditions later in winter to try and cut wood. We need to stay on top of it now when we're able. Besides, you're going to be out of commission late in the season with the pregnancy. I just don't want to worry about you being cold out here."