Page 47 of Wilde Flame

Holding up my hands, I shook my head. “Don’t, Caden. Please, let’s just not say anything, except that we’ll be friends now, and not enemies.”

He walked toward me and stopped only inches away. My heart pounded in my chest when he reached up and cupped my face. The pull I felt toward Caden was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. My body leaned forward, and when his mouth captured mine, we both moaned.

The kiss was slow and lacked nothing in passion. It was also very much a goodbye kiss. A kiss that said so many things when words couldn’t be spoken.

When we finally broke apart, Caden leaned his forehead to mine. “Thank you for this, Lili. You have no idea how much a part of me feels…healed.”

I squeezed his arms and smiled when we stepped apart. “I should probably go take off your clothes.”

He glanced down and shook his head. “Keep them. I’ll drive you back to the barn and to your car.”

I quickly gathered up the few things I had. Said goodbye to the kitten, who I named Misty, and made Caden promise me he wouldn’t put her back out in the cold. We drove in silence to the horse barn, and I silently prayed we wouldn’t see anyone. I didn’t have it in me to have Ensley or Emeline take one look at me and realize what had happened between their brother and me.

“Looks like Gatlin, or one of the guys, cleaned off your car,” Caden said, as he pulled up and parked his truck.

My car was indeed cleared of snow from the windows and most of the body. “That was sweet.”

“Do you have a land line at your house?”

Confused, I asked, “A land line?”

He smiled. “Telephone. You lost your cell, so I wanted to make sure you let me know when you get home safely.”

A bubble of laughter slipped free. “Yes. I actually do, but I have no idea what the number is. It’s stored in my cell.”

He pulled out his wallet and handed me a business card. I glanced down and saw the ranch’s logo. It was a large black W with a bullhead and horns, as well as a horseshoe, above the W. It read “River Falls Cattle Company,” and included Caden’s name, email, and cell number.

“Call me when you get home so I know you’ve made it okay.”

I nodded. “I will. Thank you again for coming to find me, and for…” My cheeks heated, and I chewed on my lip.

“I’ll never forget our time together, Lili.”

I pushed away the sadness that threatened to overtake me. “Neither will I, Caden.”

Leaning over, I quickly kissed him before leaving his truck. Someone had plowed the entire area, so it made it easy for me to get to my car and get in. I started it and let it warm up for a bit. When I pulled out, Caden followed me all the way to the main entrance. I honked and waved my hand as I pulled onto the road. It had been cleared as well but was still covered in snow.

I was pretty sure by the time I got home, my hands would be aching from how hard I was gripping the steering wheel.

When I finally made it to my little rental, I pulled into the driveway, turned off the car, and just stared at the house. How was it only two days ago that I was stumbling around in a snowstorm before Caden found me? Before we spent two days together in the most intimate way a man and woman could?

Exhaling, I made my way to the front door, making a mental note to have someone come shovel my sidewalk.

Once inside, I paused. “It’s freezing in here!”

I quickly made my way to the thermostat and turned up the heater, only to realize it wasn’t working.

“Great,” I mumbled, as I remembered my landlord’s number was stored in my cell.

Looking around, I searched for the notebook that I’d written down Larry’s information. Larry owned the rental house, and he was a super-nice guy. He would come right away if I called.

When I finally found what I was looking for, I picked up the phone, then remembered I hadn’t called Caden. Pulling out his card, I dialed his cell.

“You home?” Caden asked.

“I am. And I’m sorry to make this so brief, but I’ve got to call my landlord. My heat isn’t working.”

He cursed under his breath. “You should have just stayed here another night.”