Free Northern Escape by Jennifer LaBrecque Page B

throughout her. His touch proved as potent as she’d ever thought it might be.
    Gus sipped at her wine and the conversation gravitated toward music. It turned out they shared similarmusical tastes and had seen some of the same performers at New York venues.
    One glass of wine turned into two and the conversation turned to books and movies and food and life in general. Gus found herself laughing and being laughed with. Nick seemed as entertained by her as she was by him and they had an astonishing amount in common. The things they didn’t have in common remained a point of interest to Gus.
    One of Gus’s favorite Sinatra songs came up on the jukebox. Nick held out a hand. “Dance with me?”
    She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t think twice. She put her hand in his. “I’d love to.”
    Maybe it was the man, perhaps it was the music, and two glasses of wine at the end of a long day probably didn’t hurt, but Gus felt as if her feet weren’t even touching the ground.
    Held in his arms, against his warmth, his heart beating beneath her cheek, she seemed to float over the wood floor she’d trod uncountable times in the past four years.
    The song ended and they stopped, standing still in the middle of the room. He leaned his forehead against hers, his warm breath gusting against her mouth. “Thank you for coming out with me tonight.”
    Her heart threatened to thump out of her chest. “I had a good time, Nick. I guess we should clean up, though. It’s getting late.”
    He released her but kept her one hand in his and together they crossed to the bar. She washed up theglasses while he wiped down the counter, and then the crazy man insisted on settling his tab.
    While they were cleaning up, the jukebox finished playing the final selection, leaving the room quiet once again.
    She walked him to the door leading to the airstrip and B and B. He took her hands in his. “Come with me tomorrow. I’m helping decorate for the pageant.”
    She should say no. She meant to say no. Instead she said, “Okay.”
    â€œI can’t remember when I’ve had more fun on a date,” he said, bracketing her shoulders with his hands, his palms and fingers sizzling against her bare skin.
    She barely bit back a sigh, looking up at him instead, and saying, “Me, too.” She simply spoke the truth.
    He released her and for one moment she thought he was going to walk through the door. Disappointment singed her but then he muttered, “Damn” as if he couldn’t help himself. He caught her shoulders once again and his lips sought hers.
    Gus met him halfway. Their kiss was warm, tender and he tasted like wine. He pulled her closer, kissing her deeper, more thoroughly and it was like a spark of lightning hitting underbrush at the end of a four-year drought.
    Fire roared through her. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she moaned into his mouth. She absorbed his answering groan, as he proceeded to kiss her like she’d never been kissed before.
    Finally he pulled away. Their mutually ragged breathing seemed to fill the room’s quiet.
    â€œIf I’m going to leave, I need to leave now,” he said, cutting to the chase.
    He was clearly ready to stay if she issued the invitation. Gus wanted him, but for now it was enough to know he wanted her, too. And there was absolutely no doubt he wanted her. She released him. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    He turned loose of her arms and stepped back. “Good night, Gus.”
    â€œGood night, Nick.”
    He brushed his fingers over her cheekbone, as if driven to touch her just once more before he left. “Sweet dreams.”
    For the first time in a long time, she thought she just might. “You, too.”
    He stepped through the door and she closed it behind him. Sighing, she leaned against it and smiled, simply because she couldn’t do otherwise. Her lips were still warm from