Free McCade's Wish (The McCade Family Series Book 2) by Mara McBain Page B

They’d finished the night gathered back in front of the fireplace. They’d warmed spiced cider over the flames and continued the jokes and stories that had flowed while they’d played cards. She snuggled deeper into the mattress, remembering the heat of Cole’s body when she’d leaned back against his chest. The position had been comfortable and she’d been surprised by the feeling of security.
    She shook her head at the silly thoughts. It wasn’t like she hadn’t shared a man’s body heat before. Funny, sitting there among family and friends had felt intimate, but comfortable. Another shiver ran through her, and she glanced toward the window at a high-pitched sound. She held her breath. Though it had eased up, the wind still rattled the panes. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes. Concentrating on slowing the pound of her heart, she tried to shrug off her ridiculous fears. She felt like a little girl again, jumping in bed and wondering what lurked in the dark. She snorted at herself and shook her head. 
    Her eyes flew open as someone screamed outside the window. Her heart pounded. Tossing aside the blankets, she scrambled for the door. The hallway was silent as she scurried down the hall, her eyes darting back and forth, probing every shadow and corner. She hesitated outside Cole’s door, her fist raised. Another scream broke the night and she fumbled for the door handle.
    Throwing the door open, she dashed for the bed, feet barely touching the floor in her fear. Cole sat up in the gloom just as she leapt for the perceived safety. He caught her and they both tumbled to the mattress in a heap. She wriggled, trying to burrow under him in her fright.
    “There’s someone outside,” she hissed, fingers curling into his shirt.
    “It’s okay.”
    “This wasn’t any McCade signal for help! I heard a woman scream.”
    Cole’s big hand cupped her cheek.
    “Listen to me. It’s okay. I know what you think you heard, but there’s no woman out there.”
    “I’m not crazy!”
    “That’s debatable,” he said with a grin. “But I believe you heard a scream. It was a bobcat.”
    Adrienne shook her head adamantly. “That wasn’t a cat.”
    “A bobcat’s screech sounds like a woman or a baby screaming. It’s a bloodcurdling noise. It still raises goose bumps on me, and I know what it is.”
    She searched his face in the dark, trying to figure out if he was telling the truth or just trying to mollify her. He rubbed the outside of her arms and shifted, helping her beneath the covers.
    “It’s the God’s honest truth,” he said, tugging the blankets up around her shoulders and easing down beside her.
    “What is it you think we’re doing here?”
    He grinned, looming close in the dark.
    “With a bobcat lurking around, if you go back to your room you aren’t going to sleep. We’ve all had a long day. It’s late and cold. Why don’t you just stay here with me and we’ll share body heat.”
    “So you’re just proposing a little innocent snuggling in the name of body heat?” she asked with a hint of challenge in her tone.
    “That’s what I’m suggesting,” he drawled, blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight. “If you have something else in mind, by all means, share.”
    “Actually, I think snuggling with a big, handsome cowboy on a cold night sounds like heaven.”
    “Then come here, angel.”
    Cole shifted until he was comfortable and she was cradled against his side. Resting her head in the crook of his shoulder, she rubbed her nose against the soft cotton of his shirt and practically purred. The man was toasty warm, comfy, and even smelled good. 
    “How’s that?” he asked.
    Nudging her cold toes under his leg, she sighed. “Perfect.”
    He chuckled and patted her bottom, but didn’t move his leg away. Surrounded by a drugging heat and listening to the natural creaks of the house, she felt her lids slowly begin to droop. She gave in and closed her eyes. The day’s excitement played over in