Free Midnight Under the Mistletoe by Sara Orwig Page A

pressed closer,
relishing the cozy warmth of Zach beside her.
    “Isn’t this beautiful! I love the snow. It would be fun to have
a white Christmas if it didn’t keep people from their families.”
    “Your family will probably build snow forts and snowmen this
weekend.”
    She smiled. “Our yard will be filled with snow sculptures,
bunnies, snow dogs, forts, tons of snowballs, snowmen. Our local paper came out
one year and took pictures. We have sleds and everyone will go sledding if they
can.”
    “I guess in their own way, your family really enjoys life.”
    “In the best way possible, they enjoy life,” she said, looking
up at him. “Okay, I’m ready to go back in.” She tossed the blanket over his
shoulder and dashed for the back door, feeling her cascade of hair swing as she
ran.
    Inside she stomped her feet to get the snow off and wiped her
shoes on the mat. Zach appeared and did the same, best he could with his
still-injured foot. “Want coffee, tea or hot chocolate to take back to the
office?”
    “Sure, hot chocolate.”
    In minutes she had a mug and was at her desk, concentrating on
work and trying to forget about Zach and how he had looked with big snowflakes
in his thick brown hair and on his eyelashes.
    “Emma,” Zach interrupted her during the afternoon. “Look
outside now.”
    She had been concentrating on work and forgotten the snow. The
wind had picked up and when she glanced out, she gasped.
    Snow was “falling” horizontally and the entire world was white.
Everything in sight was buried in snow except the tall trees that were dark
shadows as a blizzard raged.
    “I didn’t notice. Oh, my word. I’m glad I didn’t get caught out
in that.” She walked to the window and heard him coming to join her. Once again
he draped his arm lightly across her shoulders.
    “Tomorrow night, we’ll have our fancy steak dinners. Tonight it
will be informal and cozy with Rosie’s Texas chili and homemade tamales. We can
curl up by the fire and watch a movie or play chess or whatever you want to do.
I can think of a few other possibilities,” he added in a huskier tone.
    “Chess and a movie sound perfect. Forget the other
possibilities. Stop flirting.”
    “We’ll see what the evening brings,” he said, caressing her arm
lightly. “And at the moment, I can’t resist flirting.”
    “Try,” she said, taking a deep breath. She looked outside
again, shivering just because the storm looked icy and hazardous. Once again she
was thankful she wasn’t traveling. “I’m glad Rosie and Nigel are off. No one
should be out in this. What about your livestock?”
    “That’s who is out there fighting the elements and working—the
cowboys who take care of that livestock at times like this. Just hope there’s
nothing unusual happening with any of the stock.”
    She nodded. “I’ll go back to work. I’ve received a text from
Mom and all my family is home now except those who work close and they’ll be
home soon. Some businesses have closed early.”
    “Our Dallas office closed two hours ago. I have a policy with
my CEO and with the vice presidents—whoever is in charge when I’m away—I don’t
want anyone caught in this getting home. They’ve all had time to go home.”
    “That’s nice, Zach,” she said as she returned to her desk.
    They worked until five when Zach stood and stretched. “Time to
quit, Emma. Actually past time to stop.”
    “We’re out of the storm and I don’t mind continuing.”
    “I mind. Come on—knock off and we’ll meet back down here for a
drink and then dinner. Want to meet here at six?”
    “Sure,” she said, shutting down her computer while he turned
and left the room. She closed up and went to her room to shower and change.
Dressing in a bright red sweater and matching slacks, she brushed her hair and
tied it behind her head with a scarf.
    Eagerly, she went downstairs to search for him. She followed
enticing smells to the kitchen and found Zach stirring a