Sarah Mackenzie gratefully absorbed the delicious warmth emitting from the snapping fire, which danced in the huge stone fireplace in the lobby of the Dragon's Breath Lodge. She wasn't certain how long it would take Dan to get them registered, but after all it had taken for her to get Dan to agree to this, she didn't mind lingering near this heated coziness, at least for a few minutes. But more than thawing out by the fire, she was anxious for her and Dan to get a room where they'd generate their own heat.
Which couldn't happen soon enough for her.
God help her, she couldn't wait to get her hands on him. It had been so long" way too long since she'd made love. It was going on close to a year and even after she'd met Dan, Sarah wanted to hold out as long as possible. It had been difficult, especially after that one particular moment, but the stress and problems that had been wreaking havoc with every aspect of her life didn't exist in this rustic lodge. Here, Sarah would have time and privacy to get herself and her relationship with Dan back on track.
She pulled off her gloves and her gaze rested on the sparkling round diamond adorning her left hand. When Daniel Breslin had slipped the engagement ring on her finger four months ago, it had been the happiest, most magical moment of her life. She loved him deeply and she'd believed, they'd both believed, that everything was going to be perfect.
Everything was, in a word, a disaster.
While it was odd enough that Sarah had found love so long after losing Cameron, she couldn't help but feel that something was going to go terribly wrong. Sarah always had trouble with men and had screwed things up with Dan once before. She'd learned her lesson when he walked away the first time, which was why she probably kept him a secret. She'd told a grand total of zero people about her relationship with Dan. If he was mentioned, it was to tell them that he was a jerk who was helping her with a cover; a body guard of sorts. If no one knew she loved him, they wouldn't be able to hurt her by hurting him.
He was kind, loving, patient, honorable, and generous. He made her laugh. Made her happy. Sure, he had his faults—but her, what man didn't leave his socks on the floor and coffee cups all over the place" Best of all, Dan loved her as much as she loved him, despite all the terrible things she'd done in the past. He didn't seem to care. He had told her a while ago that anyone can turn over a new leaf.
Their relationship had suffered briefly when Daniel had found out about Alain's threat. Sarah tried for days to convince him she'd be alright. Within a week or so he'd begun to understand that this is who Sarah was. She did things like this. While Mack did stay away from illegal things, she was still reckless at times. It was her personality and he'd accepted it. But when Sarah had seen how worried Daniel had been over the thought of her being involved in a bust like Alain wanted, she'd started to rethink her priorities. The longer she put her task off, the more she decided that she didn't want to do it. But Alain had said he'd turn her over to the people who wanted her if she didn't follow through. Wanting a life with Dan made her realize she just needed to get this over with.
The only thing she kept from Dan had been the nagging feeling that she was being followed. Watched. Trailed. At first, she wrote it off as paranoia, but the longer the feeling continued?and the voices she heard. Sarah just knew that Alain must have gotten tired of waiting. Finally afraid for her life, she turned to Daniel who in turn yelled at her. A lot. He was afraid.
After a round of tears on both their parts, Daniel agreed to get them out of the city for now. Sarah had told him she'd take care of Alain. Oh yes, she'd take care of him. But first' her night with Dan.
The deep, familiar rumble of Daniel's laughter caught her attention and she turned toward the reception desk. The mere sight of Dan, his thick, dark hair gleaming with dampness from the snow, made her pulse jump and her throat go dry with longing. He was smiling at a man and woman behind the reception desk, a couple Sarah judged to be in their sixties. They must be the owners she decided.
Sarah watched Dan striding toward her and everything female inside her came to immediate attention. With his parka unzipped, sturdy snow boots, his favorite Levi's that hugged his long legs, and a thick, cable knit sweater that stretched across his wide chest and exactly matched his dark blue eyes, he looked rugged and masculine and absolutely delicious. That same whammo of attraction that had all but knocked her unconscious the first time she'd seen him almost a year ago slammed into her now—as it did every time she looked at him. She'd dated some very attractive men over the years, but Dan was the first one who could knock the breath from her lungs with a mere look.
A look like the one he was giving her right now.
The one that curved up a corner of his gorgeous mouth and resulted in a totally sexy lopsided grin that dented a shallow dimple in his cheek and made her knees feel like freshly kneaded bread dough. The one that made his eyes glitter with that wicked gleam and sizzling sensuality she loved.
Heat that had nothing to do with the roaring fire poured through her. Looking at him now, it was impossible to believe their relationship could ever teeter on the brink of imploding. Surely with this time alone, away from everything and everyone that had been conspiring to pull them apart for the past four months, she'd be able to relax. And together they'd find a way to solve their problems. All they needed was a break. And here, at the Dragon's Breath Lodge, that's exactly what they'd have.
Which couldn't happen soon enough for her.
God help her, she couldn't wait to get her hands on him. It had been so long" way too long since she'd made love. It was going on close to a year and even after she'd met Dan, Sarah wanted to hold out as long as possible. It had been difficult, especially after that one particular moment, but the stress and problems that had been wreaking havoc with every aspect of her life didn't exist in this rustic lodge. Here, Sarah would have time and privacy to get herself and her relationship with Dan back on track.
She pulled off her gloves and her gaze rested on the sparkling round diamond adorning her left hand. When Daniel Breslin had slipped the engagement ring on her finger four months ago, it had been the happiest, most magical moment of her life. She loved him deeply and she'd believed, they'd both believed, that everything was going to be perfect.
Everything was, in a word, a disaster.
While it was odd enough that Sarah had found love so long after losing Cameron, she couldn't help but feel that something was going to go terribly wrong. Sarah always had trouble with men and had screwed things up with Dan once before. She'd learned her lesson when he walked away the first time, which was why she probably kept him a secret. She'd told a grand total of zero people about her relationship with Dan. If he was mentioned, it was to tell them that he was a jerk who was helping her with a cover; a body guard of sorts. If no one knew she loved him, they wouldn't be able to hurt her by hurting him.
He was kind, loving, patient, honorable, and generous. He made her laugh. Made her happy. Sure, he had his faults—but her, what man didn't leave his socks on the floor and coffee cups all over the place" Best of all, Dan loved her as much as she loved him, despite all the terrible things she'd done in the past. He didn't seem to care. He had told her a while ago that anyone can turn over a new leaf.
Their relationship had suffered briefly when Daniel had found out about Alain's threat. Sarah tried for days to convince him she'd be alright. Within a week or so he'd begun to understand that this is who Sarah was. She did things like this. While Mack did stay away from illegal things, she was still reckless at times. It was her personality and he'd accepted it. But when Sarah had seen how worried Daniel had been over the thought of her being involved in a bust like Alain wanted, she'd started to rethink her priorities. The longer she put her task off, the more she decided that she didn't want to do it. But Alain had said he'd turn her over to the people who wanted her if she didn't follow through. Wanting a life with Dan made her realize she just needed to get this over with.
The only thing she kept from Dan had been the nagging feeling that she was being followed. Watched. Trailed. At first, she wrote it off as paranoia, but the longer the feeling continued?and the voices she heard. Sarah just knew that Alain must have gotten tired of waiting. Finally afraid for her life, she turned to Daniel who in turn yelled at her. A lot. He was afraid.
After a round of tears on both their parts, Daniel agreed to get them out of the city for now. Sarah had told him she'd take care of Alain. Oh yes, she'd take care of him. But first' her night with Dan.
The deep, familiar rumble of Daniel's laughter caught her attention and she turned toward the reception desk. The mere sight of Dan, his thick, dark hair gleaming with dampness from the snow, made her pulse jump and her throat go dry with longing. He was smiling at a man and woman behind the reception desk, a couple Sarah judged to be in their sixties. They must be the owners she decided.
Sarah watched Dan striding toward her and everything female inside her came to immediate attention. With his parka unzipped, sturdy snow boots, his favorite Levi's that hugged his long legs, and a thick, cable knit sweater that stretched across his wide chest and exactly matched his dark blue eyes, he looked rugged and masculine and absolutely delicious. That same whammo of attraction that had all but knocked her unconscious the first time she'd seen him almost a year ago slammed into her now—as it did every time she looked at him. She'd dated some very attractive men over the years, but Dan was the first one who could knock the breath from her lungs with a mere look.
A look like the one he was giving her right now.
The one that curved up a corner of his gorgeous mouth and resulted in a totally sexy lopsided grin that dented a shallow dimple in his cheek and made her knees feel like freshly kneaded bread dough. The one that made his eyes glitter with that wicked gleam and sizzling sensuality she loved.
Heat that had nothing to do with the roaring fire poured through her. Looking at him now, it was impossible to believe their relationship could ever teeter on the brink of imploding. Surely with this time alone, away from everything and everyone that had been conspiring to pull them apart for the past four months, she'd be able to relax. And together they'd find a way to solve their problems. All they needed was a break. And here, at the Dragon's Breath Lodge, that's exactly what they'd have.