Love in Bloom by Karen Rose Smith

Paige."
    It was a warning, but she felt reckless.  She ran the material from his chin to his shirt collar.  He closed his eyes and said sharply, "Paige..."
    It was more than a warning this time.  She dropped her hand into her lap.  "I don't want you to catch a cold."
    "As hot as I am at this moment, that could never happen."
    She wasn't exactly sure what he meant and she wanted to find out.  "The rain should have cooled you off."
    "I'm talking about you, not the weather.  Each time you touch me..."  He swore.  "We've got to get home."
    He put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking place.  After a few miles, he switched on the radio and she knew he didn't want to talk.  She put the jacket around her shoulders, breathing in Clay's scent, rested her head against the seat, and tried not to think.
    The storm became more severe the farther they drove.  Paige could hardly see through the windshield and could imagine the difficulty Clay was having.  But he didn't pull over.  They traveled slowly but surely.
    Eventually, he turned onto the road leading to Doc's.  Suddenly Clay screeched to a halt.
    He swore when she braced her hands on the dashboard, then murmured, "Sorry."
    She caught her breath and asked, "What's wrong?"
    Clay motioned through the windshield.  "There's a tree across the road.  They must have had a worse storm here.  We'll have to go to my place and get dried off until it's cleared."
    He didn't sound happy about it.
    When they arrived at Clay's, they ran from the detached garage to the house.  Inside, Paige shook off Clay's jacket.  "Now it's wet, too."
    "It doesn't matter."  He motioned to the upstairs.  "Go on.  Take a hot shower so you don't get sick.  There's a robe on the inside of the door.  Drop your clothes outside and I'll throw them in the dryer."
    "I should call Doc."
    All business and practicality, Clay said, "I'll call him and tell him what's going on.  He can let me know when they clear the road."
    Trying to stop shivering, Paige went straight to the upstairs bathroom, undressed, and dropped her clothes outside the bathroom door.  It felt strange to have someone taking care of her.  She'd been on her own most of her life.  Even when she'd been with her parents, they'd expected her to take care of herself.  And she had.  Proudly.  But Clay caring about her felt...nice.
    The hot shower warmed her to her bones.  After she toweled off, she reached for Clay's robe.  It fell to her feet.  She wound the belt around her waist twice, feeling as if she were wrapped up in an oversized velour blanket.
    She found a blow dryer under the sink and used her fingers to push her hair into order.  Without a brush, the result was a fluffy brown mass framing her face.  Coming out of the upstairs bathroom, she passed Clay's bedroom and couldn't help peeking in.  The four poster pine bed looked king-size.  It would have to be for Clay to be comfortable.  The room had stark white walls broken only by the forest green and navy patterned drapes and bedspread.  It was a masculine room.  A picture of herself and Clay intertwined on the bed flashed before her eyes.
    Paige quickly went downstairs.  Shep lay in front of the fireplace as if he expected Clay to start a fire any time.  Paige smiled until she stood in the doorway to the kitchen and saw Clay.
    He was making a pot of coffee and his back was to her.  He'd changed into a clean T-shirt and jeans.  His hair was still damp but looked as if he'd taken a comb through it.
    He heard her when she moved toward him.  Turning, he gestured to the table.  "There's a pair of socks if you want to--"
    His eyes slowly ventured from her fluffy hair to her bare toes.  His eyes darkened and seemed to burn into her.
    She took a few more steps.  "Did you call Doc?"  Her mouth was dry and the words came out in a bumpy cadence.
    "Yes.  He was glad to know you were safe."  Clay's voice was husky.
    "Of course, I'm safe.  I'm with you."
    At