Snowbound by Janice Kay Johnson

found out if this attraction to him meant anything.
    Suddenly a giggle escaped her, as irresistible as a hiccup.
    His eyes narrowed. What?
    I suddenly realized Im having this intense conversation with a man whos holding a basket of sanitary napkins.
    He looked down. Uh, yeah. Here. You take them. He all but shoved the basket into her hands.
    Another bubble of laughter in her throat, she said, Feel manlier now?
    He was getting better at the whole smiling thing. This one was positively rakish. Hey, you kissed me because of those pads.
    I can be bribed, she said with as much dignity as she could summon.
    And with so little.
    She laughed. Ill take these upstairs.
    You do that.
    Fiona backed up a step or two. And see whether Amy has reappeared.
    Good idea.
    The boys are probably getting hungry again.
    With resignation, John said, Undoubtedly. Ill see what I can find.
    Okay. Even so, it was all she could do to make herself turn away. Pushing through the swinging door, she felt a little flutter of alarm along with plenty of flutters of excitement. Was it really all that smart to be even thinking about falling for a man whod had to move out into the woods so he could decompress? Orhorrorswas that the real attraction? Did she think she could somehow fix him? Lord, was she that arrogant?
    Perturbed, she took the basket upstairs and left it inthe bathroom, then returned to her book downstairs. She couldnt hang out in the kitchen all evening.
    If she kept finding herself rereading pages, at least no one else could tell.
    The poker game seemed to be winding down. Maybe betting on wood and bark chips was losing its zip. Dieter and Willow were talking now, rather than playing Chinese checkers, and, as Fiona surveyed the room, Troy took off his earphones and sat up.
    With an apparent gift for timing, Amy chose just then to come down the stairs.
    Fiona felt as much as saw John come from the kitchen and stop in the shadow of one of the rough-hewn pillars.
    Everyone looked at Amy, who paused on the bottom step, tears seeming to sparkle on her lashes.
    Willow? she whispered. Then, as she rushed forward, Oh, Willow! Im so sorry!
    Looking wary, Willow rose to her feet. Amy hugged her.
    I have such a big mouth. I was mostly annoyed at Hopper she cast him a half-stern, half-flirtatious look before turning back to Willow and I just wanted to tell him to mind his own business. But I didnt think. I never meant to embarrass you. And Im really sorry I did.
    Her voice was tremulous, her expression tragic.
    What could Willow do but say, Its okay. It was dumb of me to be embarrassed. I justI never talked about stuff like that before in front of She bit her lip. But its no biggie, okay?
    Amy gave a breathtaking smile. Ive been feeling so awful! Thank you.
    Everyone smiled with approval. The performance was beautiful. Fiona was a little bit shocked at her own cynicism.
    She turned her head and saw the way John was watching the scene, his expression a mixture of incredulity, admiration and disgust.
    Maybe, she tried to tell herself, Amy had learned something from this other than how to feign remorse, assuming she hadnt already known how to do that. Could it be that shed become just a little more aware that nastiness didnt win friends?
    Fionas inner teenager murmured, Yeah, right.
    Amy was weepy, glowing with relief and reveling in being the center of attention. Willow, once again colorless, had slipped to the periphery as if trying to vanish. Dieter, bless his heart, had gone with her and was ignoring Amy.
    Fiona was exhausted. She had never before appreciated so much that classes were only fifty minutes long. She also discovered that, while she didnt want to go home, she wanted them to go home.
    Meanwhile she was having a debate with herself about whether to take Amy aside and tell her a little went a long way and she really, really didnt have to lay it on so thick.
    She was saved by the necessity by John, who took a few steps forward, cleared his throat and