The New Year's Bride (Holiday Mail Order Brides Book Two) by Kit Morgan Page B

in the air and Elle’s lungs strained for breath as she tried to keep up with Spencer.  But none of it mattered.  What did was the man beside her.  He reached over and took her mitten-clad hand in his own and gave it a healthy squeeze.  She looked up at him and smiled.  The satisfaction she’d felt earlier at helping him bring in wood engulfed her heart.  Together they had performed a simple task, but one that brought them closer in a profound way.  Elle couldn’t begin to describe how, it just did.  Maybe it was because part of it had to do with basic survival, the need to stay warm.  Maybe because she knew she was helping him, working along side him to achieve a goal.  What ever it was, she liked it, and wanted to experience it again.
    “Let’s get inside, you must be half frozen by now!”   He said as he opened the kitchen’s back door and ushered her through. The warm air hit her face and made her cheeks tingle.  She shivered then, and after a few failed attempts at removing her coat, found she couldn’t stop.
    “Here, let me help you,” Spencer said as he pulled her coat off.  He ’d already removed his own and slung hers over the back of a chair next to his. Without warning he pulled Elle into his arms.  She gasped at the action and immediately tried to pull away.
    “Stop, it’s all right.  You’re freezing and I need to get you warm.  Now stand here with me in front of the stove.”
    He pulled her close again, holding her to him in front of the kitchen’s cook stove and it’s glorious heat.  Her head was tucked beneath his chin, her ear against his broad chest.  She could hear his heart beat and marveled at the sound.  She’d never heard a man’s heart beat before.  Probably because she’d never been this close to a man before!
    “Isn’t this improper?” She had to ask.
    “Not when we’re to be married.  Besides, it’s rather nice don’t you think?”
    Elle closed her eyes tightly shut.  Oh, she thought it was well beyond nice . In fact if it got any nicer she’d melt into a puddle right there on the floor!  How was she going to avoid him now?  He’d kissed her!  He’d held her!  They brought in wood for Heaven’s sake!
    Wood? Hmmm, OK, so maybe the wood didn’t count so much as doing the chore together. At any rate, something between them had changed between his kiss and standing in his arms in front of a cook stove.  And where were Summer and Mrs. Riley?  Why were they not in the kitchen?  It was the warmest room in the house at the moment!
    Or had they vacated the kitchen on purpose to give Spencer and his intended a moment to themselves?  The only thing Elle knew was that if she didn’t get away from him, her resolve to protect her heart until she heard from Mrs. Ridgley would be dashed to pieces.
    But Elle Barstow couldn’t bring herself to pull away.  Spencer’s arms held her as tightly and firmly as any chains.  In fact, if he removed his arms from her entirely, she knew she would still be just as bound to him.
    It was then Elle realized there might be no turning back, for her heart that is. Spencer Riley had captured it.
    * * *
     
    What had he been thinking?  He ’d kissed his mail order bride! Not a bad thing mind you, but up until now he wasn’t so sure.  He ran out the door with the taste of her sweet mouth lingering in his and quickly walked to the barn.  The moment the cold wind hit him he should have snapped out of it and had the livestock on his mind.  But let’s face it, there was no way his horse could compare with kissing Elle Barstow.
    But had she been ready for it?  That was the main question running through his mind.  Sure, she didn’t protest, but he hadn’t exactly given her a chance to do so either.  She didn’t bite him or step on his foot or slap him.  All encouraging signs … but she didn’t say anything.   Of course he didn’t know what she would say, but he was hoping for a sigh of contentment, a slight