Page 13 of A Rogues & Gentlemen Christmas

“Oh, nothing,” he said. “Wool gathering. Come along, then. I’ll introduce you to Ransom. Though I must warn you, he’s the most terrible flirt.”

Odette laughed and followed him outside and along to the stables.

“You’re right, he is shameless,” she admitted not much later, as Ransom pushed his soft muzzle towards her again, seeking more caresses.

She had taken off her glove to scratch the big fellow behind his ears and Ransom closed his eyes, whickering softly. Chance could hardly blame him. If Odette touched him, he’d be in the same daft state.

He could not help but watch her, crooning to Ransom now in French, the words sliding over Chance’s skin as he imagined her speaking so to him. God, she was lovely. Her hair was a tangled mess of dark curls, her clothes were rumpled, and she had a smudge of soot on her cheek from where she’d been attending the fire, but she was heart-stopping.

She looked up then, meeting his eyes as she caught him staring at her. His heart thudded quicker when she did not look away.

“We’d best leave Ransom to his breakfast,” he managed, too aware of the danger inherent in the situation, and not having enough faith in his own willpower to dare test it any further.

The desire to kiss her was a burn beneath his skin, making him hot and restless, and he felt certain she would not rebuff him if he ventured to ask. They went back out into the snow and Chance realised they would have to go back into the house and sit on the mattress by the fire. There was nothing to entertain them but a pack of cards, and….

Panic-struck, he scooped up a handful of snow and lobbed it at her. It hit the back of her bonnet, setting it all askew. She turned around so quickly that she overbalanced, slipped, and fell on her backside.

“Ooof!” she exclaimed as she hit the ground.

Chance bit his lip, wondering if she’d be furious with him. Odette stared in outrage for a moment. He’d been about to offer to help her up when she gathered up a handful of snow and flung it back at him.

She was surprisingly accurate, and it hit him square in the face. The sudden shock of cold was certainly invigorating, and dispelled the aching desire that had been tormenting him, but then she ruined it by laughing. She laughed and laughed, delighted with herself, and Chance could only grin at her, sitting in the snow, her bonnet all lopsided, and damn near hysterical. She was marvellous.

Abruptly, her laughter subsided, and she scrambled up, gathering more snow.

Chance dodged just as a second snowball whistled past his ear. Well, all right.

He began throwing them back as she shrieked and ran about, and Chance congratulated himself when one of his shots exploded against her lovely backside whilst she’d bent to gather more snow. She straightened with a yelp and glared at him.

He shrugged.

“If you will present such a delicious target,” he said, chuckling.

From then on, it was war.

Snowballs flew back and forth across the yard with more speed and enthusiasm than accuracy, though some of them hit home. He very nearly knocked her bonnet off and naturally she retaliated at once. Chance exclaimed as she got him on the back of his neck and trickles of ice water and snow slid down between his shoulders, making him shiver and grimace.

“You little devil,” he hollered and ran after her.

Odette shrieked and picked up her skirts, running awkwardly through the thick snow as the heavy material of her dress hampered her. Inevitably, she went down, face first.

“Got you!” Chance declared, triumphant and not the least bit chivalrous as he grabbed her about the waist and hauled her up. She turned in his arms, her face wet with snow, her nose and cheeks red from the cold, and her eyes… her eyes were full of laughter and sparkle, and something squeezed in his chest.

“Oh, Charlie… that was such fun,” she said, still breathless. “I had forgotten what it was like to laugh, and—”

Whatever she had meant to say was forgotten as she caught the look in his eyes. She stilled, and Chance knew she was waiting for him to kiss her. He wanted to oblige, wanted to pull her close, but….

“Let’s build a snowman,” he said, improvising wildly.

Anything to break the tension. For, if he did not, he would kiss her, and he did not think it would end there. Under no circumstances would he dishonour this beautiful, wonderful girl. She deserved better than that.

He did not wait to see her reaction, did not dare. It took every ounce of will power to turn and walk away from her, and he busied himself with gathering snow. She joined him a few minutes later, and they worked side by side in silence for a while.

“Do you ’ave brothers and sisters?” she asked him.

Chance nodded, relieved she wasn’t cross with him, and glad for the opportunity to talk about something safe.

“Yes, five sisters. All married,” he added with a smile. “And three nieces so far. My poor father….”