CHASING TROUBLE

He grimaced. “He does have a bedroom he can let us use for the night. It’s his daughter’s bedroom, but she’s away at university at the moment.”

Caroline moistened dry lips. “A bedroom-singular…?”

“Bedroom, singular,” Nicholas confirmed, his eyes narrowed.

“You aren’t suggesting the two of us share that bedroom?” Caroline frowned across the room at him, those blue eyes gleaming with indignation.

Nicholas scowled darkly at Caroline’s obvious dismay at the mere suggestion they might have to share a bedroom for the night. What the hell did she think he was going to do, ravish her as soon as they were alone in the bedroom together? Not that it was an altogether unacceptable idea when she was looking so damned beautiful; he just didn’t like the obvious implication that he couldn’t keep his hands-or any other part of his anatomy!-to himself.

His gaze narrowed. “You would prefer that we go back out into the snow instead and try to look for somewhere that has two bedrooms available?”

“No, of course not.” She snapped her irritation. “But-it-you could always sleep down here,” she added hopefully.

Apart from the armchair Nicholas was sitting in, there was only one other, and then bench seats and dining-room chairs placed about the empty tables.

He shook his head. “I prefer the comfort of a bed. I have no objections to you sleeping down here if that’s what you want to do,” he added harshly as Caroline’s frown deepened. “Of course, the landlord might think that a little strange, as he seems to have assumed that we’re a couple.”

“Then you can just unassume him!” The hand not holding the whisky glass clenched into a fist at her side. “I am not sharing a bedroom with you, Nicholas,” she repeated firmly.

“What is your problem, Caroline?” Nicholas barked impatiently.

“I -you-we…” Caroline gave an incredulous shake of her head, totally panicked-aware of him as she was-at the thought of sharing a bedroom with Nicholas. “You’re like… my boss now. I work for you!”

His eyes glittered mockingly. “And that precludes us sharing a bedroom?”

“According to you, yes!” she reminded him a little more desperately than she would have wished. “We can’t get involved in that way… Not anymore” she added when she remembered the kiss in his office,”

“Sharing a bedroom doesn’t mean we’re involved.”

“It doesn’t mean we’re uninvolved, either!”

Nicholas’ gaze moved over her in slow appraisal. “I’ll keep my hands to myself if you will.”

“This is so-so ungentlemanly of you!”

Nicholas shrugged, unconcerned. “I don’t remember ever claiming to be a gentleman.”

“Just as well!” she breathed frustratedly. “You-”

“We’ll talk about this later, Care,” Nicholas snapped, and turned questioningly to the landlord as he bustled back into the room.

“The missus already had some broth simmering in the pot,” the elderly man announced with satisfaction. “She’s put some bread in to bake to go with it while she goes upstairs to make the bed.”

It felt good to hear that, “Thank you, sir. We really appreciate the help.” said Nicholas.

“How long do you expect this blizzard to last?” Caroline was the one to question the landlord tightly.

“Och, this is not a blizzard,” the elderly man assured her indulgently, “This is not but a bit of a flurry.”

Caroline’s eyes widened. A bit of a flurry…God help them if it should turn into a blizzard!

“Damn it,” said Nicholas.

Caroline turned back to the landlord. “How long is this flurry expected to last, then?”

“No more than a couple of days,” he said dismissively.

“A couple of days?” Caroline echoed with dismay as visions of herself and Nicholas marooned here for two days-and nights-popped unbidden into her head.

“A blizzard usually lasts a week or more.” The landlord nodded, unconcerned.

“How…reassuring,” Caroline murmured weakly as she dropped down into the armchair opposite Nicholas-a mockingly amused Nicholas if the taunting laughter in those dark eyes was anything to go by.

Caroline could find nothing about this situation that was in the least amusing. How could she, when just the thought of sharing a bedroom with him made her feel weak at the knees? Especially so after the intimacy of his earlier remarks.

“I’ll just go and check on your food,” the landlord murmured nervously after shooting glances at Caroline and Nicholas as their gazes remained locked in silent battle.

Caroline sat forward in her chair once the two of them were alone. “Nicholas, you really can’t be serious about the two of us staying here and sharing a bedroom?”

Nicholas shrugged out of the warmth of his jacket before answering her. “I’m open to any other suggestions you might have. Viable ones,” he added warningly as she would have spoken. He raised mocking brows as he settled back into his chair. “Just because I’m a man and you’re a woman does not mean I’m going to pounce on you as soon as we’re alone in a bedroom together!”

Her cheeks flushed. “I never imagined that it did.”

“Perhaps you think you might be tempted to pounce on me?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Nicholas!”

“Caroline,” he came back challengingly.

Once again Caroline’s chaotic thoughts were brought to an abrupt halt as instead she eyed him uncertainly, the dangerous glitter of his gaze enough to tell her she would be unwise to pursue this particular subject at the moment.

The whole idea of her and Nicholas sharing a bedroom for the night was unwise… She drew in a ragged breath. “This is all your fault.”

“I’m hardly responsible for the weather, Care,” He gave an impatient shake of his head.

Her eyes darkened almost to black. “Stop calling me that. You’re responsible for my being in here-that’s enough reason for me to blame you entirely for this mess!”

“What mess?” he bit out impatiently. “As the landlord has already said, this is nothing but a bit of a flurry. He shrugged. “A couple of days and we can be on our way.”

“Just in time for that stupid football match you were talking about in the car, I suppose?” she retorted.

“It’s not stupid,” Nicholas’ mouth tightened.

Caroline stood up in one fluid movement, relieved as she did so to find that her limbs had completely thawed out now. “I’m going to ask the landlord if he has a bathroom where I can freshen up,” she said abruptly. “If you’re serious about our staying here tonight.”

“Oh, I am, Care,” he murmured huskily.