“Are you sure you want to stay with us boring people?” Regan turned to Sarah. “I won’t mind if you join the men.”
Sarah watched Mason, Dan and Zane all pile on a single toboggan. Austin gave them a running push and jumped on the end. He held on for dear life, but the toboggan quickly left him behind. Zane spilled off after the first jump and the second one sent the other two airborne.
“I don’t think so,” she said slowly.
“Sarah! Sarah, come on!” Dan called as he brushed himself off and made his way up the hill.
“Someone’s got a crush on you.” Ella giggled. “He’s really cute, too. I think you should go for it.”
“Sarah!”
“Go,” Regan urged her.
Sarah gave in. “Coming!”
“Make sure you bet him four naked laps around the Hall this time,” Ella called as she tromped away through the snow.
“Try out our run—it’s awesome!” Dan didn’t wait for her answer when she reached him. Instead, he took her hand and led the way to the top of the trail.
“No way. I’ll give you a push, though. A big one.”
He shot her a look. “How about I push you?”
“How about you don’t?”
“Kids, kids,” Mason said. “I’ll push both of you.”
Somehow Sarah found herself on the toboggan with Dan’s arms wrapped around her. She was wedged between his legs in a very intimate way and he kissed her on the neck as Mason shoved them into position at the top of the trail.
“Hey!” She shrugged him away. “I don’t think I want to do this.”
“Too late!” Mason shoved them over the edge and Sarah screamed as they hurtled down the side of the hill, hit the first jump and went airborne. Dan hung on to her and managed to cushion her fall. She was practically in his lap as they hurtled toward the next one.
Sarah screamed again when they hit it. This time Dan couldn’t keep hold of her. He flew one way, she flew another and landed in a heap in the snow.
“Are you all right?” Seconds later, Dan pulled her to her feet.
“Ouch!” Sarah rubbed her tailbone.
“Want me to kiss it and make it better?” Dan took over for her, rubbing the base of her spine, sliding his hand lower until he brushed the curve of her bottom. Sarah slugged him. “Just trying to help.” He sprinted away to retrieve their toboggan before she could hit him again.
Sarah didn’t make any bets with Dan, but she did sled with him again. And again. And again. The truth was, she liked his arms around her. Liked sitting on his lap, his powerful legs keeping her in place. She liked tumbling out of the sled and going head over heels in the deep snow. By the time they left to make the return drive to the Hall, she was bruised all over and exhausted from laughing so hard.
“You’re going to need a hot soak,” Regan told her as they climbed the steps to the Hall. “Why don’t you go on up and have one while Ella and I get dinner on?”
“I’ll help you with dinner.”
“Nope. Take your bath. That’s an order.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She headed straight up the stairs. Heavy footsteps behind her told her Dan was following her up.
“I need a hot soak, too, but I bet if we fill up two tubs neither of us will get enough hot water.”
“So let me guess. You want to share a bath.”
“Actually I was going to toss a coin for who got to go first, but now that you mention it, it sounds like a great idea.”
“Forget it.”
“What if I promise not to touch you?”
“Yeah, right.”
“I’m an honorable man, Metlin. When I make a promise, I keep it.”
“You’re going to sit in a tub with me and not touch me?”
“That’s right.”
“I bet you can’t.”
“I bet I can.”
This was the craziest thing she’d ever done, but the devilish look on Dan’s face echoed her own desire to try this out. She threw caution to the wind. “Okay—deal. If you touch me, then no more trying to get me into bed. You can’t talk to me, proposition me, kiss me—nothing. That’s it; the end.”
“And if I don’t touch you? What do I get?”
“Five minutes.” Heat rushed through Sarah. Had she really just said that?
“Five minutes for what?” He moved closer and Sarah’s heart stopped. She could barely find the breath to speak.
“To touch me any way you want.”
His gaze searched hers and she knew he was wondering if she really meant it.
She did, but at the same time she wanted to dart into her room and hide. What kind of game was she playing here?
The kind of game that was bound to bring big trouble.
“Deal.”