She Who Dares, Wins by Candace Havens Page B

a gift, and took the roll.
    Then she glanced at her watch. “I should get you back to your apartment.”
    He shrugged. “Why don’t I just stay here?”
    She folded her arms across her chest. “I wondered when you would get back to that. I’ve told you more than once, it’s not happening again.”
    â€œWhat’s not happening?” He played dumb so she would be forced to say it.
    â€œSex.” Her eyebrow rose as she said it.
    He had to bite back a smile. Clearing his throat,he put his napkin back on the table. “I understand the word no, Katie. I wasn’t suggesting sex. There are two bedrooms, and I thought I’d take the one you weren’t using. In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a blizzard outside.” He pointed at the window and the twirling mass of white beyond. “I doubt taxis are even running tonight.”
    Turning in her chair, she glanced out. “Crap, when did that start?”
    About a minute before he’d suggested they work out. The longer he stalled the worse the weather got. Before he’d left the lab he’d made sure his greenhouses were protected against what the forecasters were calling the worst blizzard in years. That’s when he’d hatched his plan. He had a feeling if she came back to his apartment she’d feel too on guard. In her hotel room, she was on her turf. He’d taken the blizzard as a sign from the universe that he and Katie were meant to be together. Well, he knew that was stretching the truth, but he wanted to be close to her again and the snow was a legitimate reason to stay.
    Katie stood and glared out the window. “I didn’t know you had blizzards here.”
    Mac stood beside her and watched the massive white flakes float to the ground. “Honestly, it doesn’t happen that often, but I’ve seen it shut the city down. Most of the time we just get a lot of cold drizzle, but the weather here is mercurial at best.”
    Her arms were still folded against her chest. “Well, it seems silly to try and go out in this,” she said finally. “We can’t risk getting stuck somewhere. Take the spare room. Do you have everything you need? I can rundownstairs to the desk or see of they have a gift shop if you need something.”
    Mac had brought the bag he kept at the office, which was packed with a change of clothes and all his toiletries. The bag was so that he could leave at a moment’s notice if something came up in one of his other labs, which were stationed around the world. He had greenhouses on four continents and he never knew when one of his experiments might need his attention.
    His plants were important for the study of sustainable crops that some day could possibly prevent starvation as a result of droughts.
    â€œI’m covered, thanks. Though I would like to send my clothes I wore today to the valet to have them washed and pressed. The same with the workout clothes, in case we are stuck here tomorrow.”
    That was a very good possibility. Mac had made sure of it.
    â€œWhat?”
    He walked to the television and flipped it on. “We should probably watch the news to see what they say.”
    â€œA winter storm warning is in effect for the next twenty-four hours…” stated the broadcaster.
    Mac tried to look serious. “Now, that is unusual. They haven’t had a storm like this in years.”
    â€œKind of like back home,” Katie murmured as she left his side. “It’s cold and wet in the city during the winter, but we don’t usually get much snow. If we do, it’s usually a light dusting.”
    Mac nodded. “I grew up in SoCal, and we didn’t get much snow, unless we went north into the mountains. I’m still kind of a kid when it comes to the white stuff.And the university will probably call a snow day. They are a cautious bunch. They won’t want to risk faculty and students slipping on