She nodded, her eyes blinking rapidly.
Did he just kiss her head? Where was his brain? Comforting her would lead to her breaking down. Kane pivoted and led her down the path to the lake, trying like hell to block her from the wind.
Branches and clumps of snow beat against them as they wound down the obscure path. Kane dragged his feet to clear the way, hoping Amber’s boots would keep her dry. Frostbite would be disastrous at this point.
Finally, they reached the beach. Snow mingled with sand to slam into their faces. When would the wind abate?
The metal rowboat sat securely between a massive pine tree and the rocky hill, snow covering most of the bottom. Kane darted forward and yanked the boat free before flipping it over. The metal scraped along the snowy sand as he dragged it to the violent lake.
Waves crashed in, angry and nearly black. But at least the water wasn’t frozen.
He held out a hand for Amber.
Drawing the coat tighter with nearly blue fingers, she shook her head and backed away.
He didn’t have time for her to fall apart. “Come here. Now.” He pitched his voice low to cut through the storm and her panic.
She mouthed the word “no” and kept backing away.
If the woman went any farther, she’d be heading back up the trail.
The cold cut through his silk shirt and pants. If he was chilled, Amber would be freezing. Maybe he could entice her. “Let’s go find some warmth, sweetheart.”
Snow coated her hair when she shook her head wildly.
So much for enticement. He leapt for her, grabbing both arms and swinging her into the air. Three strides had her butt slapping the metal seat, and he shoved the rowboat away from the beach.
With a cry, she jumped for him, arms stretched for the shore.
He sat her down again—this time harder. “Stay still or you’ll fall in.”
She gasped, gaze slashing to the churning water all around them. Black and merciless, the water mirrored the storm bashing the boat.
He shook her—waiting until her gaze met his. “Hold on for a couple more minutes, and I promise we’ll find safety.” The second his brother had purchased the lake house, Kane had memorized the layout and properties on the entire lake. There was a cabin on the far side that was only used for two weeks in the dead of summer by owners who lived in Alaska the rest of the year.
She nodded and settled down, her teeth chattering.
Kane grabbed the oars and started rowing, staying along the shoreline as much as possible. Getting caught in the middle of the angry lake was not in the plan.
Amber took a deep breath, her entire chest moving. “Do you need help?”
What a sweetheart. “No.”
She blinked snow off her long eyelashes. Odd that Kane had never noticed eyelashes before. But Amber’s were thick and dark . . . giving her an ingénue look that distracted him.
Rubbing her nose, she shivered. “You do everything logically, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Like when you stabbed Hanson. I mean, without being mad. No passion. You just . . . stabbed him.”
Sure. “Passion gets in the way when you’re fighting.” Hell, as far as Kane was concerned, passion got in the way, period. Not that he didn’t like a wild night with a woman. But in a fight, cold logic most often won.
“Do you regret hurting him?” Her eyes somehow darkened.
While Kane wanted to ease her mind, he wasn’t going to lie. “No.” His shoulders moved rhythmically, smoothly eating up the shoreline as he angled to the north. “I’m sorry.” Well, he wasn’t sorry he’d stabbed the bastard, but he could feel an apology for her distress. She seemed to need the apology, so he gave it a shot.
She nodded. “When you kissed me earlier—was that manipulation? I mean, did you feel anything?”
“Yes.” While he hadn’t wanted to feel anything, his cock had fired to life. There was something so sweet and sexy about the woman. “I wanted you—still do.” They were going to need to warm up soon. Skin on skin was the best way to make that happen.
A logical thought, yet his heart sped up instantly. Man, he needed some rest.
The tiniest of blushes filled her too-pale face for a moment. “I don’t like being manipulated.”
“Okay.” Really, who did? A quick turn into a small alcove, and Kane found the cabin he wanted. “We’re here.” Ramming the boat onto the shore, he forced a smile and helped her from the boat. “Everything will be all right.”
Amber stumbled up the embankment, Kane’s hand steadying her several times. Finally, the path smoothed out. He turned to lift and cradle her against his chest. She protested, giving a slight struggle. He must be exhausted.
He shushed her, tucking her head under his chin, his movements not slowing.
Warmth flowed from the vampire, and she instinctively snuggled closer. The guy would kill without breaking a sweat, and yet, she’d never felt safer. Well, physically safe, anyway. There was no question Kane was driven and would take advantage of her brain again to get what he wanted. But she could understand the drive to save family—she’d do anything for Grandma Hilde.
“Don’t manipulate me again,” she whispered against his neck.
He shoved a branch out of their way. His lips brushed her cheek. “No promises.”
Tingles spread along her jaw. What would it take to get a promise from Kane? Something told her he was a guy who kept his word, which made him smart enough not to make promises.
Reaching an icy deck fronting a ramshackle cabin, he set her down, waiting until she regained her balance before letting go. Bending down, he surveyed the lock. “Step back.”
She stepped away, sliding on the wood and grabbing the railing to keep from falling. The freezing wood cut into her fingers. Her stomach plummeted at the rough shack. They’d left a warm, plush, comfortable home for a crumbling hut? She shivered violently.
Kane kicked the lock, his boot hitting precisely to the left. The door swung inward. Reaching for her hand, he towed her inside a small room with a barely visible sofa and fireplace. “Stay here for a minute.”
He crossed the room and tossed old newspapers and kindling into the fireplace. Long matches sat in a box next to the paper and ignited easily. Kane reached up and opened the flue, blowing on the fire before adding more kindling. “Come here, sweetheart.”
She stumbled toward him, her gaze on the wonderful fire.
He stood, turned to survey her head to toe, and handed her the pink backpack. “You’re soaked. Drop the wet clothes, and find something in here to wear.” Reaching behind her, he grabbed a blanket off the one sofa and shook the heavy wool out. “Then cover up with this. I’ll be back shortly.”
Then he was out the door.
Shivering, her fingers barely working, she tugged off her vest, shirt, and pants, leaving on her panties. Reaching into the girly backpack, she yanked out a brandy bottle and a plastic bag filled with a woman’s sweatshirt and yoga pants. Soft and well-worn, they were probably full length on the owner. Talen’s mate must’ve been fairly petite. They fit like capris on Amber. She pulled them on along with the sweatshirt.
Pulling the blanket around her freezing body, she sat on the couch. Guilt filled her from using the wool blanket, but she couldn’t throw it off. Poor sheep. But darn, she was cold. Heat from the small fire slowly penetrated the blanket.
Kane returned with arms full of wood. Precisely placing several pieces on the fire, he sat back, satisfaction on his face. “There we go.”
Amber leaned toward the heat, her hands keeping the blanket closed. “Are we safe here?”
Kane nodded and held his broad hands out to the fire. “The storm has picked up, and we’re safe for the night. My people will be here tomorrow morning after the storm has abated to get us, so no worrying. Just warm up.”