Snow Jam by Rachel Hanna Page B

us and then at the other.
    My first day involved researching existing businesses and industries, stuff I'd been doing a lot of before getting to Georgia. It involved catching up on ongoing campaigns to bring more business into the Hanlin area without poaching from other municipalities. It involved having lunch with Jared and the director and admin.
    I was bone tired by the time I got out of there and tried to remember where I'd left my car, which way to my apartment, whether there was food or takeout or if I was just going to go to bed hungry. First days are like that. I felt wrung out, in a good way, bone tired and blurry inside and out.
    So of course my phone rang as I got into my car. "Better be good," I said, and answered.
    "We need to talk," Rick said without preamble. "I'll cook you dinner."
    I started to say we'd still need to talk at end of business tomorrow when I might be able to think and stand upright, as well, but he didn't give me time. Instead he gave me directions, and got off the phone.
    "Pompous, arrogant, overwrought jerk," I started, still holding the phone. "I can't possibly and don't even want to – " But I stopped. Because I could. I was already sitting up and fixing my hair, my face, using the rearview in the time honored tradition of women everywhere. I could.
    And I wanted to.
     
    Rick had rented a small house, cozy but not as small as the cabin had been. There was no reason for me to get there particularly late or much later than he did since we got off work at the same time.
    It had been a good first day at the new job. I'd even done a little tiny bit of the actual economic development job, though a lot of my time had been spent with personnel, doing hiring paperwork, insurance stuff, meeting people over and over again and being grateful every time someone assumed I didn't remember their name from the one-time intro at the staff meeting.
    I was looking forward to the next day. Actually I was looking forward to about a month down the line when the beginning stuff would be out of the way and I could dive into Hanlin's economic development in earnest.
    Finding Rick Barnes not only in my office but as my boss had been a shock. Most of the time when you meet someone you never expect to see again who doesn't even share your career you don't expect to wind up working for them four months later.
    I'd planned to go back to the studio and call Sunny so we could deconstruct the day and the whole Rick thing together. Finding I'd actually been thinking about him pretty much nonstop had been disconcerting. Having dinner with him just meant there'd be more to tell Sunny.
    "Want a tour?" he asked as he opened the door. I had a moment's disconnect seeing the snowy white button down he'd been wearing at work now untucked, unbuttoned, with the sleeves rolled up.
    "Maybe later?" If we went near the bedroom now we'd never get to dinner.
    Rick nodded, stepped back from the door, and closed it behind me. I turned to look at him and we stopped talking. Our eyes met and I stepped into his arms. His mouth came down on mine and I made an inarticulate sound of joy. I reached up, circling his neck with my arms. Rick scooped me into his arms.
    He only carried me as far as the couch, where he sat and cradled me on his lap. Our mouths never parted. Every kiss felt like fire and tasted like cinnamon, every move of our lips flashed straight through my body and left me hot and wanting. Every time he raised a hand to stroke my face or brush gently down my arms, my breasts, I expected him to push me away.
    "Mya," he said softly.
    I closed my eyes, savoring my name on his lips. "Four months," I whispered without meaning to.
    "Too long," he said. He leaned down to kiss me gently. "I couldn't stop thinking about you."
    "I tried," I said.
    That made him laugh, his warm breath tickling my collarbone.
    "I did," I said. "Ask Sunny."
    "I already asked Sunny," he said and I pulled back in surprise to stare at him. He nodded. "The way you took