"More likeranfrom a bear and tripped over a log." I kiss her forehead. "Only my family knows that, so consider yourself special."
She laughs softly, and the sound does something pleasant to my insides.
Eventually, her breathing evens out again as she fallis back asleep, safe and sated in my arms.
I pull the quilts higher, making sure she's warm, and watch the last embers of the fire glow orange in the darkness.
The storm sounds like it might be over.
Morning has almost arrived, and we should be able to get out of here soon.
How could I haveeverthought "just tonight" would be enough?
CHAPTER 5
PIPER
When I wake up alone, the panic hits before my brain catches up to the sounds coming from outside.
Harlon’s boots on wood. The scrape of a shovel against the porch.
He's out there doing what needs to be done. He’s being responsible. Checking conditions. I mean, heisa park ranger…doing ranger things.
Except my stomach is twisted in knots, and I'm clutching the quilt like it might protect me from whatever awkwardness is waiting for us when he comes back in.
The door swings open, bringing a gust of cold air and Harlon, snow dusting his hair and shoulders.
"Morning," he says quietly, crossing to the kitchenette. "Made coffee."
He walks over with two steaming mugs in his hands, and his whole expression softens into something altogether unusual for him.
"Thank you." I sit up, pulling the quilt higher as he hands me a mug, our fingers brushing. The contact sends a spark up my arm.
"Storm's passed. Roads should be clear enough to get to town."
Town. Civilization. The real world where we're not just two people stranded in a cabin, but Harlon Giles and his brother's ex-girlfriend who did some absolutely sinful things last night.
"Oh." I take a sip of coffee. It tastes like burnt dirt again, but it's better than the cold.
He sits on the edge of the bed, looking like he wants to say something.
"We should probably get dressed," I offer quickly, because I'm not ready for whatever he's about to say. For the ‘this was a mistake’ speech or the ‘we’re pretending this never happened, right?’ conversation. "If the roads are okay."
Something moves across his face—whether it be disappointment or relief, I don’t know. Then he nods. "Hope Peak has a couple of places to eat, and we could charge our phones. Let Sadie know we're alive."
Dammit…I forgot about Sadie. Who's expecting both of us for Christmas and has no idea I just spent the night having the best sex of my life with herotherbrother.
Ugh…
We manage to get dressed without me staringtoo muchat Harlon’s chiseled body.
And then we walk out to his truck.
It’s a behemoth—one of those lifted pickups that requires an actual step to climb into. I struggle with it, my shorter legs not cooperating, and suddenly his hands are on my hips, boosting me up like nothing.
"Thanks," I say, trying to ignore the way my body tingles where he touched me.
He just grunts and closes the door, moving around to the driver's side. The engine rumbles to life, and we're off, ashe navigates the snow-packed roads with a competence that shouldn't be as attractive as it is.
