“Oh,” I say flatly. Two hours ago, I’d have paid a plow guy to come rescue us. Now, I don’t want to leave. “Great. Umm… yeah.” I glance toward Cole who looks about as shocked as I do. “Marley said she was going to give you a call. I didn’t think you’d be so quick.”
“Yeah,” the man clears his throat, “I was on my way back through town and I figured you’d want to get warmed up as soon as possible, but you know, I can go check the diner and a few other stores for people before I head up. Why don’t I go do that and swing back.”
Cole steps forward, his tone deeper than usual as he says, “I’m sure you’ll need help getting folks dug out to follow you up the mountain. Give me five and I’m on it.”
The man glances down at his phone. “I’ve gotta move fast. The storm is getting worse. They say it’s going to be the biggest snowfall Rugged Mountain has seen in over fifty years. If you’re coming, we’ve gotta leave now.” He nods toward us and heads back out into the storm as though he’s still embarrassed about what he’s walked in on.
When the man is outside, Cole turns back toward me. “This isn’t ideal.”
“It’s okay,” I lie and lean against his chest, the scent of my slippery wet pleasure still on his hand which rests on my shoulder. “I know it’s your job to help.”
He kisses my forehead, and I close my eyes, breathing in the heat of his touch. “We shouldn’t be more than thirty minutes. This isn’t over. You’re staying with me tonight.”
A soft tickle works its way into my thighs, and though I don’t fully trust any of this, it feels good to let it happen. “Okay.” I stare up at him, desperate for this to make sense. Desperate for this to be easy. Desperate to feel his lips on mine again and again until I’m coming on his massive cock. “You guys be safe.”
He leans down slowly, kissing the top of my head with a groan that feels like the warmest tenderness I’ve ever felt. “Stay here. I mean it. None of this… tough girl stuff. The snow is worse than it was earlier. I don’t want to worry about you getting lost. A guy from town last year nearly lost his leg going in circles in his back yard ‘cause of white-out snow. His wife reported him missing. It’s not safe to be out alone. You understand?” His dark eyes fixate on mine as though he wants me to know how serious he is.
“I understand,” I say, unsure of how to accept the level of care he’s offering. I’ve never had someone look out for me before. It’s nice, but it’s also wildly uncomfortable.
Before I fully comprehend my feelings on the shift in our relationship, he’s outside in the blizzard and I’m standing in theempty space with the fresh cut spruce and my skin still buzzing from his touch.
For a second, I let my imagination go wild.What if this were my life? What if Cole is the one I’ve been searching for? What if he’s the one I’m meant to have a family with? What if my whole life has been working up to this very moment? What if this time next year, we’re sitting under our own tree with matching cozy sweaters, hot cocoa, and a baby on the way?
The idea is warm and soft, and I want to wallow in it. I want to believe it, but something inside of me screams louder than every bit of love that’s trying to shine in.
Get your head out of your ass, Tess! He’s on his way to jail! The man makes snap decisions all the time! He thinks nothing through! This is physical! That’s all!
If you stay by Valentine’s Day, this whole thing will be washed up, and you’ll be stuck here for who knows how long while you look for another job to open up in New York. You can’t do that to yourself. You’re lucky the library wanted you back at all. That job is coveted. You know they’d have a ton of applicants willing to step in and take over.
I’m not sure who that voice belongs to, but I know she never shuts up! She never shuts up, and she’s the reason I’m alone!
I’m not sure if it’s the actual voice of reason or more of the walls I’ve built to protect myself, but the voices I’m left with are the ones that scream the loudest and they emphasize that Cole is a stranger. A man with abs that I’ve met like three times. I can’t ignore all rational thought because of one feeling, one fantasy, one great day.
I draw in a deep breath, tuck all the extra decorations away, toss the tree outside the back door, sweep up the mess the needles made, and tug on my coat. I don’t need to listen toa man. If I want to walk up to Main street and meet everyone there, I will.
Chapter Eight
Cole
I’ve never seen snow like this. The flakes are big and thick, blurring the mountain out completely.
“Damn, I’m not sure I’m going to make it back up the mountain, even in this rig. It’s crazy out here.” Joe doesn’t seem to me like the type to back down easily, but he’s not wrong about this weather.
“Let’s get everyone in one place and we can decide what to do from there. I know a back way up through the balsam forest that tends to block the wind. It could cut down on white-out conditions.”
“It’d still be slow going.” He pulls over in front of the diner and glances toward me, his hand running down over his beard. “Why don’t you take the general store. I’ll grab everyone in here.”
I nod once and hop down out of the truck, tugging my coat tighter. The wind cuts through every seam, biting at my skin, but I don’t slow. If I do, I might lose trajectory on the store. With no lights or path, I’m walking blind. It’s a lot like hiking up stairs in a house fire, but a lot fucking colder.
I should be thinking about the people trapped inside, about getting them safe before the storm buries us all, but my mind is stuck on Tess. We needed time to talk after what just happened. I need to make sure she’s okay.
What I really need is to change her mind about going back to New York.
What the fuck was I thinking going so fast like that? I wasn’t thinking, that’s the problem. I was feeling. Feeling her curved body, feeling her heart, pretending that I had everything figured out when I didn’t.
I knock twice and Mr. Palmer answers right away, pulling the general store door open as snow spills in behind me. Had I known anyone was inside, I’d have knocked earlier. That said, I doubt Tess and I would’ve ended where we did tonight if I had, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
The warmth hits, faint but welcome, until I see the man whose brother I put in the hospital earlier this year. I’ve been doing my best to stay away from him and the family, but this town is small. He was bound to turn up sooner or later.
