Cassie looked at me, smiling. “What makes you so sure I’ll come back?” she teased, crossing her arms. “Maybe once the snow thaws I leave here and never come back?”
I took a step forward, closing the gap between us. “What makes you so sure I’ll let you leave?” I said, giving her a taunting smile. “What if I keep you trapped in here forever like Rapunzel?”
“What a shame to be trapped in a cabin deep in the woods with a cowboy whose dick is so big I can’t walk straight the next day,” she said, making me laugh.
Fair enough.
Chapter 32 – Cassie
I walked into the kitchen, the smell of waffles and syrup encasing me. My stomach growled, knowing there was delicious food nearby.
While the food was warm, the temperature in the cabin was not. I crossed my arms, rubbing them to generate some heat.
“Why is it so cold in here?” I asked, searching for Jace’s thermostat. I was about to bump that sucker up.
“The heater’s on, but it can only do so much when it gets this cold outside. After the first snowfall of the year, I usually keep the fireplace running to make up for the lost heat, but—” He stopped short, the rest of his words dying on his tongue before they could hurt my feelings.
Jace had been leaving his house freezing for me—all because of my unhealed trauma.
“I could probably make it to the general store up the road,” he offered, glancing toward the window where snow still piled outside. “They might have something we could use for more heat.”
“No, I don’t want you going out in this weather on account of me,” I said, nerves prickling beneath my skin. “What if you lit the fire… but kept it small? Nothing wild.” My voice wavered as I spoke, unsure if I was ready to handle even that much.
Jace’s gaze softened. He could tell I was pushing myself, inching past the edge of comfort for the sake of warmth.
“Cassie,” he said gently, taking a seat at the kitchen island, “if you’re not ready, we don’t have to. We can double up onsweaters, wear thick socks. It’s not a big deal, I promise. I’ve dealt with worse than a little cold.”
I stood taller, as if doing so would convince my brain I wasn’t afraid, that my body didn’t need to panic. “No, I can do this. I can handle it. It’s just a small fire. Plus, you’ll be in here the whole time to keep an eye on it, right?”
“I can stay in here, yes. I’ll just sit on the couch and watch football. Even if I need to get a snack, I can still keep an eye on the fire,” he said, reassuring me.
I stood there a minute longer before taking a deep breath, trying to convince myself I’d be fine. Jace waited—probably for me to talk myself out of it.
It’s just fire, Cassie. It’s not always dangerous,I thought.Sometimes it’s even necessary—like right now.
I took another deep breath and locked eyes with Jace. “I can handle it. I can handle the fire. Time to cowgirl up,” I said, releasing a quick breath and walking toward the couch, only have half convinced myself.
Jace stood and walked over to the fireplace, crouching in front of it.
“Alright,” he said, glancing back at me. “We’ll start slow… just some kindling and one small log. You won’t even see much flame at first, just a little flicker.”
I nodded, hovering a few feet behind him, my fingers gripping the hem of my sweater.
He struck the match, the sharp sound cutting through the quiet cabin, making me jump. The faint sulfur scent reached me before the tiny flame sparked to life. My pulse spiked, memories stirring at the edges, but Jace’s calm voice anchored me.
“It’s okay, Cass,” he murmured. “Just a small flame.”
He added a piece of wood, the flame licking softly at its edges. My body tensed, but Jace stayed close, moving slowly to avoid overwhelming me.
“Take a breath,” he said without looking back, still watching the flame. “You’re doing good, Cassie. Real good.”
I did as he said—a shaky inhale, a steadier exhale.
After a few minutes, the small flame caught, glowing low and golden behind the grate. The first crackle of the log sent a jolt up my spine, though no one would’ve known it.
Deep breaths, Cassie. In, out.
I sat down on the couch, pulling a blanket over my legs. Warmth began to spread throughout the room.
