Ten-year-old me stands in the kitchen at my grandma’s house. Fresh coffee drips into the pot as Grandma reaches for a mug. “Alexandra, would you like a cup?”
I lift my face away from the strawberries and powdered sugar I’m eating, my brown eyes wide. “Um, yes!” I squeal, bouncing in my seat. Mom would never allow me coffee.
My grandma laughs and pours me half a cup, then pulls out the milk and sugar and sets it next to my mug. I rush over to look inside. “It will be hot. Add some milk.” My grandma smiles as she takes her own cup, full and black, sipping and watching me.
I dump milk in, filling the cup almost to the top, and take a big sip. “Ew. I don’t like it.” I scrunch my nose in disgust and set it down.
She laughs again and slides the sugar to me with a spoon, nodding to my cup.
I add three large spoonfuls, stir, and sip again. My nose scrunches again, but now I’m determined. It’s getting better but still not great. I add four more scoops, stir, and sip. A slow smile spreads across my little face. Grandma smiles back and waves me over. “Okay. Let’s make blueberry muffins.”
I slowly walk over to the bowl, watching my coffee cup closely so it doesn’t slosh all over the floor, and set it next to the mixing bowl.
A man’s throat clearing snaps me out of my memory. “I definitely could, too.” I jump as James’s eyes bore into mine, searing my soul before he looks back at the oven and turns the timer off before it can beep. He pulls out the tray of muffins as I stare, trying to get my mind to catch up.
“Umm…what are you still doing here?” My breathing is erratic as I watch the muscles on his forearms flex where his sleeves are rolled up. He slides his hands slowly into the front pockets of his jeans, which are hugging everything perfectly, and I meaneverythingas he leans against the counter.Did it get hotter in here?
I run my hand over my neck as my eyes travel back up to his face. Those eyes simmer with a hunger I haven’t seen…in, well…a long time. I glance down to see what he’s looking at and see the curve of my breasts breaking out from where the robe hangs open.Oops. I slowly slide the sides together and pull the tie tight, suddenly suffocating again.
James keeps his eyes glued to mine. “It’s worse than I initially thought out there. Your car is also stuck in the middle of the driveway, so I will have to clear it out in the morning when I can see better.” He places a muffin and a full cup of coffee-cocoa in front of me. “I’ll sleep on the couch, so I won’t bother you. But unfortunately, you’re stuck with me tonight.”
My cheeks flush even further knowing I’m part of the reason he’s stuck with me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t thinkanyone would be here, and I couldn’t see where to park… Not that my car was going much further, stupid thing gets stuck in the smallest amount of snow…”
I’m rambling. I didn’t expect him to be here when I arrived, let alone hours later, andnow, he’s staying the night.
This is a complete disaster. Hopefully my trip of reflection won’t be completely ruined and James can get back to his life soon.
“Alex?” My head snaps up. James’s eyes are still trying to sear through to my soul.
Shit.I’m in my head again. “Uh, yeah. That’s fine. I mean, what else are you going to do with this weird storm?” I shrug and shove part of the hot muffin in my mouth. There’s nothing better than a muffin straight out of the oven.
This is totally the most normal thing that could happen to two people that are basically strangers-slash-fake dating tocertainpeople. I’m not nervous at all to have a very sexy man that happens to be an amazing kisser snowed in with me.
He nods and glances behind me. “Would you like to sit by the fire with your snack?”
I agree on reflex as he collects the plate of muffins and his coffee before heading to the table in the living room.
I inhale a shaky breath, gathering myself before turning to follow him.I should have put clothes on. Fucking idiot.Too late now, I guess.
I scurry to the chair across from him. I set my mugdown and grab a fuzzy blanket from the basket in the corner and wrap it around my body. It’s already warm by the fire and under this robe, but I really don’t need to flash James…again. Honestly, the amount of dumb shit he’s witnessed from me at this point is astonishing and should show him enough red flags to run for the hills.
CHAPTER 11
James
Sittingin front of the fireplace with Alex wrapped in the robe I picked out is pure torture, even with her trying to cover her body in that fluffy blanket. I can see her at war with herself. Her eyes keep darting to me and back down to her drink. That’s okay. I’m a patient man. I have the time, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t help her figure out what she wants.Me.I mean what else are we going to do while we’re stuck in this cozy cabin together? The snow is raging outside in a storm escalating to an effect they haven’t seen in decades. At least that’s what the news broadcast said when I tried to leave in my truck. The tree coverage around this place blocks a lot of wind and snow, and we are still getting dumped on. I can’t imagine what it’s like on the open road.
Alex leans closer to pick up another muffin. I latch onto her eyes like it’s the last time we will ever see each other. “So, why the cabin in the woods? I don’t see you asthe outdoorsy type. There had to be other no-wifi places, or you could just turn off your phone.” I say, knowing damn well I don’t do any of the shit I’m preaching. The only way to keep me from working is by making it impossible for me to actually do the work. The red creeping up her neck and coloring her cheeks does something to me. I want to see it every day.
“Well, I’m not.” She looks down, picking at the wrapper around the muffin before continuing. “I liked the isolated aspect. No one to reach out to me, spotty cell service…” Her shoulders drop and she lets out a breath. “I quit everything in my life, and I need to see if I can dig myself out of it. But I can’t do that with all the noise of the world. So, your posting was just what I needed.”
I nod, taking her in. The pain reflecting in her eyes vanishes as she puts a wall back up. It makes sense. Whatever she’s searching for, and I want her to find it. Maybe I could help in some way. My wheels start turning, picturing all the people I know and the opportunities I could present to her. But I would need to find a way to do it anonymously. I don’t like people knowing what I have and what I do. I’ve been burned too many times.
“Why do you rent this place? Just so it doesn’t stay empty seems like a cop-out. You obviously have money, from whatever you do for the Edward Corporation. Couldn’t you and your cousins just use it?”
Smart.She’s smart. This is trouble. It’s making me like her even more, if that’s possible.
I take a long drink before answering her. I didn’tthink we’d get here yet, but I’m also not going to lie to her. “You’re right.” I run a hand through my hair. “Look, not many people know about this, so I’d love it if you kept it to yourself.”
