I shake off the thoughts and turn on the radio, scanning for the local station and wait for the signal to stabilize.
“—we expect this storm to continue to dump snow all through the weekend. The plows have been pulled and won’t be out until Monday morning. For the safety of everyone, please stay home. Rescue teams are having trouble getting to cars that are sliding into ditches and getting stuck in snow-drifts. Many areas are without power. Companies are working to get lines fixed if they are able. If you are in a dire situation, call the emergency line. They are waiting to help families in need. We will continue to monitor the storm’s impact and make adjustments when possible.”
I turn the dial off to save power and prop the solar side up facing the window to try to charge. I guess I’m snowed in a bit longer. Hopefully Alex is okay with me staying since we don’t have a choice. I’ll have to refund her account when my phone is powered back up. We have plenty of wood to last all weekend, so that shouldn’t be a problem. If necessary, I can go chop up a few of the downed trees in my woods for more. Luckily, the cabin is small. The fireplace should keep the internal pipes warm enough so they don’t freeze.
I check that my gas cans are full, top off my snowblower, and slide the shed’s garagedoor open. Time to get to work moving some of this snow from the cement slab and front steps. Otherwise I won’t be able to move it later.
It took a few hours, but I cleared off the entire deck and cement slab between the cabin and shed. Unfortunately, the snow is still coming down really hard, and my work is quickly getting covered again.At least I can use the front door again to bring more firewood inside.
I start moving wood from the pile by the shed to the deck to make it easier to feed the fire. By the time I’m finished, I’m drenched in so much sweat that the cold isn’t even affecting me anymore. After stacking enough wood to get us through the night again, I knock my boots off on the steps and head back inside the cabin.
I glance to the fire first, noting that Alex has been feeding it extra logs since she got up. The blankets are made neatly on the bed. I scan to the kitchen, finally smelling the eggs and bacon cooking on the gas stove. My stomach grumbles loudly, causing Alex to peek over her shoulder. Her dark brown hair flows down her back. I’mabsolutely captivated by this woman. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I take in every inch of her from her dark eyes to her hair covering her tiny tank top that barely covers much of her skin to the silk shorts. The hem of the shorts is dangerously close to sliding up her cheeks.
Damn. She’s going to wreck me.
I clear my throat and instead of confessing all the crazy thoughts flying through my head, I say, “It smells delicious. I’m going to rinse off quick.”
Alex nods and goes back to cooking. Even though I don’t have a generator big enough to power the entire cabin, I was at least smart enough to have gas appliances and a manual pump put in for the well. I need to make a note to pick up a larger generator to power the entire cabin or at least invest in some lanterns.
I am enjoying not being connected to my phone, though. Thank God I don’t have to see Ryder’s incessant messages throughout the day. He’s probably having a panic attack that the texts aren’t being opened. Poor Alester. He will have his hands full.
I turn the water to scalding and switch it to the shower-head. The claw foot tub is nice, but sometimes I just want a quick shower. I grab a fresh towel from under the sink and notice Alex’s products strewn all over the counter like she lives here. I slide her tube of makeup further onto the counter, so it doesn’t roll off, and smile. This is her, the messy artist side. She’s too busy thinking about the piece she keeps rushing to in the living room toworry about what she leaves behind. I love seeing these mundane parts of her, the parts most don’t get to see. It’s even better that she’s not trying to put on a show. She doesn’t even know that I own The Edward Corporation yet. Maybe she won’t care.
The large window covering half a wall in the bathroom lets in a good amount of light, but I still light a few more candles I left in the bathroom for guests to enjoy a dark bath, so I can see before I climb into the shower and quickly wash off the sweat. After cleaning everything, I flip the water off, and wrap one of the fluffy white towels I purchased for guests around my waist. I glance around the bathroom and realize I forgot to grab extra clothes before I came in here. I groan to myself. I keep a duffel bag of extra clothing in the front coat closet in case I decide to pop in for a night, but in my haste to get clean and eat it slipped my mind.
I reach for the doorknob, square my shoulders, and prepare myself for the show.
CHAPTER 14
Alexandra
I hearthe click of the door from down the hall while I’m moving the plates of eggs, bacon, and pancakes to the small two-person table. “Oh good. You’re done. The food is ready.” I look up when I hear James’s feet padding towards the kitchen.
Mistake.Holy fuck.
James is walking towards me with a towel secured low on his hips, water droplets still littering his muscular chest. The spatula in my hand slips from my fingers and clangs to the floor, but I can’t look away. His ab muscles form the perfect V where the towel is a breath away from putting on a real show.
“I forgot to grab clothes from the closet.” His amused tone has my eyes finally snapping to his face. My face heats like I was slapped with a hot frying pan.
“Ah, right. Well … the food is ready,” I say again and spin away from him. I quickly collect the spatula from the floor, and take it to the sink to wash it while I reset my brain after it was on the verge of short-circuiting.
James grabs the hand holding the spatula and I almost jump out of my skin. He spins me into his wet chest, and my heart stalls. He trails his other hand up my arm, slowly making his way to my face to brush a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I like seeing you flustered. I think it’s my new favorite.”
I can’t take my eyes off his mouth. “Your new favorite what?”
His mouth tilts up as he trails his finger across my cheek, down my neck, and stops on my chest. “My favorite shade of red.” His hand doesn’t move from the center of my chest, hovering right above my breasts. My brain is turning to mush. I honestly have no idea what to say or do. I’m so out of my element.
I step towards the table, stumbling over my own feet.Dammit.
James steadies me before smirking again and stalking towards the front coat closet like he didn’t just turn my world upside-down. I glance out the corner of my eye, watching as he unzips a bag he pulled from the closet and tosses various clothing onto the bench by the front door, then puts the bag back in the closet. He makes a small stack and cradles it in one hand while he carries a hoodie in the other. Walking up to me, he sets his clothes on the chair across from where I’m still awkwardly standing. Hetakes the hoodie in his hands and unzips it before sliding it around my shoulders. He nods to himself as if this were his plan all along, picks up his clothing, and walks back towards the bedroom.
I gaze at the sweater and catch his scent.Ugh. I’m not strong enough for this.
I slide my arms into the hoodie. It goes down to my thighs and feels like a warm hug. I hum to myself.How’d he know this was what I really needed?
I fold myself onto the chair closest to me, fully content now that I have a cozy sweater that smells like pine needles and a hint of cologne.I should have snuck sweats in my bag when Ashlyn wasn’t looking.I guess this is better. I wouldn’t have been able to smell James if I did that. That woman is an evil genius, even if she had no clue this would happen. I chuckle to myself. She’s going to die when she finds out.
“What’s so funny?” James asks as he walks back down the hallway while pulling a shirt over his body. I catch another glimpse of those abs andalmostforget what was happening.
