“Fine.Come on, let’s get this over with.I’m too tired to worry about your poor planning.”
“Fine,” she grumbled but then figured she’d better save her annoyance since she was imposing on him and admittedly looked very foolish to an alpha who was probably always prepared.
She followed him through the expansive, stylish, and modern home built into the old industrial building.But she refused to pay him any compliments on his choice of living.The ceilings must be two-stories high and there were massive grid-style glass windows above where she could see the half-moon between gusts of snow being blown around.There were probably phenomenal views on a clear night.But as he led her through the spacious main floor of his home it quickly became apparent there was no separate bedroom.They passed a kitchen, with a butcher block and stainless-steel island, a living room space defined by a big leather couch on a cozy-looking rug across from a TV, and a huge bed with plush gray bedding sat in the furthest corner.It looked heavenly.
She stopped and stood in front of the bed, while Wesley walked over to his dresser and pulled out a T-shirt, sweats, and thick socks.He tossed those to her and then slid a barn-style metal door along the wall to reveal a bathroom with black hexagon tiles, a slate marble vanity, and a glass enclosed shower she was sure could fit at least eight people.Next, he pulled a few more things from the drawers.
“Toothbrush, washcloth, towel, change of clothes.Take a hot shower.That’ll help warm you up.I’m going to go get some sheets for the couch.”
As he stepped out, she realized what an imposition it was for her to be crashing with him and how ill-prepared she’d been for the storm.She hadn’t taken the warnings seriously as she’d pored over all her notes and research.She’d been stalling to drive home because she didn’t want to be there.Her family was difficult to say the least, and she was the darkest, noir version of a black sheep.
“Thank you,” she called to his retreating back, but he just grunted and opened the fridge.
After standing under the best water pressure she’d ever experienced until her skin couldn’t take the heat, Shelby got out of the shower and wrapped herself in the big gray towel he’d left her on the counter.The tile floor beneath her was warm and she realized he had heated floors.She could lie down right there and fall asleep, she was so tired.She’d left an event in Washington State early that morning, flown to Atlanta, picked up her truck, and drove to Sandy Point only to sit in the diner for several hours waiting for the snow to pass.And maybe the stress of spinning off the side of the road and walking through the snow had depleted her of all her energy.
His clothes were massive on her, but they were cozy, and she didn’t care how they looked.Once she exited the bathroom, she found Wesley sitting in the kitchen with two cups on the counter.
“I made you a hot tea, in case you still feel cold.”
“Thank you—the shower and heated floors did the trick.I realize how intrusive this is for me to stay here, but I really appreciate it.”
Wesley stood.“Well it’s not the Four Seasons but my bed is more comfortable than the wooden bench at the inn.I’ll take the couch.”
She could see he’d put a sheet, pillow, and several blankets on the large sectional couch and a yawn slipped out.“I can’t take your bed; I’ll take the couch.”She walked over and sat down on the large couch that was just as wide as a twin bed.
“Fine.Get some sleep.If I get called out for an emergency, I’ll try not to be too noisy leaving out.”
“I tend to sleep hard so please don’t worry about waking me in your home.”
He just nodded and then abruptly turned away.
She sipped the mint tea he’d made her and then set the mug on a coaster on the coffee table before pulling back the heavy covers and lying down on the couch.Her entire body sighed with comfort, warmth, and exhaustion.But as she laid her head on the soft pillow and closed her eyes, all she could think about was Wesley Hart a few dozen feet away, probably naked in the same shower she’d just used.She heard the faint sound of the faucet turn on again and imagined his huge muscular body under the water.Her entire body was alert with need.But she would not be getting any closer to him anytime soon.He clearly was not interested in a woman who couldn’t even think to wear a proper coat in a snowstorm.But maybe she could thank him for his generosity in another way.
CHAPTER THREE
Wesley
Didn’t See Her Coming
Not even thinkingabout baseball was relieving Wesley’s hard-on after seeing Shelby in his clothes and thinking about her curvy body naked in his shower.How could a woman be so frustrating and alluring at the same time?Why of all the women who passed through Sandy Point would it take a Shepherd to get him to stand at attention and now be completely distracted and unable to sleep?She was beyond off-limits and a bad idea.But that didn’t stop him from thinking about how he’d like to have her straddling his cock right now and pulling her thick hair back so he could see her expressive eyes while he buried himself inside her.
“Damn it,” he grumbled into his pillow, punching it.It had been a long day, and it was going to be an even longer night if he didn’t stop thinking about the woman asleep on his couch.He could hear her soft breathing—hell he could smell her.It’d been way too long since he’d dated or even slept with someone.He’d been so focused on work the last few years he’d forgotten to have a personal life.
*
He didn’t knowwhat time he’d finally succumbed to sleep, but he did know when he woke up that his dream about having Shelby Shepherd under him had seemed way too real.The house was quiet as he opened his eyes and he saw the first cast of sunlight creeping through the upper windows.It was about seven a.m., and it looked like the snow was still falling.
As he got out of bed his morning wood was painfully at attention, and he was grateful Shelby wouldn’t see or know he’d been dreaming about her all night.Once he took care of himself and got dressed he decided to check in with the staff via text so he wouldn’t wake his houseguest.
But after one look outside it was clear the roads were all closed, and not even emergency vehicles could get to anyone right now.Next, he checked the family group chat to make sure everyone was safe.Dalton, Brooke and Max were at home; Levi and Missy were at Gran’s having been home for Christmas, so Wes wasn’t needed.Which was just fine because six miles in this snow would be impossible.He had convinced the actual sheriff, a political appointee, to invest in two four-wheelers last year.They were good for the beach, and could be used in the snow, but he’d rather not need to use them.He knew a blizzard was a dangerous storm because it could disorient people fast.It was best if they all stayed put.Which meant he was going to be stuck with his houseguest for at least another day.
“Wesley, can I use the bathroom?”a soft voice called from the couch.
He looked up from his phone and saw Shelby’s head above the couch staring back at him, where he sat on the end of his bed.
“Of course—you don’t have to ask.It looks like this storm isn’t letting up so you better just make yourself at home here.”
“Okay,” she said with more enthusiasm than he expected and quickly skirted across the wood floors to the bathroom.She disappeared behind the heavy metal door and then a few minutes later she entered the kitchen just as he poured a cup of coffee.
