He loved her persistence. Unfortunately, so did his dick.
“No.” He revved the engine and merged back onto the main drag. “But we’ll be there in ten minutes.”
He headed south for another few minutes until the trees got thicker again and the beach houses sparser. Finally, heturned down a narrow lane, at the end of which stood a cottage.Hiscottage.
When he killed the engine, he took a moment to sit there and inhale a slow breath, trying to calm his unexpected nerves. No one in his life knew he had this place. Hell, he’d had it less than six months. He’d been here a handful of times, on the occasional weekend—the last time being right after New Year’s Eve.
He hadn’t given much thought to when he’d tell people about it, or who he’d bring here first.
In a million years, he wouldn’t have guessed it would be Vanessa, that she’d need a safe haven, or that it would be the two of them, alone. Yet, somehow, it was right.
Once again, she clambered off the bike with the elegance of a toddler. She faced the cottage, fists propped on her hips. “Well,” she said, surveying the house and its surroundings. “This is adorable.”
Adorable? Not exactly the word he wanted her to associate with him.
He curled his lip as he unlatched Nigel, who was probably traumatized from the ride. Careful not to jostle Nigel further, he lifted the carrier off the back of the bike and handed him to Vanessa before turning to grab her bag.
She cooed at Nigel before following Jordan up the stone path to the porch. “How long did you rent it for? Are we staying long?”
“This isn’t a rental, princess. This place is mine.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Jordan’splacewas like something out of a storybook. Grayish cedar shingles, faded probably due to the years of exposure from the coastal elements, covered the exterior. Moss edged the roof, and a narrow chimney poked out the top. The quaint porch had a single, blue-painted wooden Adirondack chair that faced a small garden, sparse from the winter gloom.
All that was missing was a cute little sign that readSea Glass CottageorThe Drift Inn. The whole vibe belonged in a Hallmark movie.
Picking her jaw up off the floor, she tore her stunned gaze from the outside of the cottage and stepped inside ahead of him. “This isyours?”
“Don’t sound so shocked,” he commented from behind her. “It’s no five-star resort. I still have a lot of work to do on it, but I like the seclusion.”
While her mind reeled with all the things she’d learned about this mystery of a man during the last few weeks, she took a lap around the space.
It was small, cozy. She guessed less than a thousandsquare feet, but she immediately fell in love with it. A comforting, lived-in scent filled her nostrils, part sea air, aged wood, and a faint hint of woodsmoke that likely came from the fireplace.
The last of the daylight filtered through linen curtains, casting a warm glow across the living room as she entered. It flowed into an L-shaped kitchen, where wide French doors framed a stretch of sand meeting the sea. Beyond, whitecaps bobbed and seagulls glided in the wind.
Setting Nigel on the oversized, deep-blue couch, she undid the carrier’s latches and opened its door. His head popped out immediately, ears perked up, nose twitching wildly. He almost looked…excited.
And here she’d been worried he’d be scared shitless after his Harley ride. Turns out her emotional support buddy had a secret thrill-seeker streak.
Sure enough, Nigel hopped right out of his carrier, inching down the couch with his whiskers vibrating in overdrive.
And Nigel wasn’t the only one itching to explore this place. Jordan’s place. Heat prickled the nape of her neck as she wandered around the cottage. His gaze followed her as she moved. What was he thinking?
“How long have you owned this place?” She trailed her fingers along the white walls as she admired the ceiling’s exposed wood beams.
“Since last August. The summer crowd was packing up and heading out. The town was quieting down. I like the fact that the population is under two thousand.”
She turned and found him leaning against the kitchen counter, arms folded as he watched her. Under the weight of his attention, a familiar warmth curled low in her belly.
“A place to get away?”
He shrugged. “I like my peace and quiet.”
She nodded slowly, a tinge of guilt spreading through her. “I haven’t given you much of that, have I?” She scoffed. “Peace and quiet aren’t really in my wheelhouse.”
To her surprise, his eyes brightened, and he tipped back his head and let out the loudest belly laugh she’d ever heard from anyone, let alone him. In fact, this might have been the first time she heard him let out a proper laugh, period.
