I nod, finishing up the chocolate drink, and handing him the empty mug.It really did hit the spot.I’m feeling better.
When Evander reaches out to set the cup on a nearby side table, I can’t help but appreciate how easy he moves, how his big body twists and extends, like it’s nothing.
I bet that body of his could do whatever the situation calls for.Raking snow from the roof in hurricane-force winds.Hanging plastic and starting fires.Making wild, passionate love to me until I beg him to stop.
Like that would ever happen.
He faces me again, catching me staring.He pretends he doesn’t.He’s such a gentleman.I’m such a doofus.
“The takeaway here,” he says, as if he hadn’t just caught me undressing him with my eyes.“Is that nobody will be looking for us.We’re on our own.At least until the wind and snow subside.I’m hoping it will blow over by tomorrow and then Declan can fly the chopper out to find us.”
“I understand.”
“Now, are you ready for some good news?”
“Sure.Lay it on me.”
Evander smiles.Seriously, he needs to stop doing that.
If I go all wobbly-kneed at the sight of the standard-issue grumpy and reserved Evander MacLaine in his pristine suit and perfect hair, what am I going to do with this new and improved version?
The man with messy dark curls who’s wearing nothing but thermal underwear.
The one who promises to keep me safe.Tells me I need to trust him.That he’sin charge.And then minutes later hits me with a white, wide, ridiculously attractive grin?
I’m toast.
Actually, I could go for some toast right now.That’s not an option, of course.But at least I still have an appetite under the nausea.That’s a good sign.
An appetite for toast and an appetite for Evander.I’m pretty much back to normal.
“I’ve already taken inventory of our supplies, both what was packed in my ATV storage locker and what I found here.”
“Uh, where ishere, exactly?”
“I have no idea, exactly, and I won’t until my satellite positioning starts working again.But I found papers in a drawer that indicate this is a Bureau of Land Management surveyor’s shack, used as recently as this fall.We’re on federal land.Luckily, they left behind some usable stuff.”
“Thatisgood news.”
Evander looks at me thoughtfully, like he’s trying to figure me out.Which is ridiculous.I’m an open book.I always have been.
Except for my shameless tendency to fantasize about him, a character flaw I’ll keep to myself.Like how I picture him reacting when he sees me in my fancy red velvet dress.Or how it would feel to have him on top of me, inside me.
I squeeze my thighs together under the blankets.Oh, great.I hope he didn’t notice that.Which makes me realize that soon, I’m going to have to pee.How’sthatgoing to work?
“Yeah, so the outhouse is a no-go,” he says, reading my mind.
Maybe I really am an open book.When he’s the one doing the reading, anyway.
“I didn’t even know there was an outhouse.But why can’t I use it?”
He nods slowly.“Well, once I removed all the firewood stored inside, snow filled in the void.But even if it wasn't already buried in a drift, it would be too cold for you to go out there.”
“Oh.”
“You need to stay inside.The last thing you need is to lower your body temperature again.”
“Okay.”
