“Come on,” I say impatiently. “I have work.”
“I’m trying—” With a heave, she finally yanks her foot out of the mud. She overbalances, and her arms windmill as she almost topples over.
I rush forwards, grabbing her before she falls onto her face. My hands close around full hips, my fingers tangling in soft, soft hair. “For God’s sake. What is wrong with you? Can you not walk?”
She doesn’t answer, just looks forlornly at her stained high heel stuck in the mud. “Oh no. My shoes!”
She could’ve gotten hurt, and she cares about hershoes? Jesus Christ. I hate city folk.
“They’re ridiculous,” I growl. “Put your arms around my neck.”
She squints up at me in the dark. “What?”
“Put. Your arms. Around. My neck.”
“But—”
I don’t have time for this. I heft her up into my arms, lifting her right out of the dirt.
She squeaks, her arms flying around my neck. “Oh my God?—”
I bend to pick up her heels and then plod towards the cabin with her in my arms. My leg protests at the extra weight, and I fight to keep from jostling her too much.
She smells sweet, like a vanilla milkshake. It’s a scent that makes me want to bury my face in the curve of her neck and inhale. I grit my teeth as my body helpfully reminds me this is the first time I’ve held a woman in over five years, and set her carefully down on the cabin’s wooden steps.
She’s flushed as she smooths down her skirt. “Wow. That was very heroic.”
I unlock the front door to the cabin, step inside, and flick on the lights. “Here.” I drop her heels on the floor and heft in her suitcase. “Probably not what you’re used to. But you’ll have to make do.”
Summer slips past me, looking around, and I get my first, fully illuminated look at her. Her outfit is even more ridiculousthan I’d realised—a wee miniskirt, a frilly white blouse, and a literal goddamn bow in her hair. She turns to face me, and?—
Jesus Christ.
The girl has a face that could make a man do something reckless. Dark-brown eyes, fluttery long eyelashes, full pink lips I want to bite. She’s put something on them to make them all shimmery. I’ve not seen anyone so pretty in a long time. Maybe ever. Out of nowhere, my heartbeat quickens.
It annoys me.
It annoys me even more when she tilts her head, smiles, and…sparkles at me.
I don’t know another word for it. In a second, she goes from looking a bit tired and wet to lighting up like a Christmas tree. She’s turned on the charm full blast.
I bet that smile usually gets her anything she wants.
“This place is super cute!” she chirps. “I’m sorry that I called it a murder cabin. It was just scary out there.” She walks over to the small sofa, hooking her phone out of her coat pocket, and I blink at her wet, bare thighs. “Please could you tell me the Wi-Fi password?” she asks. “I’m not getting any bars.”
“Didn’t you read the listing? No internet.”
“No…internet?” she says slowly, like she doesn’t understand the words.
I shrug. We used to have Wi-Fi in the cabin, but it was so shoddy we just took it out. Most people who stay here only spend a night.
“But I need the internet!” She clutches her phone to her chest like it’s an injured baby.
I don’t know what to tell her. Tough shit? We have service up at the main farmhouse, obviously. Normally, I’d offer it to a guest, but I don’t want to help this girl any more than I already have. I know I’m being rude, but I don’t like her. “I reckon you’ll survive the night.”
She looks forlorn. “Oh. Okay.” She narrows her eyes. “Wait, but you have connection, right? I mean, this place is listed on an app, and you were messaging me?—”
“Milk and bits in the fridge. Checkout’s at ten. If there’s nothing else—” I turn and head back to the front door.
