Evelyn is the mission now. Right here. This beautiful, sexy, delicate woman in this bed with the fire crackling in the other room is my whole heart. I'm not going anywhere.
I hold her until the sun breaks and the real world comes crashing in around us. The power's back. The storm has passed and the cabin is golden.
When she starts to stir, I get up to make sure the cabin is warm. An hour later, I’m in the kitchen pouring coffee when I hear the small sound she makes. It’s part surprised and part confused.
I find her sitting up with a blanket clutched around her and blinking at the morning light coming through the windows. She's wearing my flannel and nothing else. The sight of it rewires something in my brain that was functioning perfectly fine before and will never function the same way again.
She looks up and sees me and something happens in her face that makes the whole sleepless night worth it.
"Hey," I say.
"Did you sleep at all?" She pushes her glasses on and the world sharpens for her.
"Didn't need to." I hold out the coffee.
She takes it. Our fingers brush and I get another jolt of electricity. She wraps both hands around the mug.
"Thank you," she says. “Not just for the coffee.” She winks and it pulls a laugh out of me.
“I’m available anytime.” My mouth curls into a smile on one side.
We spend the next two days in a blissful haze. It’s a rotation of making love, trading secrets, and drinking coffee. By the third day, I’m up early and the roads are clear. I’m already dreading what’s coming next.
I’m in the kitchen making breakfast when Evelyn finds me. I lean against the counter and open my arms. It’s not a grab or a pull. It’s an offer and she takes me up on it immediately. Evelyn walks into my chest. My arms wrap around her automaticallyand she sinks in. I hold her there, warm and solid. She presses her face into my chest and I rest my chin on the top of her head.
"I should probably get to the library," she says.
"I'll check the road."
"James." She catches my arm at the door. “I think I could have made it down yesterday. No one’s going to believe I’m snowed in when the sun took care of it days ago.”
“Ugh. Alright, let's get you to work. But I want to let you know that I’m making a stop to chat with my buddy Hank. He’s the acting sheriff in Iron Peak and he’s one hell of a good man. I’m going to have him keep an eye out for your ex, so I need some info on him.”
“I hate that the whole town has to babysit me. You don’t have to?—”
I hold up my hand. “I won’t operate in secret. I’m not going to make decisions for you or become the thing you're running from. But you’ve got my whole heart and I want to keep you safe. Let me talk to my friends so we’re all on the same page, just in case this asshole ever decides to come looking. Just say it’s okay.”
She hesitates. “Okay.”
“Great, I’ll drive out ahead. Once we get past all the curves and there’s no black ice, I’ll pull to the side and let you pass. I’ll flash my headlights and you’ll be on your way.”
A smile settles on her lips. “Three flashes?”
“Yeah, I’m here. You’re safe. See you soon sweetheart.”
“You’re the best man I’ve ever known. You’re sexy. I can’t wait to see you again.” She rocks up on her tiptoes and plants a kiss on my lips.
She comes out of her bedroom in the blink of an eye looking like the woman I met at the library. A button down top with dark jeans. Hair pulled up in a bun. An expression that says, there’s no book she can’t shelve. I tease her and she giggles easily. I hate the thought of breaking up this blissful haze, but she has to goand I do too. I’ll be lucky if the whole damn town is falling apart after this storm.
An hour later I’m out ahead of her in my truck. I check the canyon road ahead of her, then pull over to let her pass. She drives by and I raise a hand then flash my headlights three times.
I’ll always be here. She’s safe forever. See you soon sweetheart.
I should be headed to The Summit House or responding to one of the million text messages I have from Jocelyn, and I will. But I head to the sheriff’s office first to have a chat with Hank.
Hank's on the porch of the sheriff's office with a cup of coffee that's probably been in his hand since six when I arrive. I park the truck and take a seat in the other chair beside him. We sit for a while like old friends, because that’s exactly what we are at this point.
"Got something I need to ask you," I say.
