The heel of her right boot bounced against the floor, tapping a steady staccato. She flexed her fingers then balled them into fists at her sides again. Anything to distract herself from the fact that Daniel touched her.
Even though she hardly felt any contact, she sensed movement in front of her, and she tensed. Her mind screamed at her to fight or run.
"Deep breaths, Pockets." Daniel's use of her childhood nickname reminded her that she could trust him. "In through your nose, out through your mouth."
Riley did as he instructed, keeping her eyes closed tight. She managed three breaths, but then his knuckles grazed against her abdomen, and panic rose in her throat again, clogging it, making breathing impossible.
Daniel must have noticed the change in her because he asked, "Do you remember that time I cut myself with my pocket knife?" Without waiting for her to respond, he went on. "You insisted on being the one to play nurse and bandage my hand, using your mother's first aid kit." He let out a little chuckle. "I walked out of that bathroom with my whole hand bandaged even though I only had a little cut on my index finger."
Riley's lips turned up unexpectedly as she recalled her mom's instructions before walking out of the bathroom. "Put a butterfly bandage on it nice and tight, then wrap a little gauze around it to keep it clean."
She had done as her mother instructed, but a simple butterfly bandage and a little gauze hadn't been satisfying enough. So she kept wrapping. Despite protesting, Daniel let her wrap until she ran out of gauze. That was the day she realized she wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a nurse.
"You kept that big bandage on for a whole week." The mumbled words were barely audible.
"Yeah, because it got me out of work." Daniel chuckled again. Then his voice came from farther away. "I'm done. You can open your eyes now."
Her eyes sprang open. She'd hardly felt him touch her except for that one brush that she was sure had been accidental. He'd been masterful at distracting her from the fact that he unbuttoned her shirt. She drew in a deep breath, realizing that her chest was no longer tight, and her heart rate had slowed considerably. She continued toshiver because the rest of her clothing was soaked, and she was freezing, but she'd survived Daniel's proximity.
He held up the blanket again.
She hung her hat on the hook beside the door and peeled off her flannel shirt. Then, exercising every ounce of trust she could muster, she stepped close and turned her back to him so he could lay the blanket across her shoulders.
"Have a seat by the fire and I'll find us something to eat." When she didn't move, he stepped in front of her. "Would you like me to help you to a chair?"
Riley shook her head so hard her neck spasmed.
What is wrong with me? It's only Daniel.
"Well, whenever you're ready, it'll be warmer by the fire."
She stood warily by the door, watching from the corner of her eye as he moved around the room, searching the small kitchenette that consisted of a single counter and a row of cabinets. Locating a kettle in one cupboard, he filled it at the small wash basin then took it to the fireplace and set it on the hearth.
"By the way, while I was waiting for the fire to take off, I sent a text to Jake and my dad, letting them know we'll likely spend the night here."
Riley recalled asking him to do that exact thing three years ago, but boy, the emotions besieging her tonight were sure different than the ones she experienced last time. She didn't want to admit that the thought of spending the night here with Daniel terrified her.
He returned to the kitchen and rummaged around again until he located a lantern and a flashlight. He tested both to make sure they worked. They'd need them later when it got dark outside.
Drilling a well to have water was one thing. Figuring out how to get power out to the cabins was more work than her dad wanted to deal with. That’s why they had to pump the water by hand.
Riley still stood near the door shivering when the kettle whistled.
Shooting her a concerned glance, Daniel used a hot pad to take the kettle to the counter. "Hot chocolate or apple cider?" Before Rileycould answer, he spoke again. "I don't know why I even bothered to ask. Chocolate of course. Double serving."
Daniel remembering her preferences caused a glimmer of warmth to settle in her chest. Oh, how she wished they could forget all that had happened to them and return to that night three years ago when they were both all too eager to be stuck in the cabin together.
He set a steaming mug on the table and gave her an expectant look that held a challenge. "It's warmer by the fire, Ri."
Nodding her head much longer than necessary, she walked toward the table. But only because Daniel returned to the kitchen. He continued to search the cabinets as he sipped from his mug. "Looks like our options are beef stew or chili. There's a box of crackers here and some canned pears and mandarin oranges. Then we have oatmeal and granola bars for breakfast."
He turned and looked at her, brows raised.
"Chili." She forced the word out.
He nodded and set to work.
She remained silent, sipping her hot chocolate, and watching every move he made. Gradually, she warmed up, and her shivering subsided. She wished she could take her wet jeans off and hang them over a chair to dry without feeling like it would make her a target.
