“Istill can’t believe my dad agreed to your plan.” I shook my head as I peered out the windshield of the truck Whit was driving up the mountain road. The scenery was breathtaking, but the route was almost too narrow for even one vehicle, and the drop down the side was steep.
Whit shot me a quick look and nodded. “Yeah, I expected him to put up more of a fight. He struck me as the kind of dad who wouldn’t want to let you out of sight when you were in danger.”
“You do realize he’s probably out there hunting down the guys who tried to hurt me, right? And that’s why he gave in so easily, because with me tucked away in your cabin with you acting as my personal bodyguard, he doesn’t have to worry about me asking any pesky questions about what he’s doing.”
Whit didn’t look fazed by the possibility that my dad would go up against a drug cartel to keep me safe. “Remind me to send your dad’s contact info to my boss, in case he needs backup.”
“No wonder he didn’t push for me to go home with him.” I laughed and rolled my eyes. “You’re two peas in a pod.”
His lips curved into a grin. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
“You should.” I shifted in my seat so I could stare at him. “My dad is the best guy I know.”
“I’m flattered as fuck that you think we’re alike, then,” he murmured as he slowed the truck to make a sharp right turn.
My eyes widened when I saw the log cabin about a hundred yards ahead. “Wow, it’s so beautiful.”
“The place isn’t much, but you’ll be safe here, and that’s all that matters.”
“Not much.” I snorted at his humble description. “I was picturing a ramshackle shack in the middle of the woods, not a ranch-style house that could grace the cover of a log cabin sales brochure.”
The house fit perfectly with its surroundings, looking as though it had been constructed from supplies found on-site. There wasn’t any fancy landscaping that would require a lot of maintenance, but it wasn’t needed. The house was stunning all on its own. So were the rock walls and trees surrounding it. “Did you carve into the mountain to build here?”
“Looks like it, huh?” He laughed softly as he pulled the truck to a stop in front of the cabin. “My grandpa said he couldn't believe his luck when he stumbled on the property thirty years ago. Knew right then and there that he needed to build a mountain getaway up here.”
“Smart man.”
“The smartest,” Whit confirmed before climbing out of the truck and circling around to the passenger side to open my door. “Building up here was a brilliant idea. This place was my oasis after I was discharged from the Army, and it’s going to provide you with a haven now.”
There wasn’t a single soul within miles from us, and the only way to get to the cabin was the narrow road we’d just traversed. Being at the top of the steep incline, we had the perfect vantagepoint. Nobody was going to be able to sneak up on us without being spotted first. “Thanks for offering to bring me up here.”
“Thanks for agreeing.” He laced his fingers through mine and tugged me toward the door. “Let me give you the grand tour.”
I happily followed him into the cabin, my eyes going wide as I took in the vaulted ceiling and wood beaming. “I didn’t think it was possible, but the house is even prettier from the inside.”
“Just don’t tell my grandpa you think it’s pretty,” he warned, the palm of his hand hot against my lower back as he guided me through the living area toward the kitchen. “He would think that’s too girly of a description for the cabin since he built a lot of this place with his own two hands.”
“I’ll stick with manly then.” The term certainly fit the decor—brown leather, dark wood, and touches of navy blue and forest green here and there. Although the kitchen was a woman’s dream, with granite countertops, rustic cabinets, and gleaming stainless steel appliances. “I take it your grandmother likes to cook as much as your mom does?”
“My grandma practically lives in the kitchen.” Whit pulled open the pantry doors and grinned as he pointed at the rows of homemade canned goods on the top shelf. “And she keeps this place well-stocked for when they decide to take a spur-of-the-moment trip up here.”
“Smart woman.” I walked over to peer at the labels, smiling at the wide variety of fruits, vegetables, jams, broths, and pickles. “Between the groceries your mom packed before we left and what your grandma has here, we could survive for quite a while.”
“That’s the plan.” He led me out of the kitchen and showed me where the bathroom was. “Hole up here for as long as possible while we chase down leads so we can eliminate the threat before anyone has the chance to figure out where you are.”
I gasped at the clawfoot tub, moving close to trail my fingers over the rolled rim. “I’m more than willing to spend hours in here if necessary.”
His dark eyes filled with heat as his gaze drifted down my body. “I should’ve stocked up on bubble bath.”
I didn’t know why it didn’t hit me until now—but I was going to be spending the next however many days with Whit. Just the two of us. Alone in a cabin. With beds. And couches, countertops, floors. So many flat surfaces on which we could get horizontal. Together.
My libido, which had been dormant for quite a while, came roaring back to life. There was no denying the depth of my attraction to Whit. And I had a feeling there was going to be no resisting it either. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to try.
“With a tub like this, I won’t need it.” What I didn’t say was that I’d much prefer to have his hard body in the hot water with me. And I wouldn’t want anything to block my view if that happened.
My cheeks were hot and my mind was full of fantasies of a wet, naked Whit as he led me out of the bathroom and toward the nearest bedroom. Looking at the queen-sized bed did nothing to cool me off. It was too easy to picture us entwined together on the dark blue sheets. I was in a daze as he led me to the other bedroom, similar to the first except with dark green bedding instead.
“Which room do you want?”
