Brooke’s gaze narrowed on him. “So, why don’t I remember seeing you at the wedding rehearsal?”
“I was in the back room talking to the best man.”
“Oh.” Her gaze scanned the living room’s décor.
The cabin looked like any other from the outside, but on the inside, it was a poor man’s dream come true – thanks to Brad Young’s expensive tastes. Decorated in a western style, the wooden furniture was hand-carved, and hand-woven rugs lay on the varnished oak floors. Two enormous fans with beautiful wooden blades hung from the ceiling. The dark oak kitchen cupboards blended with the rest of the cabin, the same color as the dining room table and the six high-back chairs.
“Is this your cabin?” she asked.
He held back a grin. Should he try to impress her? Although they’d never met, the more he stared at her, the more attracted he became. Her beauty and elegance bewitched him. How long would it take to charm her?
He shoved aside his wandering thoughts. The fire must be melting his brain. He walked away from the heat. Why else would he want to charm her? He didn’t come here to have a relationship with another woman – although if his days were numbered, that’s exactly what he wouldn’t mind doing.
“No, this cabin isn’t mine,” he answered her. “It belongs to my best friend.”
“Oh, I see. Well, tell him I think it’s beautiful.”
“I will.”
She rose from the couch and meandered into the kitchen. His gaze strayed to the gentle sway of her hips until she disappeared behind a wall. Not another word was said until the slam of the phone on the receiver echoed from the other room.
“She’s still not answering. Maybe Dad’s home.”
Her father!The man was after all, Robin’s uncle, and if Robin’s uncle knew he was here, Justin would be in trouble, especially since Mr. Pierpont was behind the contract on his life.
He hurried into the kitchen. “Wait!”
“Why?” Caution laced her voice as her forehead creased.
“Well, um... wouldn’t your dad be with your sister at the rehearsal dinner?”
Her shoulders slumped. “You’re right.” She leaned against the wall. “But who else am I supposed to call?”
He rested his hip on the counter. “How about a friend?”
She shook her head. “What friend would drive three hours just to take me home?”
He shrugged. “How about a boyfriend?”
“No.”
Her reply came much too fast. Had she recently been through a breakup? Her narrowing gaze let him know she had a story behind those sad eyes.
She turned toward the window. “I’ll just have to wait until the wedding dinner is over. Hopefully, we won’t get snowed in before then.”
Justin moved to stand beside her and peered out the window. The heavy snowflakes fell faster than before. Just as his gut had told him earlier, this was turning out to be one bugger of a storm. So yes, they would be snowed in, if they weren’t already.
He shifted his gaze and studied her profile. Even up close, her skin looked like silk... smooth and begging for his touch. He rested his eyes on her perfectly shaped lips and a mouth made for kissing.
Blinking, he tore his attention away, cursing his thoughts again for wandering in that direction. What was wrong with him? He’d always been a flirt, and women loved his zany sense of humor. Since meeting Robin, that had all changed. For some reason, he’d changed and had become more serious. And he never even thought about flirting with another woman when Robin was around.
Whatever was making him act this way had better stop. There was too much to worry about. He didn’t need extra stress.
Justin rubbed his tense neck muscles. “I wonder how long the storm will last. We’ll have to turn on the TV to see the weather forecast.”
“Yes, I suppose we will.”
As he turned to go back into the living room, she moved in the direction of the kitchen. “Are you coming?” He pointed to the TV.
