The woman standing there, bundled up in what has to be the world’s largest coat, takes a step back as her gaze darts around. “Oh, um s-sorry.” She glances behind her, throwing a thumb over her shoulder. “I’ll just go.”
I can’t help my scoff at that. “Look lady, I don’t know how you managed to get up here, but have you not noticed how deep the snow has gotten. Hell I can’t even see your tire tracks in the driveway and you just pulled in. You’ll never make it back down the mountain. You’ve already interrupted me, you might as well come in and tell me whatever it is you stopped here for.”
Her head shakes as she backs up. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’m sorry for interrupting you.”
“Wait.” I start to reach for her, but when she flinches at my movement I hold my hands up instead. “Let me apologize. I was in the middle of writing and irritated at the disturbance, but what’s done is done. Please, come in. My ma would have my hide for turning someone away in a storm like this.” I stand back, leaving her plenty of room to enter the cabin.
She eyes me warily but gives a nod before preceding me inside. “Thank you. I just need directions and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
I bark a laugh. “Sugarplum, I’ll give you directions, but this storm says you won’t be out of my hair any time soon. Now can I take your coat?”
Her eyebrows knit as she looks past me outside, where she just came from, where the snow has piled high. She sighs, her shoulders slumping before she mutters, “I guess.”
When she flips her hood back and shrugs out of the bulky outerwear, my dick jumps to attention at what had been hidden beneath. The opposition of the angelic, heart-shaped face framed by short golden hair, that may as well be a halo, and the lush curves of a body made for sin and meant to bring a man to his knees has me almost falling to mine. My eyes dart to her left hand and elation courses through me when I see no ring. Maybe this interruption just might be worth the hassle, even if it keeps me from my writing for much longer than I could’ve ever anticipated.
Chapter Three
Anya
When the door opened, I had not just second but third and fourth thoughts about my plan to stop. From the decorations, I expected a family or older couple, not the tattooed, bearded giant who appeared in the doorway. The scowl on his face mixed with an unmistakable air of danger, as if he knows how to kill a man thirteen different ways with his pinky alone, almost has me turning around and making a run for my car.
I’m still having those thoughts as I wrestle out of my ridiculously oversized knee-length blue puffer coat. It does nothing but make me look even more like a marshmallow than I already do, but it keeps me toasty warm so I don’t care much. Even so, it won’t keep me warm enough to survive if I get lost and more than likely stuck. Though I’m not sure how much smarter it is to listen to this growly giant. But he mentioned his mother and decorates for Christmas like he’s trying to win a contest, so surely he can’t be all bad.
My long-dormant girly parts certainly seem to think he’s the cat’s meow. Tattoos have never really been my thing, but the sleeves on the thick, corded forearms of this guy have me wanting to trace them with my tongue, and just what is that all about?
I finally manage to free myself from the cocoon of my coat. When I hand it over, I find him eyeing me with an appreciation of his own. Which should be a major red flag in this situation, but my nether regions are seeing nothing but green from the way my pussy is throbbing in response.
Crap, I must be ovulating! I’ll need to remember to take one of the tests I have in the car. I’m supposed to be tracking my cycle so I have the best chance for success with the insemination.
Making a mental note to do so, I toe off my fuzzy tan boots. Then, I follow the tattooed giant into the living room, which has a roaring fire and enough Christmas decorations for a department store. It’s hard to imagine this grumbly man doing all this.
“This is quite the decorating job. Your wife must really love Christmas.” It’s all I can do to keep from rolling my eyes at howthatsounded.
“No wife. No girlfriend. Just me. Make yourself comfortable.” He gestures to the sofa. “Is there someone you need to call?”
Well, okay then, cryptic. The mystery deepens.
I take a seat on the plush dark green couch with a sigh. “Yeah, I guess I better call my friend Becca and let her know I won’t be making it to Blossom Grove as scheduled.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “You’re friends with Becca? Her boyfriend, Keaton, and I play poker together every now and then. I’m Thane, by the way. Again, I apologize for my manners. I promise ma raised me better.”
Well that’s somewhat of a comfort. At least I’m not beholden to a complete stranger. “I’m Anya. What are the odds I end up lost with someone who knows Becca?”
His lips tip up on one side of his mouth. “Being Coyote Creek, the odds are pretty good. It’s your typical small town where everyone knows everyone or is related somehow. Can’t go into the store without it taking twice as long as you think, because everyone you run into is someone you know. I’ll go grab the house phone for you since there’s no cell service.” He winks before spinning toward the hall and disappearing through a doorway.
My stomach somersaults at the gesture as heat rushes through me. I haven’t been this twitterpated over a guy since I was a teenager. Glancing around, I’m still stuck on the decorations. No man I’ve ever known has fir boughs decorating his place unless a woman was involved. He keeps referencing his mom, maybe she’s the one who did the decorating. I can’t quite decide if it’s sweet or if it makes him a complete mama’s boy.
He returns and hands me the phone. “Would you like something to drink? I don’t have any tea or such, but I think I might have some hot chocolate I got in a gift basket once.”
“Actually, hot chocolate would be nice if you have it.”
He nods before going into the kitchen, which is separated from the living room only by a small dining table between the two.
I retrieve my phone from the pocket of my coat, where it’s hanging by the door so I can get Becca’s number. I’m just finishing my call with her when Thane comes back into the living room with a steaming mug. Handing him the phone with one hand, I take the mug with the other. In the exchange, our hands on the mug touch, and tingles explode up my arm at the contact. My eyes shoot to his as they widen slightly, and he pulls his hand away.
He clears his throat as he takes a seat on the recliner next to the couch. “You get everything straightened out with Becca?”
“Yeah. She agreed it was best for me to stay here. Apparently I got pretty turned around. Making it to Blossom Grove in this weather isn’t smart, as she put it, not to mention how late it’s getting. Trying to make it in the dark would be even worse. It turns out I’m not the only one stranded in the storm. Our other friend, Everlee, was coming as well, and she ran off the road and is stuck with the brother of another friend of Becca’s. I guess we picked the wrong time to get together.”
