Chapter One
Belinda
Fresh out of the bath, wrapped up in my favorite fluffy bathrobe and wearing bunny-eared slippers, I bounce into the kitchenette, humming as I go.My long, chestnut brown hair sits piled up on my head in a messy bun, and I’m more than ready to finally wind down with some snacks and a good holiday movie.
With a contented sigh, I pull a pint ofBen & Jerry’sChewy Gooey Cookie ice cream from the freezer, pop a silver spoon in my mouth, and grab my bottle of sparkling white wine.I should probably get a glass but being that this is a solitary retreat—a reward for surviving yet another year at my nine-to-five job—I’ve decided on being disgustingly indulgent.God knows I’ve earned the right!I’m going to drink straight from the bottle.
Sitting down on the comfy couch of my rented cabin in the small mountain town of White Pines, I reach for the remote, get comfy, and start flipping through channels.When I find what I’m after, I hit “play” and start opening my mouthwatering goodies.Popping the top on my wine, I give it a second to breathe before taking a generous swig.The bubbles tickle my nose, and I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, waiting for the sensation to pass.With a shake of my head and a hiccup of laughter, I put the bottle back down on the coffee table.
“Mm,” I say to myself, “not bad at all.”The title credits begin to roll, and I enthusiastically dig into my ice cream.The decadent flavors explode across my tongue and I’m in heaven.The delectable combination of coconut, chocolate fudge, shortbread, and caramel has me moaning around the silver spoon and wiggling my ass against the cushions in satisfaction.“God, that issogood!”Just as the opening scene of my movie is set, three mighty knocks on the cabin door make me jump and almost drop my tub.
Licking my lips and setting my treat down on the table, I check the tie on my robe, before standing up to answer the door.“Hello?”I ask hesitantly as I pull it open a notch.My breath hitches in my throat and I swallow hard when I find a behemoth of a man standing on my stoop.Dressed in a red and black tartan shirt, a brown leather jacket trimmed with fur, and a pair of well-worn jeans, he’s got at least a head and a half on me, and he’s built like a man honed by years of hard physical labor.
“Ah, can I help you?”I ask, my heart hammering anxiously.I certainly wasn’t expecting company on my winter self-care getaway ...and I find myself feeling put out and more than a little uncomfortable.
The stranger smiles through his salt-and-pepper beard and removes his black beanie, an apologetic smile on his face.“I’m sorry to intrude,” he says, “but I’ve broken down a mile or so back up the road.I can’t get any cell service with the storm setting in...”
My pulse thunders in my ears and I tuck an errant strand of hair behind my ear, buying myself a second to think.Fuck.I know where this is going.But what choice do I have?I can’t let the man freeze to death in his truck!No one deserves that.Looking up into his steel-blue eyes, I don’t have the heart to say no.“Please, come in,” I say, stepping aside and opening the door wide despite the adrenaline racing through my veins and lending strength to my anxiety.“A blizzard is on its way, and you can’t stay out there.”
The stranded man enters my home away from home for the winter season and waits by the door until I close it.“Thank you,” he says, brushing the snow from his jacket.“My truck has always been a reliable old girl, but I think she might be reaching the end of her days.”
“It’s no trouble,” I respond, twisting my fingers in front of me and chewing on my inner lip.“Can I get you something to drink, something hot maybe?”
“Just water would be great,” he answers, laying his beanie across the back of the couch.“I’m Max, Max Austin, by the way.I work just up the mountain at the timber mill.I drive by this little cabin every day but have never seen inside it before.It’s quite cozy, isn’t it?”
I smile nervously and fetch some water for him, returning to pass him the glass.Our fingers brush and I almost forget how to breathe.“I’m Belinda Fairway,” I manage to say.“I’ve just rented it out for the holidays.With my parents gone and no other family, I came out here to treat myself and enjoy my time off.You have to splurge sometimes, you know?”
Max nods in agreement and sips his water.“Being without family on Christmas is pretty rough,” he says.“I’ve got a brother and usually visit him, but it looks like I won’t be making it this time around.”
“I’m sorry about your plans,” I say as I move to clear up my ice cream and my still-open bottle of wine.“I was just going to kick back with a sappy movie.”
The handsome lumberjack—who must be twenty years my senior judging by his salt-and-pepper hair—glances at the TV and offers me a knee-weakening smirk.“Hallmarkromances, huh?Aren’t you a little old for that?”he asks as he looks me over, his steel-blue eyes drinking me in from head to toe with a scrutiny that has me squeezing my thighs together.
I push the lid back on my comfort food, returning the ice cream to the freezer, and put the wine in the fridge.“I just like a good happily ever after,” I admit, folding my arms over my chest defensively with a small, uncertain shrug.
“But that sappy, sweet stuff?”he counters, one prominent brow cocked in question.“That’s not real, Belinda.Real love is messy, rough, and raw.”
Swallowing the lump developing in my throat, I cough to clear it, smiling apologetically.“There’s nothing wrong with sweet,” I counter as I move to walk past the couch.“If you’ll excuse me a minute, I’m just going to get changed, then I’ll find some bedding for you.No one’ll come out tonight, so you might as well make yourself comfortable.”
Max’s strong hand is on my wrist in the next heartbeat, his grip firm as he pulls my arm away from my chest in a move that surprises the living hell out of me.“Don’t get changed on my account,” he says in his deliciously deep baritone.
My heart races, panic fills me, and a million thoughts whirl through my head, rivaling the blizzard howling outside.Holy shit.What do I do?My innermost instincts warn me to tear my arm away and bolt for my handbag and pepper spray, but another part of me, the biggest part, freezes like a deer in headlights, caught by indecision.If I escalate the situation, it could potentially turn violent ...and I’d be stranded, trapped, snowed in with a lumberjack capable of God-only-knows what.But if I don’t react to protect myself, what other option is there?A shiver ripples down my spine as the obvious truth sobers me to my very core.
