Page 10 of The Grump I Got Stuck With

“I was not eavesdropping on your riveting gossip,” he snarked. “I was bringing you towels for the bathroom and an extra blanket because it gets chilly up here.”

I bristled, a red-hot flush creeping up my neck. “You should have knocked!”

“On an open door?” he scoffed.

“Yes!” My voice leaped an octave. “Or announced yourself or something.”

“What would that have mattered? You were speaking loudly enough for all of Braeburn to hear. If you wanted privacy, you should have closed the door. It’s a relatively simple concept.”

I did! Or, at least, I thought I had. I couldn’t get my words out between my gritted teeth, but I could feel that flush turning my cheeks three different shades of red. “Knocking is also a simple concept,” I finally managed.

“Yes, well, I’ll keep that in mind for when I have invited guests,” he said, passing me the towels and blanket. I clutched them to my chest, digging my fingernails into the plush material. I could tell by his little smirk that he felt like he’d somehow won this conversation, and I barely held back my frustrated growl as he turned on his heel and disappeared down the hall.

“Is he gone?”

Emily’s voice crackled through the speaker, and I realized she was still on the line. I jammed the phone against my ear. “Did you hear how aggravating he is? I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he was banished out here to the middle of nowhere to spare the rest of humanity!”

“I don’t know how you managed to keep your words straight with that chin dimple you liked so much staring you in the face,” Emily said, and I could tell she was grinning like an idiot. “Plus that accent. God! I think I drooled a little on my phone.”

I grumbled.

“Seriously though, Mads. All jokes aside. He’s an attractive man, and you’re probably going to be stuck together for a while. Don’t go falling for him the way you did with Ryan.”

“Trust me, no chance of that here,” I muttered. My bad track record with boyfriends had taught me that I needed to be careful about letting anyone in. Thankfully, there was no danger of that with Alistair, who, despite his adonis good looks, had the personality of a cactus.

He didn’t want to be close to me, and I didn’t want to be close to him. End of story.

4

ALISTAIR

The rainfall shower had to be one of the most brilliant inventions of the modern era.

I groaned, throwing my head back, letting all thoughts of winter storms and late-night doggy door trespassers seep from my mind. Instead, I focused on the spa-like feeling of hot water cascading over my body, loosening cramps and breathing life into my muscles.

I still wasn’t fully awake yet, but as far as mornings went, showering beneath a rainfall was my favorite way to start the day. I’d argue it was better than sex. Not that I was getting any.

Truthfully, it was this shower that had actually sold me on the property. That and the fact there was no one around for miles.

Or, well, there wasn’t supposed to be. But of course Madison had to careen into a ditch right in front of the estate. And of course she was distractingly easy on the eyes.

No…don’t go there.

Let the water take you away, I told myself. Let it pull you into a blissfully steamy world where no intruders with yappy little dogs exist.

Ah, yes. That was better. That was the calm I needed.

It had been a long night of last-minute gift wrapping—and guzzling cookies and milk so I could leave the empty plate and glass for Kenna to find. And that was only after having to put Kenna to bed for a second time—thanks to that four-legged nuisance.

But none of that mattered right now.

Because I was feeling loose and limber and relaxed as I scrubbed the shampoo from my hair. And maybe that was why it took me so damn long to realize the sharp ringing sound I could hear wasn’t coming from inside my own head.

It was the goddamn smoke alarm.

My eyes snapped open. There was a fire in the house.

Kenna!