Page 34 of Hometown Hottie

17

NOVA

Riding out a wild storm didn’t seem so scary now that Carson was standing in my little cottage.

A minute ago, I’d been hunkered down by myself with my pajamas on and a blanket wrapped around my shoulders as I used a flashlight to track down all the candles I had stashed around my kitchen. I didn’t look glamorous or sexy, but my appearance hadn’t even crossed my mind until he showed up.

Being faced with a dripping wet, ridiculously hot former NFL player had a way of putting things into perspective.

I tugged the blanket tighter around me and wondered if I could sneak away to change out of my Bambi PJs. They were super comfortable but not my first choice when entertaining a handsome guest.

He shoved his hands into his drenched hair and swiped a wet sleeve across his brow in an attempt to clear some of the water there. I wasn’t the only one who needed to change their clothes.

Snapped out of my uncharacteristic self-consciousness, I shook my head. “Service has been spotty since the storm rolled in. I didn’t even realize anyone had tried to check on me.”

“Your brother was fit to be tied when you didn’t answer.”

“Yeah, he was so worried, he sent you to check on me instead of showing up himself.” I shook my head and laughed. “Not that I’m complaining. I appreciate you coming out here. Now take off your clothes.”

“You want me to take off my clothes?” He arched a brow at me and held my gaze as he reached for the button of his jeans. “If you insist.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re dripping all over my good rug from Target. I’m going to get you a towel and something of Ryan’s to put on.”

He shrugged and kicked off his muddy shoes. Then he flicked open the button on his jeans and dragged down his zipper, completely calm and casual but moving slowly. As if he was waiting for me to change my mind. My entire being flushed with heat, and the storm outside paled in comparison to the emotions raging inside me.

He started pushing down his waistband. I bit my lip, my eyes begging to lower to his crotch to watch it happen, but I kept my gaze firmly locked on his. “Well, I guess you could keep them on, but you’re not sitting that wet ass on my sofa.”

He chuckled and shoved the jeans off but mercifully kept his black boxer briefs on. In my peripheral vision, I saw how the material hugged his muscular thighs and I was tempted to ask him to turn around so I could see his ass. As he stepped out of the soaked jeans, I finally remembered that he needed something to dry off with.

As well as clothes to put on.

“I’ll be back.” I ducked my head and turned around, heading down the hall to my linen closet and hoping he hadn’t seen just how much I was blushing.

After grabbing two towels, I dug into a box filled with Ryan’s old clothes and I pulled out a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. Then I dragged in a deep, calming breath before I went out to him again. When I got there, he was on the phone in front of the door that led out to my patio. With his back to me, he didn’t see me walking toward him, his gaze intently focused on the storm raging outside.

The phone was on speaker, and he held it next to his face. “So they’re okay?”

“Yep,” my brother’s voice rang out. “They’re fine. Apparently, cell service has been coming and going. Dad, Vance, and I just went out to check, and more trees have come down.”

“Okay,” Carson said. “What can I do to help?”

“Stay with Nova,” Ryan replied in a gruff voice that made it sound like he’d rather have said anything but that. “You guys are stuck up there together until we can clear the road. There’s a tree blocking it not too far from my parents’ place. We tried heading there to grab you two so we could all ride it out together, but it must’ve come down just after you went past.”

“There was a lightning strike,” Carson said. “Just after I got here. It could’ve been that.”

“Could’ve been any number of things, but figuring out what caused it doesn’t help us get to you guys. Sit tight, okay? That’ll be our first priority once it starts clearing up.”

“Don’t worry about us,” Carson said. “We’re fine here. Any news on the power?”

“Just that they’re working on restoring it, but it’s probably going to take a couple hours.” Ryan blew out a heavy breath and silence stretched for a long minute until my brother finally spoke again. “Carson.”

“Ryan,” he said patiently. “You don’t have anything to worry about, okay? We’re good here. Nothing is going to happen.”

He emphasized the words like he was trying to reassure Ryan that he and I weren’t going to do anything, and even though I’d been happy to ogle his strong back and firm ass while he was standing there in only his underwear, I was kind of upset about the reassurances.

I understood that he was just trying to set my brother’s mind at ease about us being stuck here together, but surely, I should get a say in whether or not something was going to happen between us. Irritation spurred my feet back into motion and I ignored those powerful thigh muscles as I strode up to him and smacked the little bundle of towel and clothes against his chest.

As I did, his free hand came up to secure them and his eyes darted to mine. He gave me a grateful smile and kept listening as my brother spoke. “Yeah, okay, bud. Just, uh, be safe and don’t do anything stupid. If I get any updates about the storm or the power, I’ll text you. I just don’t know if⁠—”