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“Don’t you think if I wanted the door shut, I would’ve done it?” His back to me as he finishes stacking the extra wood on the floor. When he’s finished, he comes back to the front door and slams it behind him. I can’t help but let out a frustrated growl. How can he be so rude all the time?
I'm still standing in the same spot when he returns. He takes off his boots and tosses them aside without care and puts his coat on the rack. Finally, he makes eye contact with me. “Did you decide if you want a fire in your room?”
“Yes, please.”
As he gathers the wood, I make my way to the room and sit at the end of the bed and wait for him to complete his task. Again, he refuses to make eye contact as he comes into the room and gets the fire started. When he’s finished, he dusts his hands off as a show of a job well done. He finally looks at me and stands there a few moments. Feeling awkward, I study the floor and wait for him to leave. I hear him clear his throat before finally speaking to me.
“So, you’re all set then?”
“Umm, not that I want to bother you any more than I already have, but do you happen to have an old T-shirt or anything that I could maybe sleep in? I have nothing else to wear and would rather not sleep in my work clothes.”
Maddox raises an eyebrow as he assesses my question. “I’m sure I have one.” He leaves and returns quickly. He tosses the shirt on the bed and starts to make his way out of the bedroom. Before he can leave, I have one more question to ask and pray it will not send him over the edge.
“One more question before you go.” He turns around and stares at me, remaining silent. I decide to continue, realizing he isn’t going to say anything. “Would it be okay if I took a bath?”
“Why are you asking my permission?”
“Because it’s not my house and because I'm not sure if it's even a working tub.”
“Yes, it works. That’s what it’s there for. Listen, I’ve had a long day and want to go to bed. The fire should last through the night. There are extra blankets in the drawers if needed. Whatever you do, don’t wake me.”
With that, he leaves and shuts the door behind him. I sit for a moment in silence and think about all the events of the day. Never in my life did I think I’d ever be in a situation like this with such a man like Maddox.
I clutch the shirt he gave me to my chest and make my way to the bathroom for a much-needed soak in some warm water. Hopefully, it will be what I need to wash away the stress of the day and to help me sleep.
Without thinking, I hold the fabric to my nose and breathe in the scent. To my surprise, it's an inviting aroma. It's a mix of laundry detergent, cologne, and something more rustic, more natural. I can’t quite put my finger on it.
With the new scent on my mind, I turn on the water. Once the tub is half-full, I submerge myself and close my eyes allowing the warmth to wash over me.
Chapter Four
Maddox
I'm not sure why Taylor bothers me so much, but I do not want her here. The last thing I need is a woman watching my every move and questioning why I do things. I hope the storm won’t last as long as the news stated.
As I leave her alone in the room, I make my way to the fireplace in the living room and add more wood to it. While I'm exhausted, I find that I can't sleep. Taylor has me in knots, and I don't like it. Not one bit.
To lessen the stress, I decide to pour myself a drink. The choice for the night is whiskey, and not a small glass either. I make my way to the kitchen, turning off all the lights on my way. After I pour a tall one, I settle into my favorite leather chair in the living rooms. The only light comes from the fire. I stare into the flames, sipping my drink, trying to get Taylor off my mind, but it seems nearly impossible.
Her small frame is built well, and she's not just skin and bone. She’s perfectly proportionate with long dark hair that’s threaded with lighter strands. Her eyes capture me and make me a prisoner, every time I look at her. So I try to avoid all eye contact if I can help it. Her bright blue eyes have deep layers of dark blue.
I have to stop thinking about her.
I take a large swig of whiskey, finishing the glass. Deciding it isn’t enough, I stomp into the kitchen to grab the bottle out of the cabinet and refill my glass.
Screw it. Who needs a glass?
I return to my chair with the bottle. She'll make this storm unbearable, I know it.
Swig after swig, I drink until the whiskey is gone, staring at the fire. I don’t even notice the bottle slip from my hand as I doze off in the chair.
* * *
“Maddox! Maddox! Come and find me!" A giggle follows the challenge, and I smile with the excitement and fun of the chase. I sneak through the yard, breathing in the amazing aroma of the fall. The dead leaves on the ground make it hard to be quiet. When I think I'm in the right place, I quickly spin around a tree to catch her by surprise. She isn't there. I hear her giggle again. "Not there, love. I'm here. Come and find me!" I continue on the search, determined to find her. As I make my way towards the garage, I hear her giggle once again. Hide and seek was her favorite, no matter how juvenile the game seemed. And the truth was, I loved playing with her. There was no care in the world, and no one mattered besides the two of us. "Over here, Maddox!" I hear her whisper. I make my way around the garage to the back, knowing I will find her there. Just as I round the corner, I yell “Gotcha,” only to be presented with the back of the garage and dead leaves on the ground. Why can’t I find her? Suddenly, I start to panic. I no longer hear her giggles, and I know something is wrong. "Wendy! Wendy, this isn't funny anymore. Where are you?" I'm met only with the wind rustling the leaves on the ground and in the trees. "WENDY!"
I'm startled awake by a hand shaking my arm. “Maddox, wake up.”
Confused and upset from my dream, I bat the hand away and shoot to my feet. I look over and realize it's Taylor who woke me. “I told you not to wake me. What are you doing?”
