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ChapterTwo
Ian
The woman standing in front of me gave me an imperious look with her hand resting on her hip and her chin lifted. She arched one brow, her lips twisting to the side. I definitely didn't remember her at a glance. Although, a memory pinged. I tried to grasp it, but I couldn't quite place her.
“Maybe I do,” I said smoothly, not willing to admit she might be right.
“What's my name then?” she prompted, her gaze cool as her eyes swept up and down.
Although she was giving off a good impression of not being rattled, I didn't miss the flush high on her cheekbones and the rapid beat of her pulse, visible at the base of her throat. Her honey-blond hair was twisted into a knot on top of her head with loose tendrils framing her face. She wore a pair of bright blue glasses. Her eyes were a unique hazel, almost iridescent, the blue and green changing with the light.
I was tired, too fucking tired, to try to play it cool. I shrugged. “I'm sorry I don't know your name. You, apparently, know mine, so I'm assuming you also know this home belongs to my family.”
She blinked at me behind those glasses, her hand dropping from her hip. “Yes, I know this is your family's home. Thea told me I could stay here for three weeks. She gave me a key. Since you don't seem to remember, I'm Jane, Jane Matthews. Thea and I were friends growing up.”
The minute she said her name, the memory clicked into place. Jane was Thea’s pretty friend who almost always had her nose buried in a book. She wasn't a huge fan of eye contact back then. She didn't seem to have a problem with it now as she steadily held my gaze.
“Did she now?” I returned. “Well, she forgot to mention that to me. I'll be here through January.”
Jane blinked again, her nose wrinkling as she considered my reply. “Well, it looks like I'll have to find somewhere else to stay then. Thea obviously didn't know you would be here.”
I shook my head. “No, she didn't. Shocking as it may sound, I don't keep my little sister apprised of everything I do.”
She rolled her eyes as she turned, crossing the kitchen to close the pantry. “I was just about to make some chicken soup because I'm starving. I'll have to call around and see where else I can stay.”
I was replying before I thought better of it. “It's terrible out. You can't do that. Plus, this is Haven’s Bay in the middle of winter. It's not like there are tons of places to stay. Most places are closed.”
Jane spun around to face me. “Tell me something I don't know,” she snapped.
“Look, you're Thea’s friend, and this is a big house. We'll figure it out. I'm not gonna let you drive out in that snow. Trust me, it's only getting worse.”
“Really?” she asked as she crossed over to the windows to peer out into the snowy darkness.
She turned on the light outside on the corner of the house, her eyes widening. The light illuminated nothing but blowing snow. It was wet, thick, and heavy now. I called this kind of snow “snot” snow. It made the roads slick, and tires tended to smear over the surface of it. I’d driven on winter roads for most of my life. Short of black ice, this was the worst kind of snow for driving. Add in the poor visibility and questionable traction along with the wind and it created dangerous conditions. There was no way I would let Jane go out in this weather at this hour.
She turned back toward me, pursing her lips as she contemplated. “It's probably not a good idea for me to go out.”
“It'sdefinitelynot a good idea for you to go out. I'm starving too,” I added. “I'll get my bags. Which bedroom did you take?”
She glanced back at me. “The one toward the front. Is that okay?”
“Of course, it's okay. There are five bedrooms up there.”
“Are you sure?”
“I'm sure, Jane.”
I didn't wait for her reply and walked back down the hallway, my footsteps echoing through the downstairs. A few minutes later, I dropped my bags in the master bedroom, changed into something more comfortable, and made my way back downstairs. When I walked into the kitchen, Jane had a drawer open and was perusing the pots and pans.
“Is chicken soup all we have?” I asked as I crossed over to peer into the pantry myself.
“That’s the only quick option.”
“I'm going to check the freezer in the basement. Maybe we have something there.”
“Is that okay?” she asked.
I paused in the doorway. “I don't see why not.”
