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She glared at me and reinforced her name, almost as if she thought I was stupid. "It's Jude, like the saint, not Judy, like the puppet," she snapped, her hands open before the fire.
I let out a low chuckle. "Ah, like the Beatles song, then?" I said, raising an eyebrow.
Jude rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "Wow, you must be a real hit at parties with lines like that," she responded with enough sarcasm to peel paint off the walls.
My eyes couldn’t help but wander the room as I noticed her checking out my humble abode. It made me self-conscious for a moment. It was one room—kitchen, living room, bedroom—all in one. The only existing doors were for the bathroom and a broom closet. But hell, it was cozy, and doors were overrated.
Truth be told, I was crazy about my little cabin. My small, sturdy refuge was swathed in an ambiance that married rustic charm and masculine minimalism. A crackling fireplace dominated the far wall, its flickering flames throwing a golden glow upon worn leather armchairs, thick, plush rugs, and polished wood surfaces. Bookshelves lined one wall, each laden with colorful spines.
The sturdy wooden table near the window was a testament to countless late nights spent poring over charts. The scent of burning wood mingled with the smell of aged leather and pine, cocooning me in familiarity and the tranquility of solitude. There was a magic to it, a silent strength that could soothe the stormiest of souls, and this humble cabin had long been my sanctuary.
But now, that sanctuary had been intruded upon by a certain cranky nurse.
She suddenly pointed a finger at me, as if realizing something. “You don’t happen to have a truck that could get my SUV out, do you?”
“I don’t. And the plows won’t be out until the snow stops.”
Her expression softened for a second, perhaps realizing the madness of her journey. Then, curiosity taking over, I decided to prod a bit more. “Seriously, what were you thinking? Coming all the way up here in the middle of a blizzard?”
She folded her arms, lips pressed tightly together. “I was thinking that someone needed these files badly enough to send a nurse on an emergency delivery mission. Real pain in my ass, but I thought it might be urgent.” She glanced over at the box she had dropped on my foot earlier.
Ah, so that had been my fault. I ran a hand through my hair. “Well, I must say, your dedication to your job is… impressive,” I replied, trying not to grin too widely.
Jude’s eyes narrowed as if measuring whether she could take me in a battle of wits. It was going to be an interesting evening.
“So tell me,” she said, pointing in my direction again, “What’s so important that you needed these files during Snowmageddon?”
I spread my hands in front of me. “A man’s got to have his secrets.”
Her jaw dropped open just a bit and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Still chuckling, I told her, “Looks like we’re stuck with each other. At least until this storm blows over.”
She rolled her eyes again. “Lucky me.”
I was about to make another snide comment when she started talking again.
“Seriously, what were you thinking, calling Sally and insisting you needed these files for the weekend? Is someone’s life on the line or what?”
I frowned for a moment, then burst into laughter, shaking my head. The absurdity of the situation was starting to hit me.
Her face contorted in confusion. “What?” she demanded, eyes narrowing.
I caught my breath, still chuckling. “I swear, if I’d known the snow was going to be this bad, I wouldn’t have bothered. The timing just couldn’t be worse.” I said, holding up my hands. “I genuinely apologize for dragging you into this inconvenience. Seriously.”
“Inconvenience!” she exclaimed, her eyes ablaze. Damn, she was beautiful when she was angry. My mind had wandered for a split second, and I couldn’t help but imagine how she might have looked in other intense moments. I bet she was even more beautiful when she was in the throes of passion.
I snapped back to reality as I watched her glance around the cabin, almost as if she was looking for something. “Why isn’t your place decorated for Christmas? Not feeling the holiday spirit, Scrooge?” she changed the subject.
“This isn’t exactly my permanent abode, Jude. It’s my getaway spot,” I responded, raising an eyebrow. “Besides, I wasn’t expecting guests.”
She huffed an exasperated sigh, but there was a tiny smile playing at her lips. “Well, since we’re stuck here, maybe we should make the most of it,” she said, her tone a little lighter.
“Oh?” I responded, crossing my arms and leaning against the doorframe. “What did you have in mind?”
She started looking around the cabin again, a mischievous glint in her eye. I could tell she was hatching a plan.
Maybe being snowed in with Jude wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
