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“I don’t know. I get along fine on my own and I figure why complicate things if I don’t need to.”
She laughs. “Umm… because you could make your life better with someone you loved.” I hear the fabric from her top hit the bed and then the scratch of the flannel slide over her skin. “What do you think?”
I turn toward her, scanning her thick frame from top to bottom. I was right. This was a mistake. A lump forms in my throat. “You look great.”
Her cheeks blush as she looks up at me. “Not about my outfit, weirdo. I’m talking about you letting someone in.”
Oh god.Of course, that’s what she’s talking about. It’s literally the conversation we were having.
I clear my throat. “I think everything is more complicated in practice than it is in reality.”
She laughs under her breath as she sits on the bed, and the mattress squeaks. “It’s complicated because you make it that way. Having someone to love is only a benefit.”
There are words coming out of her mouth, and I’m sure they’re smart, well thought out sentences, but the only thing I can focus on is the curve of her hips, the sway of her tits, the way her hair lies on her shoulder.
I can’t fucking sleep in here. That’s official now.
As bad as I know my back will be in the morning, lying next to this woman I’ve had zero pure thoughts about will only lead me to trouble.
“I really think I’ll be better off on the couch,” I say as kindly as possible, though I feel a weird rage starting to bubble. I’m not sure what it’s about. Maybe it’s because I know how badly I’m aching to lie down next to her.
“Seriously! Come on! I won’t be able to sleep thinking you’re out there struggling.”
I glance back toward her, my feet heavy with indecision, until all at once I snap. “This is a kidnapping, remember? I make the rules, and you follow them.”
I storm out of the room, slamming the door behind me. That wasn’t the reaction I wanted to have, nor was it a part of me I ever wanted her to see, but here we are, in the thick of it. Behind this solid wood door, we’re both a hell of a lot safer.
Chapter Three
Grace
I roll away from the door and stare out the window. There isn’t much light, but the snow reflects the moon and gives the essence brightness. It’s still snowing heavily. If it weren’t, I’d take my chances down the mountain in the dark. With no snow gear, it would be a death sentence, but it would still be better than whatever just happened.
What’s with men? Even Arnie? One second, they’re nice and you think they understand what you’re thinking. The next, they’re back to acting like wild animals, barking out orders and hollering over nothing.The truth is,I’m giving Arnie too much credit. He lifted me up onto his shoulderwithout my permission,took me back to his cabinwithout my permission, then refused to act like an adult and sleep in the same bed as me.We aren’t friends. Why did I let myself think we were?
I close my eyes and draw in the scent of the sheets. It’s a clean smell, like laundry soap with the smallest hint of cedar on the surface. Arnie smells like cedar. Like a Christmas tree that’s just been cut and left to dry outdoors.
A Christmas tree.I don’t remember seeing a tree in the cabin. I scan through my thoughts, trying to remember the date. I’ve been so busy with the lodge that I’ve lost track of time. That, and everyone here starts celebrating Christmas promptly after the Halloween decorations come down, so it’s easy to get lost in the season. Then again, why does it matter if he has a tree or not? Obviously, I read him wrong. He’s a train wreck. A barbaric caveman who has no impulse control.
Why am I still surprised?
If he wants to sleep on the couch and be in pain all night long, so be it. I shouldn’t be personally offended. Kidnappers don’t sleep with their captors. I’ll gladly lay in this comfortable bed and not at all imagine what it would be like to have his heavy frame lying next to me.
Yeah. That’s exactly what I’ll do.
I close my eyes and drag in a deep breath, attempting to filter out any remnants of him, but this is his bed, and it’s nearly impossible. There are notes of him everywhere. It shouldn’t matter as much as it does, but here I am, drinking in his scent, wishing I was tucked away safe in his arms.
Why, though? Why am I thinking like that? I’ve only known him for a little while, and yeah, he’s been great.Kind, attentive, caring, protective. And yeah, he’s tall, dark, inked, and hot as hell, but that doesn’t mean anything… right?
I tell this to my body over and over again as the scent of cedar threatens my sanity. Thankfully, my phone interrupts the crazy parade going on in my head.
Arnie really needs to work on his kidnapping skills. He didn’t even ask for my cell.
I’m sure it’s my friend Poppy. We both work late shifts and we check on each other every night before bed. She knew I was working extra late tonight.
I reach down for my phone and answer her call. “Hey.”
Her tone is groggy, as though she’s already lying in bed. “Did you get home okay? I’m about to pass out.”
