AllFreeNovel
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“What about a friend? Or maybe if you—”
“I’m here now. Do you mind? We’ll be late if I go out searching for a hot shower.”
I drag in a deep breath. “Okay… fine. Towels are in the cabinet outside the door.”
Inside my tiny cabin, Luke is even bigger. I noticed this last night as well. It’s part of the reason I couldn’t get rid of him fast enough. My body is aching for a man like Luke. A big, strong, dominant guy who isn’t afraid to make decisions.
I drag my gaze back to center and glance toward him. “Sorry, you just surprised me is all.”
Josh runs around the corner and tucks under my arm. “Hey! You’re the guy that was here last night! We’re going with you today!”
“You are?” Luke turns back toward me. “That’s good news. We’ll have all kinds of fun. Do you like Christmas parties?”
Josh jumps in the air and squeals. “Yeah! Christmas is my favorite. Do you love Christmas?”
Luke grins ever so slightly, his gaze on mine. “It’s growing on me.”
I drag in a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I need Christmas off, but all of this feels like a mistake. What if someone asks Josh questions about me or about us? I don’t want to put him in the middle of something weird. That and the thought of standing next to Luke while we play house is confusing to me too. This whole thing has the potential to be a massive mistake.
Luke disappears into the hall like he owns the place, his giant frame still making noise as his weight creaks against the bathroom floors and regretfully behind a now closed door. Soon, his giant, naked frame will be under my shower, not twenty feet from where I’m standing.
I shouldn’t be thinking like that, right?
Chapter Four
Luke
I reach into my bag and pull out some cologne. I keep a go bag packed in the car on the rare occasion I get stuck in a snowstorm and need to spend the night up at the lodge. It’s only happened a couple of times, but the one time I was stuck without fresh clothes and a toothbrush sucked.
Mae’s cabin is small, and I hear her and Josh talking in the living room. I’m going to have to play this carefully today. I don’t want him getting any more confused than is necessary.
“You two ready?” I lean against the wood beam in the kitchen where Josh is sitting eating a bowl of cereal. Mae leans over the edge, talking to him as they roll his toy truck back and forth.
This is a mistake. Seeing her like this, with him, it’s a layer I’d blocked out. Even when I drive by at night to check on her, he’s usually in bed. It’s best that way. I don’t want to feel guilty when I need to keep her late.
Mae sits up and straightens her dress. It’s a short red dress that matches her hair and curves to every inch of her perfectly. Now I’m sure this was a mistake. I’m jealous of myself… of the version of me that gets to hold her for today and pretend she’s mine.
“You look… great.” She scans over me, her gaze stopping at my shoulders before leveling with mine. “How are your clothes not wrinkled from being in that bag?”
“Steam from the shower helped. Thank you for letting me use your facilities. Great place you have here. I didn’t get to look around much last night.”
She laughs. “Please! This is practically a hunting cabin compared to your place, I’m sure.”
“No. This is very nice. And you… you look incredible.”
“Okay, now I know you’re full of it.”
“She does look nice, doesn’t she?” Josh spins toward me, a spoon hanging out of his mouth. “She didn’t fit into the black one, or the blue one.”
I glance at Mae, her face turning red. “Well, that’s good because this one is perfect.”
She looks away and then toward Josh. “Let’s get moving. Use the bathroom quick and wash your hands… with soap.”
He jumps from the stool and runs toward the bathroom, shouting all kinds of noises that sound like lasers. It’s been a while since I’ve had this kind of energy around me. Tinley only left home last year, but she hasn’t needed me for years now, and her excitement for things like Christmas parties waned a decade ago.
“Is there anything I should know about you before we go today?” Mae’s tone is quiet. “Anything that makes this more real?”
“Not really. You know me pretty well. You know I don’t watch much TV. I read a lot, mostly classics I’ve read a thousand times already. I also spend a fair amount of time out with the horses, which keeps me sane. What about you?”
