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I squint at the windows, looking for signs of life, half expecting to see a gorgeous wife looking out at me. But I can’t see a thing. There’s nothing more to see here, but I can’t seem to tear myself away from the house, wondering what Nash is doing in there right now.
“Can I help you?”
The deep voice rumbles from somewhere behind me, and I grab the tree I’ve been hiding behind to stop myself from falling over. I spin around and my stomach drops to the ground. Nash is standing in front of me, a quizzical eyebrow raised. He looks so sexy in his plaid shirt carrying a stack of wood under his arm. And now he’s caught me trying to spy on him.
Crap.
“I was…uh…I was just,” I say, my brain going blank as I scramble for an excuse, “I was just uh…walking. Just going for a walk in the woods. For some…some…ugh, what’s it called…FRESH AIR!” I click my fingers triumphantly. “Fresh air, that’s what I’m here for, just walking and enjoying the fresh air. It’s great, isn’t it, fresh air? So…so fresh!”
Oh my God please stop talking.
“It’s getting dark,” Nash says, ignoring my crazy outburst. “I wouldn’t go walking this late if I were you.”
I frown. “Why not? You’re walking out here.”
“I know these woods like the back of my hand.” He sighs. “Come on, I’ll walk you back to the cabin.”
My cheeks heat up. “Oh, no, that’s really not necessary, it’s only a couple of minutes away.”
“It’s easy to get lost and disoriented in a dark forest.” He turns away. “Follow me.”
Feeling like a chastened schoolkid, I do as I’m told, following Nash through the trees. I can’t believe he caught me snooping around his house—I’m seriously considering throwing myself off the edge of the mountain out of shame. The silence between us is like a boulder pressing down on me, and even though we’re only a short walk from the cabin, I feel the need to break the awkwardness.
“So, uh, I’m guessing that was your house back there?”
Nash grunts in assent.
“It’s beautiful,” I say. “It must be a great place for your family to live.”
“I live alone.”
The way he says it makes it clear that he’s not going to say another word on the subject.
“I live alone too,” I say, keeping my voice light, refusing to let his grumpiness silence me. “Apart from Dinah, of course. My cat. We live out in Denver, but my apartment flooded so that’s why I booked the Airbnb.” I force a laugh. “It was the cherry on top of a pretty crappy year.”
Nash makes a noise in his throat. “I know all about those.”
I frown. “You know all about cherries?”
“No. Crappy years.”
There’s sadness in his eyes when he says it, and I’m more intrigued than ever, but we’re in front of the cabin now, and I’m pretty sure that marks the end of our conversation. Nash might be gorgeous, but he’s a tough nut to crack, and I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m just an annoying guest who talks too much and spies on people. I’m so drawn to him—grumpiness and all. I can’t help it. Something about him is so magnetic. But even so, I guess it’s time to stop acting like a weirdo and leave this guy alone. That’s clearly what he wants.
“Well, thanks for walking me back,” I say, reaching for the key from my pocket. “I won’t bother you again.” I give him a weak smile. “Goodnight, Nash.”
I open the door, ready to dive under a blanket and spend the next hour groaning with embarrassment, when Nash stops me in my tracks by saying my name.
“Ava.”
It sounds so sexy in that deep, growly voice—so intimate—and I shiver slightly as I turn back to look at him. “Yes?”
His gaze is fixed on me and my pulse quickens as we stare at each other for a beat too long.
“You weren’t bothering me,” he says simply, his voice so low I have to strain to hear him. “You could never bother me.”
The sincerity in his voice takes my breath away, and before I can get my mouth working enough to form a reply, Nash grunts a quiet goodnight and turns on his heel, vanishing into the darkening woods. I stare after him long after he’s gone before a hungry meow from Dinah snaps me back to reality.
“Sorry, baby,” I say, shaking my head and finally entering the cabin, closing the door behind me.
