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I sigh. Why am I even thinking these thoughts? I’ve never been in love before. Not in that truly, madly, deeply way you hear people talk about anyway. This is nothing like that. This is purely business. I’m taking her to her cabin so that I know she’s safe. The only thing I don’t get is why I’m feeling so disappointed that we’re almost at our destination and Emily will be leaving my truck.
“You’re doing it again. Scowling,” she says.
I shrug. “Of course. I was lost in thought. It doesn’t mean that I have that RSF thing your boss has.”
She looks out the window with an amused look on her face. I glance in the rearview mirror, checking her claim. It’s true. I am scowling, but only a bit.
I take a left and point up the winding road ahead of us. “Cabin’s right there, at the end of this dirt road. If you want to get to town later, you can take a bus. There’s a bus stop about half a mile from the cabin.”
“Awesome. I can’t wait to settle in.” She angles her body toward me. “And before you freak out, I’m capable of taking care of myself in these conditions. I live in Bearclaw Ridge, a small town like this one. We get plenty of snow.”
I bite back a smile. She’s so adorable, trying to convince me that she’s tough when she looks nothing but soft. “Whatever you say, Emily.”
I park the truck in front of the cabin, and we both get out. Emily takes a deep breath. The air is fresh and pine-scented now, but I can sense that it’ll be snowing soon.
Emily grabs her backpack and turns to me. “I guess this is it.”
“Do you know how to retrieve the key for the cabin?” I ask.
“Yup. Should be in a box on the side of the house. The owner sent me the code to unlock the box.”
“Perfect.”
I should get back to the office, but I keep stalling. I don’t want this to end. I need more time with Emily.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” I ask her one more time.
“Absolutely. I won’t go out until it has stopped snowing and only when the sun shines again,” she confirms.
“Maybe I’ll see you around, Emily,” I say as I open the door to my truck again.
“I would love you. That! I would lovethat, not you,” she says, her cheeks turning red.
My pulse quickens after hearing her utter the wordlove.
She gives me a small wave of the hand and heads up the steps to the cabin. I watch her retrieve the key, unlock the door, and disappear inside.
Only then do I start the engine and drive back into town.
Chapter Three
Emily
I let the door of the cabin fall shut behind me and exhale. Holy shit. I’m still reeling from that short drive over here with Brody. I know I should put all my focus on my research, but that big and bearded mountain man is wriggling his way into my thoughts with no signs of stopping.
I place my backpack on the floor and let it lean against the couch. The cabin is small, perfect for one person, but super cozy. The owner decorated it in Scandinavian style. The interior is adorned with light and neutral tones that amplify the natural light streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s a white shag rug under both the couch and the coffee table, and a smaller sheepskin rug in front of the fireplace.
I step toward the windows and soak in the views of the surrounding mountain landscape. The windows run up two floors. They are so huge that it almost seems as if the forest is both inside and outside at the same time.
I can already tell this place will be a safe haven after spending all day in the cold and dirt, setting up bird feeders, and tracking their use.
Since Brody told me there’s going to be snow, I decide to unpack and take a long, hot bath. While I’m soaking in the warm water, I go over the first steps of my research again and wonderwhen I’ll be able to start. Getting this degree has been something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. The end is so close that I can almost taste it, and I’m eager to get there.
The only thing I regret now is not getting started on my degree ten years ago. Not that thirty is too old to turn your life around. If anything, I’m more committed and mature than I was a decade ago, making this whole studying and working combo viable.
Thick snowflakes start falling while I’m warm inside, rinsing shampoo out of my hair. I guess Brody was right after all. And so was Winnie. Didn’t she mention something about the weather changing fast around here?
I towel myself dry and make a cup of tea that I take with me to the living room. I spread out a map of the area on the dining table and get to work, making sure the physical map aligns with the one I have on my phone.
