AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter1
Sabine
“Why the heck is someone parked in front of my rental cabin when I’m the only one staying here for the next week?” I mutter, shoving my car into park.
I turn off the engine.
This can’t be good.
A brand new, boxy, olive-green Mercedes Benz G-Class SUV is parked in the primary space next to the cabin. The kind of car I’ll never be able to afford in this lifetime, or the next. Meanwhile, I’m sitting in the oldest Toyota 4Runner known to mankind because it’s paid for, has all new tires and still works great. I need every penny available for the skyrocketing rent on my tiny studio apartment, because the ski town in Montana where I live and work is lately overwhelmed with filthy rich people looking for vacation homes, causing a lack of affordable housing for normies like me.
I’m not bitter about it though…okay, maybe a little. Just a teeny, tiny bit.
I pause, pout my lips and tap on the steering wheel as I gaze at that gorgeous luxury vehicle.
Who is this person?
All I want is a week’s quiet vacay, alone, in this expansive, beautiful setting, away from my stressful job, which includes socializing nonstop at a fancy ski resort. I’m renting a simple one-bedroom cabin far off the main roads. It stands by itself next to a frosty meadow with no one else nearby for miles. Alone time in my “cave” is supposed to fill up my inner introvert well. No sounds through thin apartments walls, no one wanting anything from me because they can’t even get a hold of me (because I’ll soon turn off my phone).
I live in one of the most beautiful locations in the world, but I don’t get out enough to see it—because I mainly spend my time happily ensuring guests have the luxurious ski vacation of their dreams. I make sure to provide amazing service for our guests at the five-star restaurant where I work, but it’s now time for me to have a restful paid vacay away from those busy resorts in our town, alongside all the luxury shopping and the world-class skiing. The annual Montana Winter Special Olympics are to be held again a few months from now and everyone is hell bent on getting ready for the “show.” It’s completely nutty this time of year and I’ve managed to sneak away for a bit of quiet so I can recharge and return with a genuine smile.
I’ve been looking forward to this mental health self-care for months.
Finishing that blanket I’ve been trying to knit for a coworker’s new baby, while cozied next to a crackling stone fireplace, with views of snowy meadows and epic mountaintops outside, sounds fabulous. I can read a few romance novels by my favorite authors. Maybe I can even get in a bit of snowshoeing on my favorite trail.
It’s going to be lovely, and I’ve barely made it here prior to the rare, freezing storm front that’s about to slam into this area in the next two hours. It’s all over the news and we’ve all been warned to lock up and take shelter because the temperature is going to suddenly dip dangerously low.
I’ve stayed here before, so I know the exact layout of the cabin and what I need to bring. This cabin has all the creature comforts, but due to this freak storm, I brought more supplies than normal.
I can’t see anyone through my car window for me to easily flag down. What the heck is going on? A heavy feeling tightens my chest because now I’m worried my vacation is going to be a bust.
Dammit.
I glance up at the clouds again. This person parked in front of my cozy rental cabin needs to make sure they’re gone quick and sheltered too. The skies are darkening, and the air is already more frigid than usual. I can’t even see the mountains in the distance anymore. Maybe this storm is landing faster than originally forecasted? If this stranger doesn’t leave in the next few minutes, I might end up stranded with this person overnight.
Oh shit.
And what if it’s not just one person who drove that car here, but maybe there were two or three other guests included? Hell, no. There could be a whole group of them trying to squeeze themselves into that one-room cabin.
I open the car door and pull out my cell phone, ready to call property management to check if I’ve been accidentally double-booked—they can get to the bottom of this—but there’s no reception, probably due to the storm front. “Great.” I pace behind my car. “This is the worst timing.”
I hear a crunch in the gravel and turn to see a large, mysterious man stride around the side of the cabin.
My jaw drops open.
He's very tall and slender yet obviously muscular and wears black leather clothes from head to toe. Thick, dark hair brushes against the top of his wide shoulders. His light skin is almost too pale—a startling contrast with his flashing black eyes and dark clothes. As he strides forward, I can see under his open, thigh-length black leather jacket he wears a white t shirt, showing off his tight stomach and pecs. It’s tucked into black leather pants with a black belt and silver buckle. Heavy boots crunch across the light dusting of snow that’s already on the ground.
Leather is not my scene, but I have to say it looks good on him. A cross between motorcycle club andThe Matrix. Without black sunglasses. He's basically the most unusual-looking—as well as the most gorgeous man—I’ve ever seen in my entire life. And that’s saying a lot considering all the attention-seeking “fashionable” celebrities I run into at the restaurant. I can’t keep my eyes off him.
He catches sight of me and looks startled. Then marches straight for me and stops to frown at me, my car and then at the sky, which shows evidence of the turbulent weather and the storm that's about to drop on us. “Who are you and why are you here?” he demands with a luscious deep voice.
The space between my thighs instantly heats. And my mouth doesn’t seem to work at the moment, which is unusual.
“Female, did you hear me? I’m about to go inside and ride out this storm. You need to leave, immediately, for your own safety, so you can shelter elsewhere.”
Female?Who talks like that? This sexy guy is certainly not from these parts. I shake my head and clear my throat. “Uh, no,youneed to leave immediately,” I firmly reply, finally waking from my trance and getting back my mojo. This whole situation is time sensitive, therefore this handsome guy and his fancy car have to go, right away. “I don’t know why you’re visiting this site, but I’m parked here because I’m about to unload my luggage and groceries and move into this cabin for the week. I’ve booked and paid for this location for the next seven days, so you need to get into your fancy SUV and leave immediately, before the storm arrives.”
His brow furrows. “No,I’mbooked here for this entire week.”
