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Helet go of her hand so they could step out of the car.Thesky above was quickly darkening, the sunset painting the sky with streaks of burnt orange and dusky blue.Tothe right of the gravel drive, she could just make out a pond ringed with large rocks.Pastthe pond was a rock garden, with hardy evergreen shrubs, pine needle ground cover, and moss-covered rocks.Allaround them, pine trees stretched up to the sky, as though the cabin were half in the forest, filling the air with their scent.Thecabin itself was a gabledA-frame with a steeply sloped roof and a wraparound porch.Alog façade made it look rustic and cozy, as though it were much older than it was.Porchlights glowed warmly, illuminating their way to the front door.
Hazelcouldn’t explain how she was feeling in that moment.Despiteher excited, happy nerves at being alone withAdam, her muscles felt relaxed.Herheart wasn’t racing anymore, but beating slow and steady.Thesound of the forest enveloped her, and it sounded like home.Whichwas crazy, because she’d lived her entire life in one of the world’s biggest cities.Butshe’d never felt so instantly connected to a place in the city as she did toAdam’scabin on the edge of theHudsonHighlands.Shehadn’t even been inside, and somehow it felt as though it was where she belonged.
Goosebumpsdanced along her arms asAdamtook her hand and led her up the three steps onto the porch.Ajingle of keys and then the front door was open.Itwas dark inside, butAdamquickly turned on a light.
“Oh, wow,Adam,” she said softly, looking around.Themain floor was open concept, with a small entryway that opened onto a large living room to the left and an equally large kitchen on the right.Hereyes danced over the hand scraped wooden plank flooring, the stone fireplace that arched all the way to the ceiling, the rustic stone covering the back wall of the kitchen. “Thisis incredible.I’venever…”Shewas almost overcome with the sensation that she’d found something she hadn’t even known she’d been looking for.
Heset his keys down on a small table by the front door and shrugged out of his jacket, hanging it on a mounted hook on the wall opposite the table.Afterslipping off her shoes and leaving her stuff by the front door, she followed him farther inside.
“Thisis what your place looks like when you’re not expecting guests?” she asked, shaking her head and making a tsking sound.Itwas lived in, with a basket of folded laundry sitting at the bottom of the stairs, a discarded coffee cup on the coffee table in the living room, a few dishes in the kitchen sink, a rumpled blanket on the large gray sofa.
Helaughed. “Youwere warned.”
“Iwas.ButIwasn’t prepared for the horrors of bachelorhood,” she teased.
Helaughed even harder and then took her hand again. “Comeon,I’llgive you the tour.”
Themain floor felt like something out of a movie, all wood floors and stone accents, with humongous windows that looked out onto the pond and the forest.Shewalked through the living room, taking in the fireplace, whereAdamwas busy making a neat pyramid of kindling and logs, and then into the kitchen, which was just as cozy as the rest of the house.Alarge breakfast nook was nestled into the windowed alcove, with a built-in bench and a round table.Besideit, there was a window seat beneath one of the large windows, looking out onto the darkening forest.Twilightglowed softly through the trees, illuminating the forest with shades of silvery purple.With a sigh, she sat down on the window seat and pulled her knees up to her chest, feeling something settle inside her.Shenever would’ve thought she was someone who preferred a quiet cabin on the edge of the woods to a condo in a bustling city.Thenagain, she was starting to realize that maybe she hadn’t actually known herself that well at all.
Adamstepped into the kitchen, brushing a stray woodchip off his jeans.Thescent of a newly kindled fire filled the air, andHazellet out another contented sigh.Sheturned and foundAdamstaring at her, an unreadable, almost wistful expression on his face.
“What?” she asked, ducking her head slightly.
“Youlook good here.”Heshoved his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels, something she was coming to know was a nervous gesture from him. “Imean, you always look good, but you look goodhere.”
Shestood from the window seat and crossed the kitchen to where he stood. “Ifeel good here.Like…”Shetrailed off and bit her lip.Shecouldn’t say it out loud.Itwas too sappy.Andit was too soon.
“Likeyou belong,” he said, his voice low, his eyes hopeful and bright.
“LikeIbelong,” she whispered, and then his mouth was on hers, kissing her gently.Beforethe kiss could turn into anything more, he pulled away and retrieved a bottle of wine from a cabinet.Heheld it up and met her eyes, a wordless question, and she nodded.Hepopped the cork with a deftness that was very sexy, and then handed her a glass.
“There’smore to see upstairs,” he said, and she took her glass with her as she followed him up the stairs to the second floor. “Thisis my office and library,” he said, pushing open a door to reveal walls filled with bookshelves, a worn but comfortable looking sectional, and a desk facing the windows with a laptop and papers scattered across it.
Herfootsteps were quiet as she padded across the large area rug to the desk.Thewindow looked out onto the forest. “Thiswould be an amazing place to write,” she said, her eyes moving to his laptop.
“Itwas.It’smostly just a library now,” he said, and again, something flashed across his face.Sheset her wineglass down on the desk and crossed the room to him, sliding her hands around his waist.God, he was so warm and solid.Shewanted to curl into him and never let go.
“Itstill could be,” she said softly. “Youhave a lot of talent.Iwas almost late coming downstairs to meet you becauseIgot sucked into your book.”
Hisface lit up. “Really?Howfar did you get?”
“Thepolice have askedBradyto come help investigate the disappearance of the young woman, they found her body in the woods, and now he’s at the prison, interviewing her ex-boyfriend.IlikeRobertBrady, a lot.He’ssharp and witty, but still human.”Shehugged him a bit tighter. “It’sreally good,Adam.Like, should’ve been on the bestseller list good.Publishingis a brutal industry, andIunderstand why you stepped away.ButIhope someday you come back to it.”
“Hazel,” he said, his voice low and rough, and then he was kissing her again, his free arm banding around her waist and holding her against him.Unlikethe kiss downstairs, this one was hungry and demanding.Likea dirty, tantalizing promise she very much wanted him to keep.Shelet out a moan, and he deepened the kiss, his tongue licking into her mouth and caressing.Hetasted like the single sip of wine he’d had, sweet and heady.Itwas enough to make her feel a little drunk.
Shelost track of time as he explored her mouth, making her knees go weak and her pussy flutter in anticipation.IfAdamShephardcould kiss like that, she had a feeling he’d also be good at otherthings.Especiallyones involving his mouth.
Herstomach rumbled, and he laughed softly against her mouth, breaking the kiss. “Idid promise you dinner, didn’tI?”
“Mmm,” she said. “Andwe never finished the tour.”
Helet out a shaky breath. “Maybewe should go back downstairs.IfItake you into my bedroom…”Helet the unfinished thought dangle in the air.
“Wemight never eat.Well, food, anyway.”
Whowas this woman who dropped innuendos like they were nothing?NewYorkCityHazelwould’ve never said something so brash and bold.
Shewas starting to likeGossamerFallsHazelbetter.
