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“Are you trying to teach me social etiquette?” he mocked.
I harrumphed, suddenly preferring the grizzly version I’d met yesterday. And I wasn’t entirely sure if his sexy change of tone was because he was still half asleep or he was purposefully messing with me.
“I mean you do quite literally live in the mountains. Maybe you need the lesson.” I pointed the spatula at him. His mouth twitched again, and I couldn’t help but smile at him, satisfied to at least get this much out of him. I’d dealt with some of Candice Magazine’s toughest clients at reception and it was my philosophy that I could make anyone my friend. And this man beast would be no different.
I flipped the omelette, satisfied. I didn’t have the chance to make many people omelettes back in Manhattan. Everyone was always busy and only able to schedule time for parties or café catch-ups. And the few dates who actually stayed through the night, always left before there could be any discussion about breakfast. A sullen dread sunk in. At first, Issobelle and I’d joked about my terrible luck with men and serial-dating lifestyle. But the longer I clung to my celibacy, the more I realized I really was shit with men.
“So just to confirm, we’ll be going back down town this morning, right?” I asked quietly. I didn’t want to be a burden on his schedule since I’d already inconvenienced him. But the sooner I could make it to the next town to pawn something—anything—and contact my friend, Alice, that I was on my way, the better. It was a stepping stone, and at least I’d be able to afford gas. A heavy weight sunk into my stomach. But then what would I do?
The cold air had settled in the room, circulating a chill and forming goose bumps on my bare legs. Quietly, Eric went to start up the fireplace again.
“Yes, and we’ll check in to see whether the tree’s been removed and if you can drive though,” Eric replied matter-of-factly. I played around with the omelette distractedly, scraping at the edges. Shadow demanded my attention, nudging me, and obliging, I began scratching the top of his head, which I’d recently learnt he enjoyed.
Minutes later, once Eric was done with the fireplace, he asked, “Didn’t you look at the forecast before driving through the border and to your friends?”
No. I hadn’t thought of that, because I didn’t drive all that often. “Well yes and no,” I lied with a small laugh, agreeable because I didn’t want to sound like a complete ditz. I scraped the second omelette out and back onto his plate.
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion at his second dealing.
“I’m not a breakfast kind of person,” I confessed. “So, here’s another plateful of gratitude,” I brightly beamed. My mind ran away with me again as I absentmindedly began cleaning the fry pan. What happened if I couldn’t get to Alice’s lodge? But returning to Manhattan wasn’t an option either because I had no doubt my parents were still there and waiting. I was not going to fall into their hands, exactly how they wanted me to. But damn this was hard to figure out on my own.
Chapter 7
Eric
The way she’d looked wearing my shirt was near criminal. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she casually strolled out of the bathroom and into the lounge room, the hem reaching her knees. Behind the perfected makeup was a naturally beautiful young woman, those big blue eyes captivating. I’d ground my teeth in irritation. It had taken me hours to get to sleep as I considered why she might’ve been passing through town. Not that I cared but some of her answers didn’t sit right with me. I had the niggling sense that she was in trouble, but I didn’t know what kind and what she might’ve brought upon our town. And yet I also considered what those blonde curls might feel like wrapped around my fist, or how soft her skin would be, or what those lips would taste like.
After hours of wrestling with the discomfort of someone else in my space, sleep finally took hold. And then when I’d woken up, she was making me an omelette? I wasn’t sure what to think about this little snowflake that had waltzed into our town. But the sooner she left, and I could fall back into my routine, the better. Her staying her for only one night had already distracted me beyond measure.
Driving down the mountain she said very little, unlike the nervous chatter she’d filled space and time with on the way up. When I dared a brief glance her way, she was looking outside the window, deep in thought. I noticed her fingers wringing each other. Was she still nervous around me or was something else upsetting her?
My thoughts drifted to her cell being suspended. Was she in some financial strife? She didn’t look like the penniless type, but I’d learnt over the years appearances weren’t always what they seemed.
Lori had already opened shop and as I’d promised Cassidy, her car had remained on the street untouched.
“We’ll check on the update about the tree and see if you can get through yet,” I said, turning the engine off. Her head whipped up, shaken from her deep thought and she gave me a beaming smile.
“That sounds great, thank you,” she said, unbuckling her seat belt.
She jumped out of the truck, opening the back door for Shadow.
When we walked in, my face slackened at the sight of my youngest brother, Thomas, swiveling on the barstool. A mischievous smile stretched his goofy handsome face and I knew the shit I was already in.
“So it’s true that you took in a young lady for the night? What a gentleman,” he charmed, standing to attention. I threw Lori a threatening gaze. She just laughed, shrugging her shoulder casually as if she were none the wiser. And certainly not the instigator.
“I’m Thomas, Ricky boy here’s youngest brother.” He offered his hand out to Cassidy. Shadow growled at him in warning—and I wanted to join him. I hated that name he called me. What annoyed me even more was the way Cassidy seemed charmed by his introduction.
“Ricky?” she queried. I ignored her, walking past my younger brother and rounding the counter, the chance of me being in a good mood today, gone.
“You want a juice, hun?” Lori asked Cassidy.
Cassidy’s smile faltered. Yea she certainly wasn’t a fan of the one poured straight out of the carton yesterday. She thought I wasn’t looking when she’d poured her to-go cup down the sink in the cabin. “No but I’ll have a green tea, if you have it?”
“Coming right up,” Lori charmed. It was abnormally quiet at this time, usually by now a couple of locals would’ve stopped by for their coffee and breakfast rolls.
“I apologize sincerely that you got stuck with my brother for an entire night, he isn’t exactly friendly-making material,” Thomas jibed.
“Oh no he was very hospitable,” Cassidy quickly countered.
