AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I considered the siblings conversation earlier about the predicted snowfall tonight. It’d picked up throughout the day. And if what they said was true, then it was possible I’d be stranded for another day and night if we were snowed in. Maybe even more. I clutched onto the hamper as if it was my only means to make it up to Eric. He didn’t know me, and yet he took me in. A small swirl began in my stomach at his kindness. He might’ve come across as a grizzly bear but maybe deep down he had the temperament of a teddy bear instead.
“You seem quiet,” he commented.
I pulled my gaze away from the mountainside and stared up at him, surprised he’d initiated conversation.
“I’ve just been enjoying the scenery. It’s pretty out here.” In the afternoon, I could see it clearer unlike the night before in the scary dark. The mountain range and drive were beautiful, in its stark wintery way. And I understood now why he said only trucks would manage to get up it.
He settled into silence again, with an almost approving and understanding gleam to his expression. I’d learnt with Eric it wasn’t so much as to what he said, because he tried to say as little as possible, but it was the subtle changes in his body language and the simple air about him. I’d never had to study someone in such a way before.
By the time we’d arrived at his cabin, I was excited to stretch my legs. It was only a twenty-minute drive out of the town but there was something freeing about standing out in the open and stretching my limbs. I opened the back door for Shadow. He leapt out, immediately following a scent trail and walking off into the distance.
“Does he do that every time?” I asked curiously as Eric pulled out another one of my suitcases. This time with my pj’s in them.
“Sometimes, only if there’s been other animals close to the cabin,” he said, yanking the suitcase out with little effort. The most I could do was drag it on its wheels. Eric’s gaze narrowed as we walked toward the door. I peered around the bulk of him and down at a set of paw prints.
“Are there other dogs around here?” I asked.
“Not usually” was all he said before he whistled to Shadow, who came pounding back obediently.
Shadow stopped at my side, his tongue out and panting as he nuzzled himself against my leg. I laughed. I’d always been scared of dogs, especially ones his size. And yet I found it rather endearing and a newfound comfort.
Eric unlocked the door and waited for Shadow and me to step in first, an odd expression filtering through his features for only a moment before it was gone. I wondered if it was strange for him as well to have his dog like me so much.
He dropped my suitcase to the side and went straight to the fireplace. I was starting to consider it was more for me and my comfort than anything else, since I felt the cold easily. I placed the hamper down on the kitchen island and tucked my hands on my hips. I read over the instructions Lori had given me to make the casserole. This shouldn’t be so hard, right?
Eric slipped off his jacket and placed it on the hook once the fire was roaring. He suggested I do the same, and when I did, he took it and placed it beside his. “I’m going to chop wood while there’s still sunlight. Are you sure you’re okay in here?”
I nodded, optimistic I could do this much. “Question, does that plasma work for music?”
His eyebrows knitted together. Yep… I considered him as someone who never listened to music, if the silence on the drive up in his truck was any indication.
“It does.”
“Cool, then you can leave now.” I gave him a bright smile. “Don’t worry, Shadow and I’ll hold the fort.”
He looked between Shadow and me expressionless before nodding curtly and slipping through the back door. His boots had left a trail of snow through the cabin as he left. I flicked through the channels on the plasma, still surprised that he had internet connection up here. And yet my cell was as useless as a paperweight. It felt strange and almost liberating not checking it every few minutes. I was addicted to my cell, always checking in to see who liked my posts and how many followers I had. And now that it was all gone, by way of no reception, I found it liberating… after my freak out of course.
I put a remix on, one without lyrics but had a beat that I could sway my hips to as I cooked. I’d purposefully decided to go for something different rather than my usual festival music I’d listen to. It didn’t feel like it’d fit in here. And I imagined the music I was playing currently also seemed mismatched to the brute of a man outside, not that he could hear it.
I opened the red wine and poured myself a glass, smelling and taking a sip. Its deep robust flavors had me excited to start cook this dish. I got to work, reading over the instructions again carefully before I stared peeling the vegetables and measuring everything. I was going to deliver the best casserole anyone had tasted, and if there were leftovers, I was determined to take some to Lori as well. Well assuming we would make it down the mountain tomorrow.
I danced and swirled to the beat, sometimes clapping at Shadow as he wagged his tail at me.
“Want to be my dancing partner?” I asked him, tapping against my stomach. Without delay he jumped up and we awkwardly swayed from one side to the other. I threw back my head and laughed. “Such a good dancing partner,” I encouraged, rubbing his head. I’d grown fond of the furball. I’d finally understood what it was the Lori and Thomas had explained about Shadow, that he didn’t go to anyone and always sat at Eric’s feet when someone spoke to him. I also noticed how he began doing the same for me, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel rather special because of it.
Finally, I placed the vegetable casserole in the oven. Then I grimaced at the thought of frying up some meat. But Eric liked meat. By the size of him, he looked like he’d take down a whole animal and eat it in one sitting. I considered it for the moment. I hadn’t always been a vegetarian, but it’d been ten years since and I’d never cooked it myself. I’d seen people cook it, it didn’t look so hard.
Looking at the time, I wondered if Eric would really be okay with a vegetarian casserole. Or was he just settling because of me? I grabbed a piece of steak from the fridge staring at it. I’m sure I could manage to cook one piece of steak—it’d be fine. I just threw it into the fry pan, right? I placed it on the bench. Should I wait a little before I cooked it or would it take just as long as the casserole to cook? I looked up at the time again. Lori’s instructions stated the casserole would take forty-five minutes. I took a gulp of my red wine.
How long had Eric already been chopping wood for? Almost an hour? I looked out the window behind his bed, noticing how significantly the snow was falling. I grimaced, wouldn’t it be too cold out there for him?
I grabbed a glass of water and went out through the back door and onto the veranda.
“Wow,” I found myself saying out loud. The view was stunning. Past the veranda and the small bit of land surrounding the house were rolling hills and mountains blanketed in snow. His bedroom window had only been a snippet of the endless view outside. The sun was dimming and when my gaze landed on Eric, a hot heat fluttered into my core.
His dark-gray shirt clung to every hardened muscle, leaving nothing to the imagination, including his impressive eight-pack abs, as he slammed the axe down on a piece of wood, splitting it in two. He added them to the pile, grabbing the next chunk of wood. His arms were the size of… well… I don’t know, two minivans? I shamelessly ogled him; even his thighs were as thick as tree trunks. There was something primitive about watching him come down heavy again, swinging his axe. Every time the axe hit with a definitive smack, a little jolt ran through me and heated the pit of my stomach.
Eric cleared his throat, grabbing my attention. My gaze snapped to his. I’d just been caught red-handed, basically frothing out the mouth over him.
