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Thud. Fuck. My dick was twitching at the thought. She hadn’t come out since we’d arrived at the cabin either. When I was chopping wood, she’d usually bring me a beverage but perhaps wisely for now, we were both keeping our distance.
An hour later, the sun completely set, I’d decided it was time to call it a night. I was satisfied by the ache and fatigue in my muscles. I kicked my boots off at the door, not letting any of the dirt or snow in since last time Cassidy had reprimanded me for it.
I quietly stepped inside, eyeing Cassidy and feeling uncomfortable by the lump in my throat. Fuck she was beautiful. She was coiled up with a hot cup of tea and blanket in front of the fireplace. Shadow lay at her feet as she scrolled through her cell.
“I just sent an article to you about the benefits of yoga,” she said, looking over her shoulder at me. I was surprised she knew I was inside. Again, her gaze deceived her as it dipped before she looked away again.
I quirked a smile. Despite my clear attraction toward her, I enjoyed taunting her slightly just as she did so often to me. I rounded the couch, admiring her messy top bun. She’d showered and removed her makeup, revealing smooth glowing skin. I tried my best not to reach out again, remembering the softness of her cheek.
“Read it to me,” I growled, lifting her legs so I could sit.
“Hey! You smell!” She hissed as I plonked myself beside her and let her legs fall over me. I was playing with fire, I knew that. It was only a minute ago I had the resolve to keep my distance. And yet now I found myself taunting her, enjoying the light blush that spread across her cheek. I casually hung my arm over her legs, avoiding my own urge to slip my hand underneath the blanket and her sweatpants and stroke her.
“Read it to me,” I repeated.
She harrumphed, lifting her chin. A small chuckle escaped, rewarding me with a slow smile of her own, even as she pretended to be mad.
I sat there comfortably as she read the article about the benefits of yoga. Her voice was soothing. The piece itself, I wasn’t so much convinced on, no matter how much she tried to coax me. I found my eyes slowly shutting with ease as I succumbed to her soothing voice, feeling oddly content.
Two hours later, I woke up, still sitting upright but now with a blanket spread over me. I rubbed at my face, realizing I’d fallen asleep. I pulled back my sweaty shirt with a low grumble. I still hadn’t showered. The aroma of crackling firewood and something cheesy filled the room.
I twisted on the sofa, peering over at Cassidy whose hips swayed as she silently cooked. “Did you set up the fireplace?” I asked groggily. I’d been intending on doing it for her when I’d come in from chopping the wood.
“Oh, you’re awake.” Shadow left Cassidy’s side and waltzed over expectantly for pats. “And yes, I might’ve watched you a few times.” She cursed under her breath. “But I broke a fricking nail doing it and I’m not impressed.”
I chuckled, throwing the blanket off. She held out her hand, an angry pout on her face. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve broken a nail? I’m going to have to trim them all now and it hurt.”
I had the urge to grab her hand and kiss it better but brushed that off as simply grogginess. “What are you making?” I asked peering over her shoulder. It was self-explanatory. “Grilled cheese toastie?”
She perked up, proud. “Lori explained to me what the secret was, you know flattening it on the pan and all. I wanted to make you one.”
I looked over at the plate. She’d already made three. She quirked a smile. “Okay so maybe I got overly excited because I learnt something new to make so I hope you’re hungry.”
The truth was, I was starving. Again, I ignored the urge to dip down and press a kiss to her forehead in thanks. What was happening to me? All these urges were compromising my better judgement. “I’ll have a quick shower and then be your guinea pig.”
“Hey!” she called from behind me, spatula in hand. As of late, I’d hardly had to make anything in the café to eat because of Cassidy’s sudden fascination with cooking. And I wasn’t complaining.
Chapter 21
Cassidy
I’d avoided Eric’s gaze ever since he stepped out of the shower with steam rolling off him like some mountain god. The bare chest and chiselled stomach most certainly had something to do it; those grey sweatpants evoking all kinds of fantasies. Since he’d kissed me, my bravado changed shamelessly. A heated thrum coursed through me constantly. Desire. Heat. Him.
Out of the four cheesy toasties, I splendored on the greasiness of half a piece. I was aware Eric watched me like a hawk around my eating habits. It certainly wasn’t the portion sizes he was used to but I was almost smaller than half his size and so he’d stopped inquiring as to why I ate so little after pointing out that fact.
When I started unfurling the blanket on the sofa, the sweaty masculine heat rolled from it since Eric had been sleeping with it. There was a comfort in knowing I’d be sleeping beneath it tonight, shamefully intoxicated by its smell. And I didn’t want to explore that any further. I was scared my deceitful little heart was becoming too attached like it always did. Okay, so I finally found a man who offered me a nice gesture and hadn’t asked me for my body yet, but I still didn’t trust myself.
Eric cleared his throat as he fluffed his own pillow, a thick tension rising between us across the room. “You don’t have to keep sleeping on the sofa, Cassidy. You can share the bed with me, it’s big enough.”
My eyes widened as I looked between him and the bed, the stunning backdrop of the mountains behind it taking my breath away. Him and me… in the same bed? The vision of entangled limbs and sweet nothings whispered created a heated stir in my lower abdomen.
He chuckled. “You look like a deer in headlights. Relax I’m not going to do anything to you. That sofa can’t be good to sleep on for so long and I doubt any amount of yoga is going to help fix a jarred back.”
“Yoga helps with a lot,” I said quietly and pointedly.
He chuckled. “If my mother finds out I’ve been letting you sleep on a sofa she’ll tear me a new one.”
So, was this him attempting to be a gentleman? Or, more importantly, fear from the wrath of his mother? Both of which was kind of funny and endearing all the same.
