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I laughed, a belly full, as she smiled brightly. “As I was saying…” she said, continuing the story.
Chapter 30
Cassidy
When I’d woken up in Eric’s arms, his dead weight pinned me into place. There was no way of escaping or making him an omelette before he woke. I’d been barely able to shuffle so I could stare up at his sleeping expression.
He was curled up around me, his knees trapping me in his warmth. Out of choice though, I wasn’t so sure. I tried not to laugh when I noticed Shadow, sleeping at his feet and forcing the bulky man to shrink his size around me.
He’d kicked off most of his blankets, his body heat radiating off him in waves. I brushed a hand over his beard lightly and soothingly. After our many discussions, I’d realized he wasn’t as harsh on anyone else as he was on himself. Especially when it came to his family and his dyslexia. I’m stupid. Those words resonated with me since the moment he’d first told me in his truck. I’d been subject to so many “pretty blonde” jokes and “only good for one thing” statements. So, in a different way, I understood how he felt but that didn’t take away the fact that I wanted to melt away any ill thoughts he had toward himself.
And last night had been nice… really nice, being able to read to him even if it was a sweet contemporary romance that he might’ve not ordinarily been inclined toward. I’d snagged a free advanced copy from Sotiny before I’d left Manhattan when she came back into town since Alex still lived there on and off.
And reading it to Eric felt intimate. He’d watched me the whole time, laughing and tugging at my hair when I’d throw in a cheeky comment.
His low snore came to a stop, and without even prying his eyes open, he tucked me in tighter and murmured, “It’s creepy to stare at someone while they’re sleeping.”
A slow smile crossed my face. “You don’t seem so scared.” And also, how did he know I was staring?
Still sleepy, he said. “The only thing I’m scared of is you leaving.”
My heart flipped in my chest and I hated how easily it was carried away. He was half asleep, and I wondered what part of Eric I was talking to. His heavy snore followed through once again. It had only been yesterday he’d outright told me this couldn’t be any more than what it was already, and yet… when he said things like that and cared for me… like when he intimately washed over my body in the shower and told me pretty things without sex attached to it—okay we had sex before then but my heart fluttered and in its own way, it was cruel. We were both trying to fight this thing but it felt strangely inevitable. Or maybe I’d just watched and read too many romances.
When I asked him last night how he thought the story would end and he said happily ever after, I wondered if through all the hurdles, like the main characters in books, maybe somehow Eric might change his mind. I nuzzled in tighter, embarrassed by my girly thoughts. But he wouldn’t, and I had prepared myself for that but with every given chance my heart would react before my head could think logically. That this felt right… That no matter what, we could somehow make it work. But then there were things I’d have to address and cut away.
Sadly, I realized that all this time I’d just been trying to find a place to belong. To be loved. And not for my money or my last name. But simply for being me. And the place I thought I might’ve found that had made it abundantly clear he wasn’t the one.
It felt strange Eric not being home. Even more so, not going into town with him. He’d given me the option but I decided to stay back and make some cookies, which cooled inside. He threatened me not to read any more of the novel until he returned. In such a short time, this little cabin had become familiar to me. While he was gone, I decided to experiment with my newfound skill at wood chopping. He’d been gone for a few hours now, and I patiently waited until I could try the new recipe Lori had given me when he returned with the ingredients.
I blew out a heavy breath as I slammed down the axe on the piece of wood. Damn, it only splintered it. I yanked it out. Okay another time. Eric made it look ridiculously easy and sexy as well. And although I was clearly not a natural, I could see how he got carried away with time. In its own way, it was therapeutic. And it was rewarding to know the locals would use it for their fireplaces.
Shadow lazily snoozed on the porch, disinterested in my wood chopping attempts. I wiped away the sweat on my brows and glanced at the small little pile I’d managed to form. I turned to look out to the mountain view behind me. It was stunning. I’d never stayed in a place like this long enough to enjoy its beauty and peace. I closed my eyes for a moment, enjoying the frigid air. It was hard to think about returning to Manhattan. I wouldn’t say I was a local or accustomed to living this lifestyle, but I felt like I’d changed. Had an appreciation for somethings that I might’ve previously overlooked in the busyness of Manhattan.
Something brown flashed in the trees, grabbing my attention. A deer walked away from me and further into the woods. My curiosity unfurled as I dropped the axe and stepped into the woods, trying to be quiet as I followed it. I hadn’t seen many deer in real life. Especially in the wild.
Crunch. A branch broke beneath my boot and the deer paused, its ears pushing back. Shit. After only a moment of hesitation the deer bolted. I threw my hands up in the air. Well, what did I expect? To have some kind of Disney princess moment and pat it?
Crunch. I burrowed my eyebrows in confusion. I hadn’t moved my feet. A low, menacing growl raised all the hairs on my arms and I slowly turned, terror pumping through my veins. A grey wolf padded toward me, its fangs bared. I took in a sharp breath.
Snap. There was another one to its left. And another behind that. Three wolves surrounded me. My heart hammered in my chest as I briefly eyed every direction. Use your legs, Cassidy. Use your fucking legs.
A wolf barked and I screamed, bolting for the cabin. The wolves began snapping and snarling as they gave chase. Within seconds, one yelped. Shadow barged into it from the side.
“Shadow!” I screamed, stopping. The others had stopped chasing me and sized up Shadow. Without thought, I looked around, finding a branch. The two dogs toppled and rolled over each other. Adrenaline pumped in my veins as I picked up the large branch and charged, swinging it at the other two wolves. My heart pounded in my ears. I was going to die. I acted on impulse. But I’d be fucked if I was going to let them hurt Shadow. There was a yelp as Shadow flung the other wolf off.
No longer deterred by my stick, one of the wolves lunged for me instead. I screamed, throwing my hands in front of my face. I was pushed out of the way, a grunt the only audible sound through my heart pounding in my ears as Eric wrestled with a wolf latched onto his arm.
He gripped at his fangs, opening its mouth and flinging it off. Shadow chased as the three wolves scampered away with tails between their legs. Eric whistled, calling him back immediately. The dog returned obediently. Everything had happened so fast. Like a dream. My mind was whirling and catching up to what had just transpired. My eyes went wide at the sight of red dripping blood.
Eric dropped to his knees in front of me, his hand cupping my jaw. “Are you okay?” he said, panicked.
“Am I okay? Eric, you’re bleeding!”
“Are you okay?!” He yelled. I was stunned by the fierceness in his tone. He looked like he was about to burst into tears. Although his eyes surveyed every part of me, he wasn’t seeing me at all. A sheer panic had swept over him.
I grabbed his hand that cupped my face, pushing myself onto my knees as I grabbed his other hand and placed it to my heart. “Eric, look at me.”
He did but was still in that haze. Did he even realize he was the one bleeding? “Eric, look at me!”
