Page 22 of Pucking Snowed In With My Ex

SKYE

“Fuck yeah!”

The yell made me jump and yanked me out of my deep thoughts. Cal turned on the generator just before breakfast, and I’d never seen a group of people so happy they could make coffee in my entire life. They stood around staring at the brewer like that would make it drip faster.

Now all caffeinated, they were outside digging out the cars. The snow had stopped, and the sun was shining. It was a glorious winter morning. Anyone who didn’t live here couldn’t understand the appeal, but all it took was a single moment like this, and you appreciated the magic of a winter in Canada.

It also helped that I was staring at half-naked men working and sweaty. Shovels or chainsaws in hand, they cleaned off the cars and moved the snow and tree limbs out of the driveway. They wore jeans and boots, without shirts, but toques on their heads. I may have taken a photo or two because Hayley would regret missing this.

It was like Candy Land, except instead of lollipops and gumdrops, there were hard abs, flexing backs, and arms that made you drool for days. I could love Cal, never want another, and still appreciate the view of the sexy Christmas gnomes.

Well, all except one. I didn’t care if he had a sexy body and a pretty face. I would never be able to look at Alex without seeing an ugly troll. His soul was dark and twisted, and I wished I’d noticed it sooner.

I stopped staring and finished cleaning the snow off the deck. I’d already cleared the stairs and sprinkled the salt and sand on them. Pushing the snow, I groaned as I heaved the pile over the edge. I loved this deck. It wrapped around the entire home, so you could always sit in the sun or shade and have a perfect view of the property.

Breathing hard as I finished my work, I grabbed the outdoor lights. There was still hope that the power would be restored for Christmas day, and I selfishly wanted this place to look stunning. I loved twinkling lights and could sit and stare at them all night.

Taking the stairs down to the walkout door, I stepped inside and kicked off my boots before walking to the storage room. There were four bins marked outside lights, and I piled three of them at the door and walked back for the fourth. Rounding the corner, I stopped and stared at the boots that had appeared beside mine.

They could be anyone’s, but it didn’t stop the hair from standing on the back of my neck as I turned in a circle.

“I thought I told you to keep your guard dog on a leash,” Alex said, and I couldn’t help but jump and look up the stairs. He was holding a mug of what I assumed was coffee and one of the cookies I’d made.

“And I told you that I didn’t say anything and to stay the hell away from me.” I backed up one step at a time as he walked down the stairs.

I could see why girls fawned all over him. He looked like the goofy surfer boy out of a movie, but I saw the real him. I couldn’t help wondering if there was more or us that knew the real him or if I was an island.

“And yet, I can feel Cal glaring at me from across the yard. Care to explain that?” He bit into the chocolate chip cookie, his eyes on mine as he chewed. It was not lost on me that he was holding the coffee I’d brewed and eating the cookies I’d made. “You want to hit me, don’t you?”

“What I’d really love is for you to take your stalkerish ass and wander off into a snowstorm, never to be heard from again,” I said. Alex smirked, but it looked more like a snarl.

“Did you sleep okay last night, Sugar? Stay all warm and cozy in Cal’s arms?”

“What the hell is your problem? And that is none of your business.”

He bit off another piece of cookie and lifted his shoulder in a casual shrug, yet it felt threatening for such a simple movement.

“You have circles under your pretty eyes. I would’ve thought that with all the sex you and Cal had, you’d look more refreshed.”

I wanted to vomit as the thought of him listening at the door crossed my mind. “You don’t scare me, Alex, not anymore.” We stared at one another in a standoff. I refused to turn my back on him and held the tote like a shield.

The door opened behind me, and I was startled by the sudden noise. “Why do I keep finding you two alone,” Cal asked. I looked up at him, ready for the anger to once more be directed at me, but he was glaring at Alex.

“Dude, it’s not like there are many places to go. I was grabbing a snack,” Alex held up the coffee and cookie as his alibi, and it hit me just how methodical he was in his thinking. “She came in to get whatever is in the bins. What did you want me to do, run away screaming? I thought we were over all that shit and what happened.”

“Maybe, I think I should’ve asked more questions three years ago,” Cal growled, his hands balling into fists. Fear filled me at the thought of the consequences of Cal forcing the truth out of Alex. I dropped the bin with a bang and swore as I hopped back.

“Ouch, my foot,” I cried out and grabbed Cal’s arm.

“Shit, you okay?”

“Yeah, it slipped.” As I hoped, Alex turned and walked away while Cal helped me sit down. When Alex was out of earshot, I cupped Cal’s face, his worried eyes staring into mine. “Please, just leave it alone,” I whispered. “I will give you the truth, but I need to do it in my own time. I’m begging you, leave it and Alex alone.”

His eyes were hard, his brows drawn down in a frown, and I knew he wanted to argue. “I don’t like this, Skye. What does he have on you that you are this scared and you don’t want to tell me?”

I looked away and sighed. “He doesn’t have anything on me,” I said, and Cal’s face morphed into confusion.

“That makes no sense.”