Page 42 of The Christmas Accomplice

“Scared myself for a minute.” Welton tapped the card against the electronic pad and the lock released. He opened the door and noticed Dean’s hiking shoes on the rubber mat below the front window, and his heart skipped a beat.

Oh, shit.

“This is such a nice cabin,” Reece said as he moved into the center of the living room. He looked down at the rumpled blankets and pillows stacked against the arm of the couch and frowned. “Did you sleep down here last night?”

“Huh? Oh, no. Why would I sleep down here when I have that big comfortable bed upstairs available?” Welton laughed, trying for something light but upon hearing it realized he sounded more than a little unhinged, so he cut himself off quick. “I, um, I was drinking coffee this morning and looking at the fire and wanted to cover up and get all snuggly warm.”

“Are you an early riser?”

“I am. Early bird, that’s me. Always getting that worm.” He looked up at the half wall of the loft bedroom and nearly screamed when he saw the top of Dean’s head in the shadowy corner near the bathroom door. Dean peered wide-eyed over the top of the wall, and Welton’s heart started hammering in triple time.

What the fuck was he going to do now?

“Mind if I use the bathroom?” Reece gestured to the door near the kitchen.

“Yes!” Welton practically shouted. “I mean, no. No, I don’t mind at all. Please, go right ahead. Take your time. I’ll just, um, dash upstairs and use the one up there.”

“Okay.” Reece cocked his head and studied him. “You sure you’re okay having me here?”

“I can honestly say I am more than okay with you being here.” It’s that fucking idiot Dean I’m not okay with being here.

Reece watched him a moment longer before turning away to enter the bathroom and close the door. Welton immediately raced up the stairs, coming to a sudden stop at the top when he found Dean standing near the unmade bed with his pants undone and belt hanging open as he struggled to pull a sweater over his head.

“Oh my God,” Welton whispered. “Tell me you didn’t fuck someone up here.”

“No,” Dean whispered back as he popped his head through the neck of the sweater. “I was taking a bath.”

“You were taking a bath?”

“Yes, a bath. All right? I was relaxing in a bath, and I didn’t see your text until a couple minutes ago.”

“Fine. All right. Just finish dressing and get the hell out of here.”

“The less you talk to me, the faster I can dress.”

Welton made a quiet sound of disgust and hurried down the stairs. Reece was still in the bathroom, and while he’d never wish intestinal distress on the guy, he did hope he had a really full bladder. Nothing terrible, just something to keep him in there until Dean was gone.

Dean came down the steps, hair still damp from the bath and face glowing, most likely from using Welton’s expensive skin scrub. That would have to be addressed later. Right now, Welton needed to get him out of the cabin. He grabbed Dean’s parka off the hook and threw it at him.

“Hey, this was expensive,” Dean whispered.

“So is my facial scrub you obviously used. Grab your boots and get out.”

“I can’t put them on first?”

The toilet flushed, and Welton pulled the cabin door open. “No! Get the fuck out.”

Dean grabbed his boots and stepped outside. Welton closed the door and leaned back against it. He heard the water running in the bathroom sink and fanned himself to try and cool down as he took deep breaths to slow his heart rate. A light knock on the door startled him, and he whirled to see the sleeve of Dean’s parka trapped between the door and the frame.

“Son of a…”

Welton opened the door a couple of inches, Dean pulled the sleeve free, and he closed the door and turned as Reece stepped out of the bathroom. In an effort to appear casual, Welton leaned back against the door and put one arm up over his head.

“Well, hi there,” Welton said. “Come here often?”

Reece frowned. “Did I hear you open the door?”

“No. I mean, yes, but I was seeing if I’d gotten it locked correctly. In case someone tries to come in while we’re, you know… Well, not just any random someone, ha, that would be weird. And kind of shocking, wouldn’t it? No, not just a someone, but someone from housekeeping or maintenance or something. I just wanted them to keep out.”