Page 38 of Pink and Country

For a second, the idea of calling the hunk of a neighbor to my rescue flashed through my mind. I shook my head and pushed back the thought.

We never exchanged numbers. Or even names. Our nickname game sounded silly and juvenile right now.

Anyway, I could take care of myself on my own. You can do this, April. Be fearless.

I didn’t need some tall, handsome, obviously fit guy with corded back muscles and a six-pack to save me from whatever wandered around my cabin. Another thud. I jumped three feet up. Seriously?

On my tiptoes, to avoid making noise, I opened the front door wide and growled, the guttural sound piercing the now quiet night, ready to chase the intruder away, a death grip on the TV remote in my hand. My options to protect myself were limited, and I couldn’t think clearly, my brain still foggy from my nap.

A loud chuckle resonated in the dark.

A familiar figure appeared under the porch light, flashing an amused, wary eye.

“Who do you think you’re scaring away with this, woman?” my neighbor asked, his arms overflowing with a pile of wood. “Wait, is it the TV remote in your hand?” HN shook his head, and his smile reached his eyes. I stuck my tongue out, crossing my arms over my chest, annoyed at the way HN teased my self-defense attempt. I loved his smile, though. It lit up his features even more than usual, giving him a boyish look. A grown-up boy with stubble.

“What are you doing here? It’s late.”

“It’s cold outside, and the weather forecast said it’d snow tonight or tomorrow morning. I’m making sure you’ve got enough wood to keep the fireplace running.” HN shrugged like it weren’t a big deal.

I blinked.

It’d been a long time since a man cared enough about me and my well-being to make sure I missed nothing. I relished the idea. A bit too much. Flutters danced in my stomach. The small gesture meant a lot to me.

“Wow, that’s nice of you. Really.” HN flashed a small smile my way and dropped the wood under the covered porch where we stood.

Another loud thud echoed in the night.

I’d barely ever seen any snow in my life. The thought of being stuck in a snowstorm or buried under truckloads of white frozen powder got me on edge. In my head, snow was a threat. Yeah, I was that girl.

My gaze traveled to the pile of wood my hot neighbor already brought over.

I’d be fine. This time my own lips stretched into a grin.

“Glad I could help.” HN stuffed his hands in his pockets and ambled away. My eyes stayed fixed to his firm ass as he disappeared in the night. “Good night, neighbor,” he yelled over his shoulder, waving at me.

Should I have invited him in?

For a fat minute, my feet remained glued to the wooden porch as I stood there, swept by the chilly breeze, wondering what to think of HN. I eyed his cabin, where he’d already vanished inside, unable to make my mind up about him.

My heart raced in my chest.

He cared.

It made me jittery, and bolts of electricity ran down my spine.

* * *

The next morning, a thin blanket of snow covered the ground and the treetops. Not feet thick like I feared, but about an inch. Breathtaking. With a mug of hot tea, I watched from the hammock chair in the living room the perfectly defined snowflakes falling. With the sun already shining, I knew this white wonder wouldn’t last long.

I changed into warmer clothes, put my jacket and a black beanie on, and my sheepskin boots, and ventured outside. With my arms opened wide, I spun around myself, my eyes fixed on the sky, a giant smile splitting my face in two. Unable to resist, I hummed a Christmas song. Warmth radiated through my body, pooling in my heart.

“The kid in you happy this morning, Fairy Girl?” I was so mesmerized by the winter display that I hadn’t seen HN nearby. My heart capsized in my chest at the sight of his smirk as he caught me spinning around. Flutters, akin to butterfly wings, invaded my stomach.

I halted and, without thinking, hugged the man standing beside me, wrapped up in my own world. Nothing could temper this moment. His scent made my head turn.

HN stiffened under my touch, and I stepped back. “Sorry. Got a bit swept away by all this beauty.” My neighbor tucked away a loose strand of hair behind my ear. Shivers raced inside me.

I sucked in a breath and met his eyes for a nanosecond before averting my gaze. I hoped he couldn’t hear my hammering heart from where he stood. HN’s gaze was trained on my face, alternating between my mouth and eyes. I wet my lips with my tongue, and his eyes followed the movement. I bit my bottom lip in a way I knew was sensual and sexy, just to tempt him and see what he would do. His Adam’s apple bobbed. This game was getting a little more fun each day.