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She was ridiculous. “You’re soaked. And it’s not exactly warm out,” I said, the cool morning warranting the light jacket she wore and the fleece I’d put on to sit out on the deck. “How far do you need to go like that?”
Dripping everywhere, Natalie took off her hat and began to squeeze the water out of her clothing. “Take a guess,” she quipped.
The inlet.
“What...do you live there?”
“Pretty much,” she said. Unfortunately, her words lacked their usual heat, making me almost feel bad about the fact that I’d be buying that piece of land.
I chose to focus on “almost,” given that the woman was shooting daggers at me with her eyes that were at odds with her soft tone.
“That’s too far to go like that. Let me get you some dry clothes first.”
She stopped wringing out her jacket.
“Dry clothes? If you think I am going into that house with you, today or any other day, you’re out of your ever-living mind. Lord knows what evil lurks in there.”
Christ almighty. She really had it out for me.
“Natalie. I need you to access your non-crazy side for a second. If you have one. Evil? really? A bit strong for the circumstances, wouldn’t you say?”
“First of all, Mr. Land-Stealing Army Ranger—”
“Ex-Army Ranger.”
“Whatever. First of all, if I’m acting crazy, you drove me to it. Second of all, I’m not acting crazy. Third of all, evil might beslightlyharsh.”
So she could be reasonable?
“Probably deranged is a better word.”
So much for that. I walked over to my coffee mug. “Suit yourself. Get back in the kayak. Freeze your ass off. Or follow me into the house where I can grab you a towel, a pair of sweats and sweatshirt, and a warm cup of coffee. You can hate me on the way back and for every day I’m here, but at least admit you’re freezing.”
She was shivering now, her breath visible in the air. If there was one thing my training had taught me, it was that it was easier to let people convince themselves than to convince them. She was either coming or not. To that end, I began to walk off the dock toward the house, giving her one last prod.
“Come on, Natalie.”
By the time I climbed the steps to the deck, I could sense her following. Sure enough, as I got to the door and turned, a very soaking wet Natalie was behind me. I opened the door and held it for her.
“Thank you,” she grumbled, clearly not thrilled to have anything to thank me for.
“You’re welcome,” I said sweetly, just to rankle her.
It worked.
Since I’d never had a woman hate me before—certainly not a young, beautiful one like Natalie—this was uncharted territory for me. There was really no need to press her already inflamed buttons, but the woman just made it too easy.
“Help yourself to some coffee,” I said, coming in behind her. “Mugs are in the cabinet right above. I’ll grab some dry clothes.”
The house was spacious, an open concept with a fireplace all the way up the wall in the great room. I bounded up the stairs, looked for something appropriate for her to wear, and took a pair of sweats and hoodie back down to where Natalie was, sure enough, sipping a mug of coffee.
No woman had any business looking that sexy after they were just doused in a lake. But she did. Except for her eyes. Big, beautiful eyes that hadn’t looked kindly at me once. And probably never would.
“Sweats. Hoodie. Pair of socks.” I smiled. “I was gonna grab some underwear but didn’t know if you were a boxers or briefs kinda girl.”
The faintest hint of a smile betrayed her before Natalie put her mug on the kitchen counter and took the clothes. Her fingers brushed me so briefly, I might have imagined it. Except, I didn’t. Her touch was electric. Something I wanted again, despite her hatred of me.
“Sorry,” I said belatedly. “I keep forgetting you work for the Trust. I’ll keep it more professional.”
