Chapter Thirteen
Cami
My heart leaped into my throat. ”It’s the first strong storm of the year.”
Dad sent me a message seconds later.
Dad: Are you home safe?
Cami: Yeah, all good here and I locked everything up. How are you?
Dad: Don”t worry about your old man. I”m safely cooped up. I”ve got food to last me for days.
I glanced up at Maddox, who was busy texting, too, probably letting his family know what was going on. I took in a deep breath, relaxing at the familiar smell of the simmering pot. I didn’t understand why I was so nervous. Well... probably because I knew where this was going. Maddox would spend a few hours here.
Maybe even the night, a small voice said at the back of my head.
He put his phone in the back of his pocket. ”All right. Looks like I”ll be sticking around for a while,” he said, staring at me intently. ”I’m sure it’ll get better in a few hours.”
I sucked in a breath as he stepped closer. He was wearing a dress shirt, and his suit jacket wasn”t that thick. Hadn’t he been cold outside? Why didn”t he wear an ugly sweater or a paper bag or something? How could he be so irresistible?
”Maddox, I honestly don”t think you’ll be able to drive to the Gris. But my couch is a pullout. I”ve had friends sleep over, and they said it”s comfortable. Of course, it”s entirely possible they were just trying to be nice. And none of them were as tall as you,” I said, realizing this might not work out.
He put one hand on the counter and touched my face with the other.
”Cami, I”ll be out of your hair by nightfall. Don”t worry. Now, let me cook you dinner.”
”Wh-What?” I stammered.
He laughed. ”You heard me right. Let”s see what you have in the fridge.” He effortlessly moved to my kitchen, opening the fridge. He glanced inside, nodding appreciatively. ”What do you say about baked potatoes and chicken skewers?”
”Absolutely,” I said.
He laughed. ”Don”t sound stunned. It”s not a particularly difficult dish.”
”No, but I just can”t picture you cooking while wearing your expensive suit.”
”I wasn”t born wealthy, remember? My mother was practically a single mom. Dad only came every few weekends, and she needed all the help she could get around the house. I was the oldest of my brothers, so I helped with homework and dinner.”
”I never thought about it like that,” I murmured, surprised that he spoke so openly about his family. ”So your mom showed you these recipes?”
He shook his head. ”No, I just look them up online. I don”t cook that often. It”s a bit of a hassle to cook for one.”
”I agree.” I was hovering around him because it felt weird to just let the man cook alone. But I really was no help with my hand. I didn”t want to get the bandage wet, and every time I tried to flex my fingers, pain sliced through my palm, so I couldn”t help with the chopping either. ”That”s usually why I bake for a million people and take everything with me to work. Otherwise, I just end up eating everything. But, Maddox, you don”t have to go to all this trouble. There”s no need for skewers.”
He looked at me. ”I don”t mind spoiling a beautiful woman.”
My breath caught in my throat, and I blushed again as I looked down at the oval-shaped oven pan he”d taken out of my colorful stash.
”In fact, if someone were to ask me how I wanted to spend the storm of the year,” he continued, ”it would be just like this.”
I laughed. ”Cooped up in the world”s smallest cabin?”
”Exactly,” he replied, dropping his voice to a lower register. ”With you.”
I chanced a glance up. He was looking right at me.
”Why?” I whispered.
”Because it gives me a chance to be alone with you without any interruptions or distractions. And I”ve wanted this for weeks.”
”You have?”
”Fuck yes. Ever since that evening at the restaurant.” He turned around, facing me. ”All I wanted was an excuse to be alone with you.”
I smiled, swooning a bit. ”Hmm, and now the universe is conspiring to get you what you want.”
”Something like that,” he admitted.
”So this is why you came to find me today?”
He shook his head and then touched my face with the back of his hand. ”I was honestly hoping I wouldn”t see your car at the park at all. That you would already be safe at home. But I”m so damn glad I stopped by.”
”So am I. I got lucky,” I whispered.
”I”m the lucky one, Cami. I”m the fucking luckiest bastard in the world.”
His gaze was on my lips. I let out a shaky breath, and he stepped back.
”Let”s turn on the oven,” he said.
”Right away.”
He prepped everything surprisingly quickly. I really wasn”t much use besides stirring the mulled wine.
As I peered inside the pot, my phone beeped again. I instantly checked it, wondering if the message was from Dad or Miriam.
It was from Bill.
Bill: Hey. Hope you’re safe from the storm. You didn’t reply the other day about selling the property. We can give you 10% more than what we offered the first time.
My eyes bulged. I swear to God, this guy has some nerve! Bill was always persistent, and I couldn’t be as abrasive with him as I wanted.
Cami: The offer is way too low, Bill.
Bill: But wouldn’t you rather the property go to a local?
I drew in a deep breath. I needed to nip this in the bud.
Cami: Not at any cost.
Bill: Well, that’s how much the property is worth to us.
”What’s wrong?” Maddox asked.
I shrugged, pushing my phone away. ”Bill got wind that you want Essex Adventures. He... well, his family offered to buy the land once, right after Mom died. Their price was truly ridiculous. Dad got super offended. I think they just thought we’d be so distraught that we’d sell it to the first person who offered.”
He set his jaw. ”Go on.”
”Anyway, now he says they”re still interested and are offering 10 percent more than what they originally did. What a joke.”
”I did have a bad feeling about him, but this is insane.”
”I agree. I can’t tell him to go fuck himself, though.”
Maddox grinned. “I can.”
I laughed, stirring the pot again. “Trust me, you can”t, or else he’ll delay or disapprove your permits.”
”No, he won’t.” He said this so seriously that I was tempted to tease him. Then I remembered Whitley Industries was a huge-ass corporation. Someone like Bill couldn’t push them around. ”If he’s bothering you, just say the word.”
“I don’t want to talk about Bill anymore, okay?”
He leveled me with his gaze.
“Really,” I insisted.
“Fine.”
Our dinner was still in the oven, but the mulled wine seemed ready, so I poured us each a cup.
”Usually I let it simmer more, but I really want to taste it.”
We clinked cups, and then he brought his to his mouth. Mine was dark green with leaves all over it. His was dark blue. I didn”t have matching cups either.
”This is delicious,” he said.
”And strong,” I replied. ”Even without the brandy.” I took a sip, closing my eyes, dropping my head back, and smiling.
”You”re so fucking beautiful when you smile like that.”
I opened my eyes, straightening up. He was pinning me with his gaze.
”What were you thinking about?” he asked.
”About how much I enjoy this season. All the cozy indoor activities. It”s also quiet in the adventure park. And that I can”t wait to light the fireplace.”
”If you have wood, we can build a fire now.”
“I do, actually,” I said, grinning from ear to ear. That would be lovely. It was exactly what this evening was missing. ”I keep the firewood at the back entrance. I”ll show you.”
After we put our cups on the kitchen counter, I led him through a small corridor to the back door. ”I only ever bring enough wood up here for three or four fires. I keep the rest in the backyard.”
”But you have heating, right?”
I nodded. ”Of course, and a generator. But I really like looking at the fire, especially in the winter.”
I had colorful coats and some boots stacked up next to the pile of wood. Maddox took an armful and I sighed, watching him carry the logs.
He set the firewood in the rack before bending to inspect the fireplace.
I licked my lips as I went back to the kitchen counter. Grabbing my cup, I brought it to my mouth.
Oh yeah. Mulled wine, a dinner in the oven, and this hot-as-hell guy starting my fire—pun intended. What more could I want?
His ass looked especially delicious from where I stood. I couldn”t get enough.
A few minutes later, the fire was going.
”You have skills,” I said.
”You know, men and fire. It”s a caveman thing.” He tilted his head, zeroing in on me. ”You look so damn happy.”
”I am,” I assured him. ”This evening is amazing.”
We started setting the table after that. It was round and small, and I”d pushed it against the wall because I usually ate alone. I feared he might not actually fit at the table; the man was so tall that he made everything around him look hobbit-sized.
He took the food from the oven and split it evenly onto two plates. I filled our cups with more mulled wine, and then we sat across from each other at the table.
”This turned out better than I thought,” Maddox said after the first mouthful.
”You’re a pro.”
”I like to do everything perfectly.”
I stared at him. Was that supposed to be a joke? Nope, the man wasn’t joking in the slightest.
He took another mouthful and narrowed his eyes, as if contemplating what grade to give himself.
”Well, I, for one, think it”s perfect. Way better than what I usually cook for myself.”
”What are you talking about? Your banana bread is amazing.”
I grinned. ”I like to bake desserts, but food? Eh, I get by.”
The wind grew even louder during dinner, and the rain intensified. There was no way I was letting Maddox leave my cabin tonight.
”The mulled wine recipe is really good,” Maddox said as we chugged our third portion for the evening. The alcohol was getting to me; I was already a bit light-headed.
Once our plates were empty, I stood, gathering them.
”No, sit.”
”But you cooked,” I said with a pout.
He groaned. ”Stop pouting; your mouth looks irresistible—even more so than usual.”
There was a pause as my breath caught.
Holy shit! He really just said that.
Maddox groaned, dropping his head back. ”Too much mulled wine,” he said.
”Uh-huh.”
I didn”t move as he took the plates.
”But you cooked,” I repeated.
”Yeah, but your hand is still throbbing. You kept twitching during dinner.”
He”d paid attention?
”Yeah, it is,” I admitted. ”Listen, Maddox, I don”t think you should go anywhere tonight.”
He didn’t respond, just filled the dishwasher and started it before slowly turning around.
”Cami, are you sure?”
I nodded feverishly, jumping to my feet—a bit too fast. My head spun.
Maddox was next to me the next second, putting his strong arm around me, steadying me.
”Oh, damn it. I wanted to have some more wine in front of the fire, but no more drinks for me tonight. Who knows what I might do?”
He groaned again. I felt his breath in my ear. ”I”d never take advantage of you, Cami. That”s not something you have to worry about.”
”Oh, I”m not,” I said playfully even though my skin simmered. ”I was more afraid that I might take advantage of you.”
He stepped back, giving me a sly grin. ”I don”t have anything against that.”
I started to laugh, and Maddox shook his head. ”So, since we”ve concluded that you”re not going to face that storm, I can show you the shower. In case you want to freshen up.”
”That”s a good idea,” he said.
I showed him the bathroom, pointing out the stack of towels on the shelf between the sink and the tub. ”These are all fresh, so feel free to take one. I”m going to open the pullout couch.”
”No, you”re not,” he said in a decisive tone. ”I’m going to do it later. You just relax.”
”Okay,” I whispered.
He smiled at me, and I felt it as if he”d actually touched me in all sorts of sexy and forbidden places.
I was going to need an ice-cold shower later. I just had to find a way to do it without getting my bandage wet.
It was only nine o”clock in the evening, but I already knew we wouldn”t be staying up late. I”d had too much to drink, and, well, if I spent too much time next to this hunk of a man... I might totally jump his bones.
Who came up with that? Jump his muscles—now that sounds much better.And they truly deserved to be jumped... and touched... and licked.
The door to the bathroom opened a few seconds later, and Maddox”s voice resounded through the cabin. ”Cami?”
”Yes?” I asked, my heart in my throat.
”I need something from my suit jacket.”
”I’ll bring it.”
My heart went pitter-patter as I headed to the mudroom, grabbing his jacket. Then I walked to the bathroom with determined steps. The door was half closed.
”Here,” I said.
He stepped into view only for a second, but it was enough for me to realize he was butt naked.
Holy shit. Why didn’t he take a towel?
Wait a second. Crap, crap, crap.
In my drunken haze, I”d completely forgotten that I didn”t have any large towels stashed in the bathroom. Those were in my bedroom closet next to the linens.
”No peeking,” he said.
I could”ve sworn I blushed everywhere.
”Oh no, I didn”t mean to. Holy shit,” I said, turning around. As he grabbed the jacket, our fingers touched. I was on fire. ”I forgot to bring you a large towel.”
”So you did peek.” He sounded amused.
”Can you close the door, please?”
”Sure.” Now he sounded on the verge of laughter.
Oh, why is he putting me on the spot like this?
I went back into the living room, fiddling with my thumbs. I felt my body temperature rise when I heard the bathroom door open again. Maddox went to the mudroom first, presumably to hang his jacket, as he returned to the living room empty-handed. He’d taken off his dress shirt and was wearing a white T-shirt, which I assumed he”d been wearing underneath. He”d put the belt on his pants again, but he was barefoot. He ran a hand through his hair, sprinkling small droplets all over my living room. His T-shirt rolled up a bit with the movement.
My, my, my. Those are some abs.The muscles were so well defined and the skin so taut that my mouth watered.
”Should I take it off for your benefit?” he asked.
I gaped.
”I see my warning about no peeking went right over your head, huh?”
I blinked rapidly and laughed nervously.
”I don”t have my wits about me tonight to come up with a sassy comeback,” I admitted.
He walked right up to me, which was definitely not helping the case. Up close, I realized the shirt stuck to him a bit. His nipples peeked through it, and the ridges of his abdomen were all the more visible.
”Do you want to go to b-bed now?” I stuttered, looking up at him.
Amusement played in his eyes. ”Are you tired? Because I”m not.”
I shook my head. ”No, I usually go to bed a bit later.”
”Then let”s sit on the couch for a while longer and enjoy the fire. And each other,” he added.
I swallowed hard. Something passed between us, and it filled me with a boost of energy.
I sat down on the couch, which I”d always considered too big for my cabin, but right now it seemed far too small. I could practically feel the heat radiating off Maddox”s body.
”Let”s start,” I said as I turned on the TV and my favorite detectives lit up the screen. He was close enough to me that I could smell the shower gel on him.
”Are you comfortable?”
”Yes,” I whispered.
The tension between us was palpable. My mouth went dry, so I got up, pouring myself another cup of water.
“Do you want anything to drink?” I offered.
“I’m good.”
I sat back down and kept sipping as the episode continued. Maddox sent text messages once in a while.
”Is everything okay?” I asked.
He nodded. ”Yeah, I”m just checking on my grandparents and my brothers.”
”The storm is as bad in Boston?”
”No, but I”ve asked them to keep an eye on our grandparents anyway.”
My chest was full of fuzzy feelings. I loved that he always thought about them.
He groaned.
”What?”
”My brother keeps pestering me about where I am.”
”So why don”t you tell him?”
Maddox looked at me. The room was dark except for the TV and twinkle lights, but I still saw his eyes darken.
”Because... he might get the wrong idea.”
He leaned farther away from me, putting an arm on the armrest, but his eyes were still on me.
I stared straight at the TV, but my breath hitched. My palms were sweating. Yeah, my body was getting the wrong idea too.
After the first episode was over, I yawned. “I’m actually getting tired. I’m not even sure why. It’s not that late,” I glanced at the clock and blinked. “Oh. It’s already ten.”
“Time flies when you’re in good company, huh?” Maddox asked.
I smiled at him. “I’ll bring you fresh sheets right away.”
“I’ll pull it out in the meantime.”
“Okay.”
As I dashed to my bedroom, I heard the couch creaking.
Grabbing dark blue linens from my closet, I returned to the living room and stopped in my tracks. For a few seconds, I simply admired this fine specimen of a man as he opened the couch. Oh yeah, those muscles were bulging again, just as they had when he’d carried my pumpkins to the car. How was he so damn hot?
“All right, this looks good,” he said as I approached with the sheets.
I looked from him to the couch. “Are you even going to fit on this thing?”
“I will. Don’t worry about me.” He took the linens from me, covering my hand with his in the process. I barely bit back a groan as a bolt of heat took me by complete surprise. Because he touched my hand, huh?
I checked the fireplace. It was almost out. I glanced around, shifting my weight from one leg to the other.
“Do you need anything else?”
He looked right at me, and his nostrils flared. He hesitated before saying, “No.”
I was willing to bet anything that he was about to say something else, and I was desperate to know what, but I didn’t ask.
“All right, then. Good night, Maddox. If you need anything, just knock on my bedroom door.”
“I won’t. Good night, Cami.”
I walked slowly to my bedroom, almost wishing he’d change his mind and come up with an excuse for us to stay up longer. But he didn’t.
And neither did I.