Chapter 5
Kiera Lane
Okay, this was ridiculous. It hadn’t been this cold last night.
Maybe because you’d slept three feet away from a fucking fire.
I gnashed my teeth and stared up at the ceiling of the helicopter. Just when I thought I’d won the lottery with my new bed, the temperature had to drop to the point where I couldn’t stop shaking.
I wasn’t going to let James think he was right. He probably knew anyway since he’d taken back his blanket and given me his sleeping bag instead, plus a hoodie.
It was a good brand that promised to keep me warm at temps above ten degrees, and I called bullshit. It wasn’t that cold out. Was it? No way. We weren’t that high up in the mountains. Probably.
Nope, new plan. I’d make a fire outside, boil up some water, jump around to get my blood pumping, and drink hot water with honey. Then I could make a fresh attempt.
I shuddered violently and sat up, and I unzipped the sleeping bag.
James’s hoodie was insanely comfortable, and it stayed on. He might never get it back.
“F-freezing f-fuck,” I breathed. Leggings stayed on too, obviously, and I snuck my popsicle feet into my shoes. Then I grabbed James’s flashlight and the bottle of honey on my way out.
Good God, it was frigid.
I switched on the flashlight at the lowest setting—as instructed—and made my way over to the firepit. James was toasty warm in the cabin, wasn’t he? I could see the glow under the door.
The fire from last night wasn’t completely dead yet, so I added some wood and poked around, sending embers flying skyward. Ohhh, that was the warmth I was looking for. I bet I could crack an egg on the rocks that I’d surrounded the pit with, and it would be ready in a minute.
After returning the pot to the made-by-James three-legged stand above the fire, I poured water in it and—
The door swung open, revealing a dark silhouette that made my heart jump up in my throat.
“Get in here, Kiera,” he bit out.
“What, why?” I asked shakily. He’d scared me again!
“You’re freezing.”
“No, I’m not,” I said stubbornly. “I woke up and wanted some honey water. Is that a crime?”
He sighed loudly and opened the door wider. “Fucking get in here already. The stovetop’s hot. Your damn water will take two minutes to boil.”
Okay, but then I was going back to the helicopter!
I swallowed the last of my frazzled nerves and grabbed the pot, and then I scurried down the final bit to the haunted spider house.
Oh my God, it was so nice and warm in here.
I exhaled unsteadily and avoided eye contact. Pot went on the stove, and I accidentally sloshed some water over the edge. The drops sizzled and jumped on the surface.
“Gimme that.” He took the honey from me as well as the flashlight.
He set the honey next to the stove, then spun me around to face the stone bed.
“I want you to look at this.” He directed the flashlight at the ceiling, bit by bit.
“There are no spiders in here. See those cracks? Nothing is small enough to hide there.” The beam of light traced the walls too. “Nothing, nothing, nothing.”
I knew it was stupid, but I couldn’t help it. It was my one fear, aside from…well, being ambushed by rebels in a war-torn country.
“I know it’s not rational, James,” I said tiredly. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m still gonna try to reason with you,” he told me. “I have a steel mosquito net that I usually use for fishing, but I’ll put it on the door, okay? I can’t cover the bottom part completely, because we need air in here, but I’ll put the net up right now.”
I hugged myself loosely, feeling like an idiot. “Okay. Thank you.”
He nodded firmly and handed over the flashlight. “Do your own check to make sure. I’ll go get the cushions from the bird.”
I thanked him again, and he was quick to leave.
Stupid, stupid!
I’d walked through life priding myself on never being some silly little damsel in distress.
I liked to hike, fish, camp, and hunt, and I wasn’t bad at self-defense.
I’d learned to gut fish with a sparkly tiara on my head.
I loved to challenge myself, learn new things, and push the envelope.
But the moment I saw a spider bigger than a quarter, I was overcome with panic.
I looked around the small room. To James’s credit, every surface was smooth and flat, and there were practically no hiding spots for spiders. So if we secured the door, then yes, I would feel safe in here.
I had to make things up to him—again.
My gaze landed on the jar of strawberry preserves, and I made the quick decision to prepare a midnight snack.
I mixed flour and water in the skillet with some oil, and I grabbed the coffee tin for James. Nothing said “I’m sorry” like fresh pan bread in the middle of the night.
It was also way more appropriate than offering him a massage or a blow job.
I smacked myself on the forehead. I’d promised myself not to fantasize about him! I was just gonna end up with a huge crush, and he was clearly not a relationship guy.
Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have minded something casual, but if I wanted to have a kid or two, I had to focus. I wasn’t that young anymore. Most of my friends back home had a family already.
The search doesn’t have to begin until you get home…
Dammit.
It took James two rounds to bring everything he needed, and then he built a second bed by stacking the cushions. Together with the structure made of stone, the two beds formed an L along two walls, and it was genius. It allowed us to move around easier.
When he was done, he continued with the door.
“What’re you making?” he asked.
“Pan bread and coffee for a pilot who’s probably extremely sick of a certain stowaway.”
He came over to me and glanced at the bread in the skillet.
“Apology accepted.” He sent me a sideways smile. “We’re sleepin’ in tomorrow.”
I smiled back. “How about I wake you up with pancakes?”
He furrowed his brow. “How’re you gonna make pancakes?”
“Didn’t you see the freeze-dried eggs?” I asked. “And there’s powdered milk.”
“Delicious. All right, chef. I’m all yours.”
Ugh, that would be nice.
He went back to work on the insect netting, and I asked how he was going to attach it.
“ABDT,” was his clever response.
“Huh?”
“Always bring duct tape.”
Oh. I snorted softly.
This was…a little too nice. Cozy. Fun.
James and I worked in silence. We sat on the floor, leaning against our beds, eating our bread and preserves, and sorted through the puzzle pieces. He went for the border, and I made sure all the pieces were facing up.
The artwork on the box was very pretty. It was a painting of some old town in Germany.
I took a sip of my honey water and found a corner piece, and I extended it to him.
He took it and placed it with the other two he’d found.
We were supposed to sleep, but he was the one who’d wanted to get started on his puzzle.
I yawned and finished my last piece of bread.
“By the way, I would like to steal this hoodie from you,” I said. “May I? It’s absurdly soft.”
He glanced over at me. “Thieves usually don’t ask. You’re a horrible criminal.”
I laughed.
He dropped his gaze to the puzzle again. “Keep it. It looks better on you.”
Aw, shucks. Because I was all but drowning in it?
“But that gives me pancakes all week,” he added.
“Deal,” I chuckled.
With the last puzzle piece turned, I sat back and enjoyed the moment. I was getting sleepy, but I was in no rush to leave my spot. I was finally warm again, and I had James to watch.
As unwise as it might be, I wanted him. Even if there was no date or anything serious at the end of the road, I wanted to see if I stood a chance.
The question now was, could I seduce him?