Chapter 8
WILLA
Big, wet snowflakes pelt my goggles as I ski through the back country. I had early lessons today, so I left before I even heard movement next door. It’s probably a good thing because last night was intense.
That kiss.
Fuck.
I was instantly attracted to him during our first lesson, but I didn’t think much of it.
Any person with a pulse would be able to appreciate his physicality and appearance.
But the way that he fathers Izzy takes him from hot jock to irresistible.
And he’s generous. It honestly should be illegal to be that hot and that good of a human being.
Maya runs alongside me as we cut through some trees.
Joy exudes from her entire body as she races through the powder that fell last night.
It’s not often I let her loose like this, solely because when the slopes are crowded it’s not safe to have her running free, for her or people who aren’t used to having an animal on the mountain with them.
But she and I have a great awareness of each other when we’re out here.
That’s why I immediately stop when she alerts and runs toward a tree. I sidestep over to where she stands looking down and barking. Once I reach her, I see exactly what’s going on.
“Hello,” I call down to the person in the tree well beneath us. “Ski patrol here.”
A helmeted head tips back, and I see the tear-streaked face of a man looking up at me. “I think I broke my leg.”
I reach behind me, pulling my shovel out with one hand and my radio with another. “I’ll get you out and call for a sled.”
After calling for help, I start shoveling him out.
He’s a few feet past my reach and stuck on an old tree limb.
I keep him calm by explaining what I’m doing and chatting with him.
Maya lies off to the side, whining every so often as she watches my progress.
I’ve dug down just about far enough to reach him when I hear the sound of the snowmobile.
Trent cuts the engine and jumps off the machine, racing over to me.
I fill him in on the situation, and we manage to pull the man up.
His left leg has a long cut from the side of his calf up to his thigh from one of the branches.
We stabilize it and get him laid out and secured on the stretcher.
Trent checks with me that I’ll be able to get down to the lodge on my own and then takes off.
By the time I’m down to the lodge, my muscles are screaming. I know it’s going to be a rough couple of days of recovery. Luckily, I’m not back on the schedule until Tuesday, so I can lie around and do minimal work for two days.
Maya collapses on her bed in the lounge while I fill out my end of the paperwork. Trent comes in, wiping sweat from his forehead and flops down on the couch.
“That dude is so lucky you had Maya out with you today. Do you know how long he’d been there?”
“According to him, several hours. Didn’t hear a single person go past him.”
“He’s also so lucky he fell feet first and none of the snow dropped down on him.” He stretches his body out on the couch. “Told him to pick up a lottery ticket on his way home.”
I snort. “No kidding.” I sign a few more forms and then put everything in a neat pile. “I did all my portion of the paperwork. You’re welcome to start on yours whenever.”
“Twenty bucks to do it for me?” He presses his palms together over his heart.
“Hell no, do it yourself. I’m taking Maya and going home.”
“Where are you staying?” He groans as he pushes himself to his feet. “I heard about your van.”
“A guy I gave lessons to has a rental he’s renovating. I’m staying there for the time being.”
“If it gets too expensive, you’re always welcome to crash with me.” His eyes do a slow perusal of me as I pull my coat on. He’s never hidden the fact that he’s interested in me, at least interested in getting me in bed.
“Thanks for the offer. As of now everything is working great there for me, I’ll let you know if anything changes.”
It’s a lie, but it appeases him.
Exhaustion sets into my bones as I drive home. I don’t even notice Drew chopping wood to the side of the driveway until I’m letting Maya out of the backseat of the Jeep and grabbing my bags.
“You look beat.” Drew wipes his brow with the back of his hand before putting his baseball cap on backward. “Long day?”
Managing a half smile I nod. “You could say that. We had a backcountry rescue. Maya found the guy in a tree well, and I did most of the digging to get him out.” I rest my hip against the door of the Jeep.
“Probably should have taken the time to sit in the employee sauna before I came home, but a long shower will have to do.”
“What about a bath?”
“That’d be amazing, is there a working one on the second floor?” I haven’t ventured up there since the primary suite is on the main level.
“Not a working one, but our side has a garden tub upstairs.”
I look at the stairs, tempted until I think about climbing all the way up to the main level and getting my own clothes, then going to his place and up to the second floor. “That’s okay. I barely have the energy to get myself up to the front door. I’ll manage with what I’ve got.”
He moves so quick, bending and lifting me into his arms, that I don’t even register what he’s doing until he’s halfway up to his front door.
My arms circle his neck on instinct, and I give myself a moment to feel like a small girl.
Being as tall as I am, it’s not often I find myself in the company of man who can toss me around like this.
He doesn’t even seem out of breath as he carries me through the front door.
“What are you doing?” I finally ask after checking to make sure Maya is following us.
“Taking you up to the tub.”
Izzy’s little footsteps pound across the floor as she walks into the hallway. “Daddy? Is Willa okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say to her, locking eyes over his shoulder. “Put me down,” I whisper.
He sets me on my feet once we reach the bathroom and pulls the mermaid shower curtain aside, revealing a garden tub with jets. I was about to decline a bath and lecture him on bringing me up, but any argument evaporates from my lips. He turns the water on and holds his hand under the faucet.
“How hot do you want it?”
“Turn me into soup. I want it steaming hot.”
He chuckles. “Got it. Hey, Izzy?”
“Yeah?” She walks into the bathroom with us.
“Can you get the bottle of epsom salts out of the linen closet?”
“Yep.” Her twin pigtails swing as she walks back out into the hall.
He closes the drain and takes the bottle when she comes back in. I watch as he dumps a generous amount into the water and then stands. “I’ll grab a towel.”
“Do you want some toys?” Izzy asks me. “I have a mermaid Barbie whose tail changes color in hot water.”
“That’s so sweet, but no thank you.” I run my fingers over her silky ringlets. “It’s nice of you to let me borrow your tub.”
“You’re welcome. Maybe we can play after?”
“Maybe,” I agree.
“Here you go.” Drew walks in with a towel and pants and a sweatshirt folded on top of them. “Brought you something to put on after, too.”
“Thanks, I didn’t even think of that.” Shows how exhausted I am.
“Come on, Bug. Let’s let Willa relax for a bit.”
“Okay.” She follows him out but stops in the doorway to look back at me. “Don’t worry about Maya, I’ll take care of her.”
My heart squeezes at the sincerity in her little voice. Damn, he’s doing a good job raising a sweet little girl.
Once the door closes I strip out of my clothes and step into the steaming water.
I wince at the heat but lower myself down anyway, knowing it won’t take long to get used to it.
The tub is deep and wide, so I’m able to submerge myself down to my neck.
This feels like such a luxury when I’m used to barely having enough room to wash my hair in the shower I put in my van.
The water takes on an opaque white color as I press the button for the jets. A delighted moan escapes me as the water massages my sore body while the heat relaxes me. Drew doesn’t even need to take me on a date at this point, letting me use his tub is more than enough to make me happy.
I love van living, but there’s definitely something to be said for having an actual physical space to call home.
Especially if it comes with a jetted tub and wood stove like his house does.
I know eventually I’ll have to settle down into one place, and this is the type I’ll have to be on the lookout for.
I’m not sure how much time passes, but eventually the water begins to cool.
Taking that as a sign to get out, I pull the plug and start draining the tub.
After I’m dry I pick up his sweats and pull them on.
I’m not about to put my dirty underwear and bra back on, so I go without.
Hopefully he doesn’t mind. Not that he’d find out.
His clothes are obviously big on me, nothing that a few rolls of the waist band can’t fix.
When I finally emerge from the bathroom, I poke my head around the corner and look into Izzy’s room.
She’s put a party hat on Maya, who’s sitting politely around a small table with three chairs.
Izzy sits on one chair wearing a tiara and then on the other two chairs are giant stuffed animals.
She’s set out a play tea set and fills cups for everyone with pretend tea from the kettle.
I hear quiet footsteps on the stairs but don’t turn around when I feel Drew’s warmth at my back.
After another minute or two of watching Izzy play, he snakes his hand around my waist and pulls me back, guiding me into what I assume is a guest room across the hall.
He shuts the door quietly and then backs me against the wall gently.
“Feel better?” he asks quietly.
“Yes.” Somehow my hands have found their way to his abs. I can feel each ridge and divot of muscle under the soft fabric of his shirt. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He cups my cheek, staring intently into my eyes. “What are you doing for Thanksgiving?”
“Working.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah.”
“Come with me to Friendsgiving at Aiden’s house. I won’t have Izzy; she’ll be with her mom’s family in Florida.” His thumb brushes over my lips. “It’ll be my first holiday since getting custody that she isn’t with me.”
“I don’t get off work until four.”
“That’s fine, dinner is at seven.”
I search my mind for any type of reason to say no and come up empty handed. “Okay.”
“Really?” His mouth curves upward in a slow smile. “That easy?”
“Did you want me to put up a fight?” I arch a brow at him. “I’m not sure I have it in me today.”
“No. Don’t fight me.” He brushes the softest kiss over my lips. “I might be a mess without Izzy, though.”
Slipping my arms around his waist, I let myself sink into his embrace. “That’s okay. I hate spending holidays alone, too. We can keep each other company.”
“Dad?” Izzy’s voice interrupts the moment.
He tightens his arms around me briefly before dropping them and pulling the door open. “Yeah, Bug?”
I wait a minute until I hear them both go downstairs, Maya’s footsteps following along behind them. It’s been years since I’ve had Thanksgiving plans with anyone. From the short time I’ve been around his friends, they’ve all seemed kind. I’m sure it’ll be fun.