Chapter 8
Lena
Something I’d noticed about the Blue Ridge Mountains was that a storm could pop up out of nowhere and you’d be at its mercy. Staring up at the sky from inside of the gallery, I became wary and ready to be in my warm pajamas eating some of the soup I’d made the night before.
In the distance, lightning crackled and the lights inside of the gallery flickered. The place was empty, no one was in here buying or looking at anything.
With a sigh, I sat back down at my desk and pulled out my cellphone.
A message from Killian was waiting on the screen. It was full of concern.
It looks like its gonna be a horrible storm
My fingers hovered over the screen before I sent my own reply.
Are you still okay to grab me today?
A sigh left my lips as I watched the bubbles dances almost immediately signaling he was about to reply.
Of course, Lena. I’m always here for you.
His words were simple enough and offered me an enormous amount of comfort. He was the sweetest guy I’d met in a long time and while I knew he wanted a little more than a kiss or two, he had been nothing but a perfect gentleman.
Lightening cracked against the sky again, and the windows rattled. Overhead, the lights flickered again, until finally they went out all together.
Suddenly, I was alone in the dark and my eyes darted out to the streets. All of the other businesses had gone dark too.
Shit!
Slowly, I stood up, feeling some of the darkness press in on me. My phone glowed and I saw that Killian had texted me again.
Heard a loud boom near your place, checked it out and a tree’s fallen.
Taking a deep breath, I moved out of his message and opened up the messages between me and Randall.
Hey boss, the powers out.
He had picked the perfect time to go to Northern Virginia for a conference. A few minutes passed he finally replied.
Bummer.
No one is coming out to buy anything in this weather. I just looked and there’s an early winter weather advisory in effect for tomorrow.
My stomach gave a slight twist.
Snow?
Yup.
Lock up the gallery and enjoy a snow day. C’ya when I get back.
I stared at my phone and then looked around the gallery from where I was. The over cast light from outside was making everything look gray and dull. Then I remembered Killian’s text.
A tree is down?
He was quick on the reply.
It is.
I groaned because I was having some of the absolute worst luck, lately. First my car and now a tree was down. In order to get to my cabin, we would have to go past Killian’s house and there was only one road.
Don’t worry.
I have a chainsaw and can take care of that for you.
A smile eased onto my lips and I felt myself feeling a little flirty. Killian was easy on the eyes. His dark hair fell across his forehead in loose waves, letting me know he needed a haircut and blue eyes seemed to taking everything in.
Careful, I might start to think you like me.
My phone buzzed in my hands and the message appeared making me feel warm between my legs. Gently, I squeezed them together.
Careful, I might eat you up.
I began to bite at my lip as I read the message over and over again. It had been a good long while since I’d had any action and the implication of what Killian wanted to do to me hung in the air.
You’re bad.
He hit me back almost immediately.
You like it.
Fuck.
I did.
So…
I started another message.
How soon do you think you can grab me from my job?
Killian responded almost immediately.
Give me twenty minutes.
It seemed as if the twenty minutes passed in an absolute flash, and Killian’s truck materialized in front of the gallery.
Making sure the security codes were in place, I locked the doors and dashed to his truck.
Some of the icy rain pummeled my face but it didn’t last long as I entered the warmth of the truck.
“It’s really freaking coming down,” I glanced over at Killian shyly.
“Agreed. And the weatherman on the radio station announced a winter advisory, so I suspect this is gonna start to get icy…”
He drove away from the gallery and headed up the mountain. I relaxed into the heated seats when it hit me.
“Ugh, its gonna be a walk from your place to mine with this tree down,” I murmured.
Killian glanced over and shrugged. “Don’t worry about that.”
“What do you mean don’t worry?”
He kept his eyes focused on the road as wind and rain continued to batter against the truck and the windshield wiper danced in the downpour. “Until I can get back and find the chainsaw, I figured you’d just make yourself comfortable at my place.”
A thrill went through my core, “I don’t wanna impose on you, Killian.”
Finally, he turned onto the road that would take us up to our respective cabins. “You’re not.”
“Wait!” I bit out and he finally glanced over. “I don’t have any clothes.”
A grin crossed his features, his blue eyes twinkling and his voice sounded deep and dark. "I'll lend you something. It's just one night."
One night.
In his cabin.
With him.
The thought shouldn't have made heat pool low in my belly, but it did. I found myself crossing my legs and shifting in the seat as if that would offer some relief.
"Okay," I said finally, flushed as hell. "One night."
His mouth curved into that slow smile I was starting to know too well.
"One night."
A few more minutes and we finally arrived at Killian’s cabin, and by then it had started to hail.
“I swear Randall said it was gonna snow…this is not snow,” I groaned.
“Come on, lets get inside,” Killian replied. “Its getting crazy out here.”
Opening my door, I stepped out and landed in a puddle before making a mad dash to his front porch. It hit me then, I’d never been inside of his place but he’d been in mine.
Quickly, he unlocked the door and we entered. A coolness washed over me and I realized there was no heat in his cabin. My teeth began to chatter.
“You’re freezing,” he turned and took me in. “And wet.”
Oh God, I clenched my legs together while rubbing my arms trying to get warm to no avail.
“I’ll get the fireplace going in a few minutes, let me get you some dry clothes…”
He moved to go down a hallway and into another room that I assumed was his bedroom. I glanced around noticing his cabin was way bigger than the little cabin my aunt owned.
“Here,” Killian returned with what looked like a huge tshirt and some gray sweatpants. “There’s a bathroom down the hall to the left.”
“Thanks again,” I accepted the clothes and made my way to the bathroom.
Inside, I cringed at my reflection. My edges were puffed up slightly and could have used some Hicks edge control. My work clothes were clinging to me and my nipples were peaking through the fabric of my thin white shirt.
Sitting the clothes down, I peeled the wet ones from my body and then studied myself in the mirror some more.
What in the hell was I doing at some strange man’s house?
What exactly was I hoping was going to happen?
Finally, I got dressed and hung my wet clothes over the tub so they’d have somewhere to drip dry.
Padding back out to the living room, I found Killian with a roaring fire and two cups of hot chocolate. He had made a pallet of blankets in front of the fireplace and so I came to sit down beside him.
“Here,” he carefully handed me the white cup.
The warmth from the cup crept into my hands and I gently blew on the steaming liquid before taking a sip. “This is so good.”
“Its just hot chocolate mix and hot water,” Killian shrugged.
“I must be super cold, I always make my hot cocoa with milk,” I grinned before taking another drink.
“Someone grew up fancy,” he replied before taking a sip of his own.
I laughed at that, and found myself wondering when was the last time I’d laughed so hard. Pulling my knees up towards my chest, I settled into the blankets getting lost in the sensations of Killian’s cabin.
It was quiet for a while, nothing but the wind howling outside could be heard.
Killian spoke softly. “How about chicken parm for dinner? If you’re hungry?”
I nodded, the fire crackling nearby in agreement. “Oh my God, you cook and rescue too. I might not wanna ever leave.”
I saw it then, it was quick but his jaw had definitely clenched as if he’d been thinking about how to keep me trapped or something.
“You’re free to stay,” he slowly got to his feet and I handed him my empty mug.
“I don’t know,” I said studying his feature again. “A girl could get use to this. I’ve been surviving on tea and toast. It’s gotten kind of old.”
He didn’t say anything after than, just moved towards his kitchen and started fixing food. Before I knew it, the fire had gotten so warm I could barely keep my eyes open.
I could get use to this, the thought wove itself around in my brain as I pulled a blanket closer around me and I sank into a waiting nap.