9. Frigid
FRIGID
D rake’s low, husky laugh makes it impossible to stay angry. Not that I am. The heat of our kiss still lingers between us. My entire body wants more. It’s too late to pretend I didn’t want a whole lot more to happen after that kiss.
Drake’s words swirl in my mind.
Frigid is a word Scott used. Generally, it was followed by a lesson delivered beneath a torrent of his fists.
“Knew, what?” My entire body shakes, waiting for Drake to respond.
“I decided you were the kind of woman I needed to get to know better. It’s why I told Bert to have Henry come today instead of last night.”
“Wait. Henry could have come last night? I didn’t have to stay the night?”
“If Henry had come, he would’ve taken you away from me. I wasn’t ready for that to happen. At least, not until I had a chance to see what you were really like.”
“We didn’t exactly spend a lot of time together. You put me to bed after finishing that stew. If you wanted to get to know me better…”
“Luv, you were exhausted. After that whiskey got into your system, your lids kept bouncing closed.” The corner of his mouth ticks up in a grin. “Can I say sleeping in the same room with you was torture? I went to bed hard and woke up hard. You, my dear,” he taps the tip of my nose, “are achingly beautiful. You’re tough as nails, and I find that sexy as shit.”
“I can’t believe you did that.” I put my hands on my hips. “You lied to me.”
“I made a decision that was in the best interests of everyone involved.”
“How so?”
“First off, it would’ve put Henry out coming all this way to get you last night, and with the snow still falling, not to mention not knowing where your car might be, I figured why do that to him? Much easier to find your car in daylight. You were safe, and I needed more time to see the real you, instead of the scared, terrified, out of your element, you.”
“I feel like I should be really mad at you about now.” The key word being should , but I’m not mad at all. I’m incredibly touched.
“Probably, but it all turned out for the best.”
“How’s that?”
“Because that kiss knocked you off your feet.” His grin turns into a smirk. “My plan worked out just the way it needed to. Now, I know I’ll see you again. We’re finishing what we started. It’s just a matter of when.”
“Is that so?” I stare up at him, trying to be stern with him, but his grin brings a smile to my face.
“Tell me that kiss didn’t rock your world.” He grabs me around the waist and yanks me against him, letting the long, hard length of him press against my belly. “I’m so hard right now, city girl, I can barely think. My dick is going to drill a hole in my pants.”
“You’re not exactly shy.”
“Why bother beating around the bush? I wanted to kiss you, so I did. I want to fuck you, and I will.” Drake releases me. “Just not right now.”
“You sure don’t beat around the bush.” My fingers lift to press against my swollen lips.
A horn honks outside.
I’m not ready to leave. Drake is cocky as shit. I love it. And I definitely want to see him again. He played me, maneuvering me right where he wanted. I give him points for being so damn slick about it.
“Why waste time when we’re grown, consenting adults. I told you I’m not a gentle man. I’m also not slow when I find a woman who interests me. This thing between us, city girl, it’s only just beginning.”
Henry leans on the horn, demanding our attention.
I bend down and grab the jacket Bert loaned me. While dusting off straw and dirt, the chill in the air seems to magically reappear. A few seconds ago, my entire body heated with passion. Now, the crisp morning air reminds me this is Montana in May instead of Redlands, where the temperatures start pegging triple digits by now.
He leans down and kisses my brow, a slow sensual press of his lips and a promise for more. “Consider this your reprieve. Next time, there’s no way I’m stopping at a simple kiss.”
Only there was nothing simple about that kiss.
“Bert!” A deep voice yells outside. “Drake!” Snow crunches under the weight of heavy boots. “You guys around?”
Drake presses his lips against mine, a soft, gentle caress, more damaging than our first kiss because, in that moment, he cements his promise to make me his.
“In here,” he calls out. “Henry, we’re in here.”
Grasping my hand in his, he shrugs into his jacket and pulls me outside. The blaze of the morning sun beats down on the snow, melting it. It’s only a few degrees above freezing, nothing like the nearly sub-zero temperatures of last night.
The corners of my lips turn up when I spy Henry. I suffer from the same preconceived notions about the tow truck driver that I did with Bert. But I giggle because Henry is the epitome of my stereotype.
With his grease-stained overalls, blue and white plaid shirt, and heavy boots, he has a stem of hay firmly planted between his teeth. The only thing he doesn’t have is the cowboy hat. Instead, he wears a black knit beanie pulled down over his ears. His expression brightens when he catches sight of me. He gives a long, low, whistle.
Drake squeezes my hand and pulls me close to his side.
“Henry Watkins, meet Abby Knight.”
My heart stumbles to a halt. That is the first time Drake has said my name, and the low rumble of possession falters my step.
Ignoring the odd range of emotions flowing through my mind, I focus on Henry. “Thank you for coming out to help me.”
Henry pulls off his cap, revealing a bald head. “Pleasure’s all mine. Heard you ran into a ditch.”
“It seemed better than running into the moose.”
“Oh, glad you didn’t do that. Deer are bad enough. Plenty of them around here. A deer can take out your bumper, maybe your hood, but a moose? Them suckers can crack an engine block. Kill you and them both. I’m surprised, to be honest. We don’t usually get moose around here. Must’ve been driven out of the mountains by the storm.”
“Oh.” I didn’t realize they were that dangerous.
“You ready to get your car?” Henry asks.
I glance at Drake. I want to head back into that barn. Then, I remember something important.
“I forgot to call my uncle. I told him to expect me late last night, and now I feel horrible.” It didn’t occur to me last night to call. Drake affected me that strongly. Uncle Pete is probably worried sick. “I need to call my uncle and let him know I’m okay.”
“We can call him on the way.” Henry opens the door to his tow rig. I turn when it looks like Drake isn’t going to join me.
“Aren’t you coming?”
Drake shakes his head. “I’d love to, but llamas don’t feed themselves. I need to get them out of the barn and into the field. Besides, Henry will take good care of you.”
“That’s right.” Henry spits the chewed-up piece of straw on the ground. “You visiting town?”
“I’m moving here,” I answer.
The smile on Drake’s face widens. “Now that is good news. I look forward to seeing you around, city girl. We can finish our—discussion another time.”
“Our discussion?”
“The one in the barn.” He gives me a wink.
I pray Henry doesn’t notice the flush in my cheeks.
“Um, y-y-yes,” I stammer, “that would be nice.”
“Well, seeing how you’re new,” Henry says, completely missing the undercurrent of Drake’s comments, “you’ll probably want to stop in at Shelly’s Diner after we get your car sorted. It’s a great place if you’re looking for home-cooked food. Taylor’s grocery is the only place to grab your groceries, but it’s closed on Sundays. If you’re just wanting something quick, you can take a gander at Eddie’s Soda Shoppe.”
“Thank you,” I say to Henry. “I’m new but not a stranger to Peace Springs. I spent my summers here as a girl.”
“Really?” Drake’s smile widens further.
“Yeah, but I haven’t been here in about eight years.”
“Well then,” Drake says, scratching his chin. “Eddie’s is still a great place. A lot of the kids hang out there. Though, if you’re looking for quiet, you probably want to go to Shelly’s Diner. I usually pop in there myself for Sunday dinners.”
Is that an oblique invitation? Dinner will lead to an evening I want, but I’m not sure I should want it. Despite the ache from moments ago, I’m still worried about moving too fast.
As the new town doctor, I might need to rethink getting involved with the first man I meet. I can’t help myself, though. Drake seems to have worked his way under my skin.
“I might just do that.”
Uncle Pete probably has dinner plans, but I’ll find a way to get out of them if it means spending the evening with Drake.
“Take care of my girl.” Drake closes the distance with Henry, and the two men shake hands.
I climb into Henry’s truck, disappointed Drake isn’t able to come, but excited he wants to see me later.
The two men exchange a few words. It looks like Drake is giving directions, which is a good thing. I have no idea where my Jeep might be. Will we even be able to see it?
Henry joins me in the cab and cranks over the diesel engine. “Let’s snag your car out of a ditch, pretty lady.”
I rub my lips, remembering the press of Drake’s mouth against mine. I wave to him as Henry pulls around. Drake stares back, the intensity of his gaze dangerous with the unspoken promise lingering between us.