Chapter 21
Nikki
The rain won't let up. It’s been like this for days. And while snuggling in front of the fire with a good book is my idea of paradise, James and I are going a little crazy not spending some time outside.
At the moment, my free time is taken up by trying to build a small wind turbine, something I can wire into a battery, giving us electricity if we need it in case the power cuts out.
Out here, surrounded by forest, is the last place I want to be without power.
I thought on windy days I would test it on the hill nearby, see if I could find a spare battery from Bob at the hardware store and connect it all.
I love playing around like this. Seeing what I can make from what would otherwise be discarded items and using it for something like clean energy.
Can you imagine what the world would be like if we reused items to create amazing things like this?
So far, it’s looking good, but all this rain puts a damper on it.
“I’m just going to run outside and move my turbine under the porch,” I tell James, whose head is stuck in a book near the fire.
“Need help?”
“I got it.” I don’t bother with a jacket as I run outside.
Getting to the turbine I left on the far side of the lawn, I look at how best to grab it quickly without damaging it.
I bend down and start to lift, before I drop it quickly, hearing a noise that has me freezing in place.
My heart thuds as fear creeps up my spine.
I look quickly back to the cottage, seeing no one.
Nothing. I wonder if I imagined it as I glance around, seeing nothing but trees.
The cloud cover makes it too dark to see anyone else.
“Hey! Anyone there?” I shout, backing away from the turbine.
I think it was a man's voice. I swallow the quickly rising panic that’s consuming me and look around for a weapon, spotting a tree branch at my feet and lowering myself slowly to grab it before I turn.
And when I do, my breath catches all over again at who’s stepping out from the tree line.
“Sutton?”
“Are you planning on killing me with that stick, Tinker Bell, or just bruising my ego some more?” His grin is wicked and full of happiness. Relieved, I drop the stick immediately.
Seeing him limping, I rush to his side. “What happened?”
“I was out hiking… Fell down a ravine.”
That surprises me. “You hike?”
“Clearly not very well. I went once in the last few weeks, fell then too. It’s probably a hobby that I’m not equipped for, but I do like it.”
I roll my lips to hold back a chuckle. “So, what? Action heroes are clumsy?”
He waves that off playfully. “Action heroes are awesome. What’s that?” He nods toward the turbine, the one that’s starting to move in the small breeze that’s picked up. I examine it before looking right and left, the breeze coming through here nicely, something I hadn’t noticed before.
“I’m trying to build a wind turbine.” The words are out before I even think. I'm too excited to see it all moving as it should.
“Wind turbine?” he asks with a tilt of his head.
I internally cringe. I’m getting way too comfortable around him, but I relent.
“I’m passionate about sustainability. I wanted to see if I could put something together, using the junk I found around our place.”
“Looks like it works?” Sutton’s eyes are wide as he takes in the turning turbine. “What’s it going to charge?”
“I’m thinking a battery. I just need to find one and connect it.”
“That’s cool, Tinker Bell.” He looks down at me before we start to move a little, and he winces as we walk toward the cottage. I see his jeans are a little ripped, and there’s blood on one leg. Thank God I have a first aid kit, so at least I might be able to help.
“Let’s get you inside.” I duck under his arm to assist him, and he laughs.
“This is cute, you helping me.”
“Someone has to. You clearly can’t walk.” Unfortunately, I provide next to no support, our height difference comical.
“Want to give me a piggyback?” he teases. At least he hasn’t lost his sense of humor.
We hop up the steps together and push through the door.
“James, can you get me some towels and the first aid kit?” I call out to my brother.
“Sutton!” James pops out from around the corner, looking worried as soon as he sees us.
Sutton smiles to reassure him. “Hey, buddy. I’m fine. Just took a little tumble.”
James runs to the cupboard, grabbing the things I need as I get Sutton to the armchair.
With a sigh, he slumps into the chair, tired but happy to be off his leg. I pull up a small stool and lift his leg gently, placing it on the cushion.
“What’s it look like? Am I going to lose my leg? Do we have to amputate?”
I can’t help my smile, snorting a quiet laugh. His ankle is a little blue, so that ice pack from Rochelle will help. The cut on his leg? I’ve seen James with bigger grazes from school.
“I think you’ll survive,” I tell him, my eyes meeting his. He’s already looking at me with a grin quirking his lips.
“What were you doing walking in the woods anyway?” I step over to the kitchen, grabbing the ice pack from the freezer as James passes him a towel to dry off.
“Went for a quick hike to clear my mind. I was walking on my plot, working on the building plan.”
My eyebrows rise. I haven’t traveled around Whispers much.
Here to the diner and library and back mostly.
But I’ve heard the locals all talk about different places.
Billionaire Boulevard is the road that leads up the mountains.
That’s where all the large, luxurious ranches are, the homes that would ordinarily house people like my dad and his friends if small-town living was his thing.
“I had no idea it was that close.” I shimmy up his jeans to give me access to his shin.
“Maybe I should build a path…” he says almost mindlessly, like he’s deep in thought, as I get to work cleaning his leg.
But I’m curious. “Path?”
“Yeah, a path leading me here, so next time I come for a visit, I won't fall.”
My heart beats a little faster. I pause what I’m doing and look at him.
“Visit?” I ask on a breath.
“Yeah, since we’re neighbors and all.” His grin is wicked.
“You're moving here permanently?”
“What, do you think I would build a place and not move into it?”
My mind is a whirl as I place the ice pack on his ankle. Neighbors? Sutton is moving here? We sit in the quiet for a moment as James runs to the bathroom to grab me another towel. My back is saturated.
“Lots of celebrities do,” I admit, because I’m sure movie stars have homes all over the world they barely use. Clearing my throat, I change the subject. “You want me to warm up your chicken pie?”
Since Sutton didn’t come in yesterday, Rochelle gave James and me a few pies that were leftover. I was planning on cooking them again tonight for dinner.
“Seriously?” His eyes alight like I just offered him the world, not a day-old potpie. “How can I say no to that— Ouch!”
He flinches as I pat antiseptic on his ankle before I blow on it a little to relieve the sting.
“Sorry…” I place his ankle on my knee and put the ice pack back on. He looks almost as good as new, leaning his head against the back of the chair.
“Hmmmm, chicken pie, your hands on my skin, and this warm fire is making me feel a certain way…” His words trail off, and then I notice that I have one hand gently cupping his ankle while the other holds the ice to his skin, my fingers caressing the spot.
The move happened so naturally, I didn’t even realize.
“What way is that?” My voice is a mere whisper, and he looks me dead in the eye.
There’s no hesitation in his response. “Like I never want to leave.”
I swallow roughly as our gazes lock, the fire crackling in the background and the rain now pounding the roof.
Is it bad that I never want him to leave either?