Chapter 19
“Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow …”
“How did you get him to do all of this?”
Wren looked up at Lilly from where she fussed with the printer on the shelf. “What do you mean?”
“Greyson,” Lilly said, “He fixed everything.” A wicked smile curved along her pert lips. “Are you two sleeping together?”
Wren gawked as a choked sound escaped her throat. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m one hundred percent sure that Greyson and I did not have sex.
” On a political level, that rang true. However, she hoped that would become a lie very soon.
“There. Paper jam’s fixed.” Wren stood and tossed the crumpled culprit that had caused the jam into the trash bin.
“We need to clean the therapy rooms before our afternoon massage clients arrive.”
Lilly arched a brow. “Oh yeah? Why? Is the energy off?”
Wren gave her a silencing look. “Just run through them with some sage and get all the corners.”
“Right,” she said dryly. “Well, speak of the devil.” Lilly balanced her chin on her knuckles, elbow on the reception desk, and grinned widely as the lobby doors opened. “Hello, Greyson.”
“Lilly.” He nodded then turned his attention to her, face placid, but his eyes holding a thousand secrets. “Wren.”
Wren’s stomach swooped as his hungry gaze whispered over her.
She could still feel his phantom touch from this morning.
Who knew a man could do things that made a woman make sounds like that?
He had her so hot she’d hit opera-level high notes.
One more orgasm and her cries could have shattered glass.
Heat crept up her neck as awareness flooded her body. Every nerve ending seemed to remember exactly how he’d touched her, how he made her feel. Her skin tingled with the memory of his hands, his mouth, the way he’d worshipped her body with such reverent intensity.
“Greyson,” she greeted, her voice a complete contrast to the orgy of pornographic memories playing in her head.
Lilly snorted. “Okay, what’s going on? Something’s definitely up between you two.”
Greyson’s stare snapped to Lilly. “Nothing’s up. I came by to go over snow prep with Bodhi.”
Lilly rolled her eyes. “Sure.” Grabbing her teacup, she left the reception area. “He’s in the back. I’ll get him. Wren, can you watch the desk for a sec? We have guests coming in this morning.”
“Of course.”
The moment they were alone, Wren rounded the desk and glanced back at the empty hall. Satisfied they had privacy, she pressed herself to his front and leaned up for a kiss. “Hi.”
His hands dropped to her ass, squeezing and pulling her closer. “How was your ride in?”
She breathed in his familiar scent, smiling at the trace of coffee and frigid air that clung to his clothes. He must have stopped at the café. “I can’t stop thinking about this morning.”
He grinned. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
She squirmed to get closer, but they wore too many clothes and were in a public place. “I wish we didn’t have to work today.”
Voices traveled from the hall and he released her. Greyson cleared his throat. “They’re expecting quite a bit of snow tonight. You should probably stay at your place, in case you need to get back for anything. I’ll be out plowing most of the night.”
Disappointment doused her euphoric mood. “Oh.” She twisted her lips. “Okay.”
He looked like he wanted to touch her again, but the sound of Lilly and Bodhi approaching kept them at a distance. “You can catch up on rest.”
True, she’d been a little sleep deprived since things started up with him, but she had no complaints. “Sure.”
“And, if you want, I can come by when I’m done.”
She smiled, relieved she’d still get to see him. The thought of him creeping into her bed did things to her…delicious things. “People might see your truck.”
“I’ll walk.”
They hid their relationship only to protect it. Things still felt delicate, and they didn’t need outside pressure. They also didn’t want to hurt anyone.
Soren had yet to return her calls and refused to talk to Greyson.
Logan was also laying low. Then came the town gossips…
She and Greyson both decided to keep things quiet until they felt fully ready to come out as a couple, because once they did, going back would be impossible, every interaction scrutinized, every gesture analyzed.
The town would have opinions, and some of those opinions would hurt.
Keeping this secret felt like holding her breath—sustainable for a while, but not forever.
“Are you sure you want to walk?” What about the snow?” They expected several inches.
“As long as there’s a fire on and you’re willing to warm me up when I get there, I’ll be fine.”
She bit her lip, trying to hide her smile and failing miserably. “I can do that.”
“Greyson,” Bodhi appeared with Lilly wearing a big smile. “It’s gonna be a big one.”
“Did your elbow tell you that?” Greyson teased.
Her dad frowned. “No. I feel this one in my knees.”
“Right.” While Greyson preferred a much more scientific approach to forecasting the weather, he learned not to completely write off Bodhi’s arthritic predictions.
“The weather channel’s saying five inches tonight and another four or so tomorrow.
Visibility’s going to be low, so we need to handle the guests’ cars early. ”
“We only have a few guests staying in the cabins tonight,” Wren said. “We’re waiting for the one more to arrive.”
“That makes things easier.” He turned to Bodhi. “Grab a coat and we’ll take a walk outside.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Wren said as her father pulled a patchwork poncho off the coat tree. “I got something for you when I went to town this morning.”
Greyson looked at her questioningly, as if he wanted to do more than stare at her. “What is it?”
“It’s outside.” She bundled up and followed them out front.
Heavy clouds blanketed the pewter sky. The promise of a storm hung loud and clear in the air for anyone accustomed to living this far north.
Something happened to Greyson when snow threatened.
He became more animated and purposeful. He loved taking care of others, and inclement weather gave him the chance to do just that.
Winter brought out his deepest protective instincts—the same ones that had been forged in tragedy when he’d lost his mother to an icy road one December night.
Ever since then, he’d made it his mission to ensure no one else would suffer from winter’s cruelty if he could prevent it.
Wren had no doubt he had spent the entire morning calling on every senior citizen of Hideaway Harbor to make sure their fuel tanks were full and their logs were stacked somewhere dry and accessible. Later, he’d have each one of their walkways gleaming with salt.
She smiled as he moved across the lot, sturdy as ever, his boots hitting the pavement with the purposeful sound of a man on a mission.
Greyson Hawthorne didn’t do whimsical. He specialized in checklists. “First thing I want to do is get some salt down by the guest cabins.”
Bodhi, on the other hand, sniffed the air and held up a licked finger.
The cats disappeared, likely sensing the incoming weather and making the most of the back room where the eastern sun hit.
That space was the only indoor part of The Haven they could visit, other than their heated cat huts, of course.
But when Greyson opened his tailgate, something he often used as a makeshift desk to go over plans with Bodhi, Figgy came wandering out for the meeting.
The blue-grey short hair hopped onto the truck bed and sauntered over to Bodhi. All the cats shared a special bond with the man who fed and took tea with them, and they liked to make sure he stayed chaperoned.
But just as Figgy curled his long tail around her dad, he turned and went straight to Greyson, sniffing him with the pushiness of an investigative reporter.
“That’s strange. He’s got a real interest in you, today.”
Figgy pawed Greyson’s coat with no regard for personal space, then hissed.
“Now, now,” Greyson said, lowering the zipper of his coat. “None of that.” He pulled the kitten out of his jacket. “Figgy, meet Rat.”
“His name is Tinsel,” Wren teased and Bodhi gaped at the new furry resident.
“Where did this little guy come from?”
“Found him under my porch.” Greyson handed him off to Bodhi, who protectively welcomed him into his arms. Her father swore cats were nothing more than reincarnated ancestors sent to protect humans. Sometimes she wondered if he spoke the truth.
He looked into the squirming kitten’s face as if able to read his future, and Figgy, absolutely betrayed, hissed.
“Be nice, Figgy.” The jealous short-haired grey abided Bodhi’s orders, his growls turning into cries for attention.
“His name’s Rat,” Greyson informed Bodhi. “Because he’s so scrawny.”
“Well, he won’t be scrawny for long.” Bodhi continued to inspect the kitten. “See these tufts by his ears and how his muzzle’s slightly square?”
Greyson looked at Rat, studying his little jaw. “Yeah.”
“Those are signs of a Maine coon.”
“A what?”
“Maine coon. The gentle giants of the north.” Bodhi handed the kitten back to Greyson. “He’s going to grow.”
Greyson frowned. “How big?”
“Oh, I’d say to about twenty pounds. They can get up to forty inches long.”
“Forty inches? That’s more than a yard!”
Bodhi nodded. “You’re lucky he chose you. Maine coons bring positive energy.”
Greyson turned the cat and lifted him to eye level. “Are you my lucky charm?” His gaze shifted to Wren and he winked. “I’d say you’re already working.”
The wink sent heat spiraling through her chest, a warmth that had nothing to do with her winter coat.
Even the simplest gesture from him could make her feel like she was melting from the inside out.
She ducked her head to hide her blush, but not before catching the knowing smile that tugged at his lips.