Chapter 3 Danni
DANNI
I’m wedged onto the back of a motorbike between a leather-clad giant of a man wearing an MC patch and an oversized and extra slobbery dog.
Every so often, Daisy leans forward to lick my neck and grunt into my ear. I think that means she likes me. I only wish her owner liked me as much.
Colter is by far the hottest man I’ve ever met.
He’s big with broad shoulders and he should be intimidating, but the cheeky smile that peeps out from behind his well-maintained beard and the way his eyes crinkle when he laughs puts me at ease.
Gentle giant comes to mind, although I’ve only known him for a few minutes.
Silver streaks his dark hair, and I think he must be at least ten years older than me. The biker jacket is like a red flame to my inner rebel, and underneath the jacket is a tight black t-shirt that lets me know he’s packing some serious muscles.
His leather jacket sports a Wild Riders MC patch, and I can hear Mom’s voice in my head.
You’re not getting on the back of a bike with a man like that.
Oh yes I am, Mom. Yes I am.
The ride through the mountain roads is exhilarating. The wind whips my hair off my face, and I cling on to Colter as he expertly takes every bend in the road.
Too soon we’re pulling into a gravel driveway with a sign that’s hanging off the fence and reads ‘Vacation Cabin.’
As Colter brings the bike to a stop, I squint at the cabin, trying to marry it with the images on the booking website.
“Is this the place?” He sounds as dubious as I feel.
The ‘cabin’ is a small shed with a wooden door that’s rotted at the bottom. As I step onto the two-plank wide verandah, a squawking comes from the roof and a pair of swallows fly out through a hole in the rafters.
I pull up the details of the booking on my phone.
“One room cabin in idyllic setting. Rustic.”
Colter snorts. “Rustic? The place is falling apart.”
My heart sinks as I check out the cabin, because he’s not wrong. The inside is worse than the outside, if that’s possible. The single bed looks lumpy, and the one light switch shows cobwebs in the corners and a thick layer of dust.
“You sure this is the right place?”
I read over the ad on the booking form. ‘Rustic cabin at cut price rates. A base for your fishing trip or a hiking hut. No frills bed for the night.’
The ad basically described the place as run-down, albeit in fancy language. I stupidly booked it because it was 80% off.
“Yeah. This is the place.”
My heart sinks. Of course this is where I would book to stay, because my whole life is one disaster after another and I can’t even get it right when I try to escape to the mountains to sort said life out.
“You can’t stay here.”
I drop my backpack on the table. It’s the only bit of luggage I could fit in Colter’s saddle bag.
“It’s not ideal, but it’s just a bed for the night.”
I try to be upbeat and take a seat on the bed. The bed springs squeak, and there’s a scurrying noise. A giant rat bursts out from under the bed and scampers across the floor.
I scream like the city girl I am and jump on the bed, sending a wave of dust into the air.
Colter raises his eyebrows at me and holds out a hand.
“Come on. I’m getting you out of here.”
I only hesitate for a second before I take his hand and let him lead me out of the cabin and into the fresh air.
“Is there anywhere else I can stay? A hotel or something?” I hate to think of the expense, but I’m not staying in a rat-infested cabin, that’s for sure. And with my car broken down, I can’t drive back home.
Colter squints at the sky. The clouds have gotten darker, and that rain will be here soon.
“I’ve got just the place.”
We get on the back of his bike and I wedge myself between him and Daisy. The big dog rests her head on my shoulder and sighs heavily, as if she’s the one with nowhere to spend the night.
Another ten minutes down the road and we pull into a gravel driveway that winds through a thicket of trees and opens up in front of a log cabin.
This one’s well maintained, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
The verandah’s wide and welcoming, with two Cape Cod seats out front and a door that actually shuts.
A string of fairy lights adorns the entryway, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Colter slides off his bike then helps me down.
“Is this a B&B?” It looks too homely to be a hotel.
Colter gives me a slight smile that makes my insides flutter. “Not usually.”
I’m about to ask what he means, but just then the rain finally arrives. And when it rains in the mountains, it really rains.
Thick drops fall out of the sky like bullets. We make a dash for the front porch, and I’m bowled out of the way by Daisy. I guess she doesn’t like the rain because she’s first to the door, whining to be let in.
Colter pulls out a key and unlocks the door and we tumble into the house, shaking the water off ourselves.
Wait a minute. If Colter’s got a key…
“Do you live here?”
Colter slides his jacket off and hangs it on the coat rack by the door.
“This is my cabin. You can stay until your car is fixed.”
My mouth drops open. “You can’t be serious.”
I can’t stay in a stranger’s cabin. And certainly not a stranger who’s the Hottest Man I’ve Ever Met. My insides are quivering at the thought, and there’s instant heat between my legs. My body’s telling me yes, but luckily my brain knows this is a bad idea.
Colter puts his hands in the air. “You don’t know me. I get it. If you want to call someone, let them know where you are, I’ll give you the address. You can also call the local police department. They’ll vouch for me.”
He seems sincere, but he’s in a motorcycle club. He probably has the police department in his pocket. That’s what MC clubs do, don’t they?
Daisy chooses this moment to lick my hand and reminds me that anyone with a cute dog can’t be that bad.
At that moment my phone buzzes, which is a relief. At least I’ve got signal again. It’s Mom, obvs. Wanting a picture of the cabin and checking I made it okay.
I didn’t make it okay, and I’m not going to send her a picture of the run down shed I was supposed to stay in. Mom would have a fit if she knew I was here with a strange man, even contemplating spending the night. But Mom isn’t here, and for once I need to trust my own instincts.
Part of me is saying to get out of here, even if it means walking in the rain down the mountain to the last town I passed several miles back. But another part of me says Colter is safe. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that the thought of spending a night in his cabin is intriguing.
“That’s a kind offer, but are you sure there’s nowhere else I can go?”
He fixes me with an intense gaze that makes my cheeks and my core heat.
“Not in this weather.”
The rain has turned into a downpour, and I get his point. But it’s not just the rain. I want to be here. I want to spend the night in Colter’s cabin. A thought occurs to me.
“Will your wife be okay with this…?”
His eyebrow raises slightly, and he smiles like he’s pleased at my question. Heat rises up my neck and I glance away, not wanting him to see me blushing. It shouldn’t matter to me if he has a wife, but damn it, I’m hanging on his answer.
“I’m not married.”
His eyes twinkle as he says it, and I get the feeling he’s enjoying my discomfort.
I try not to let my relief show, while inside, my chest is fluttering.
The Hottest Man I’ve Ever Met is single, and I’m in his cabin for the night.
Although it occurs to me that he still might have a girlfriend, but asking him that now might make him think I’m interested.
“I don’t want to put you out,” I say, but he knows I’m wavering.
“You’re not putting me out, Danni. It’s nice to have you here.”
He gives me a soft smile that makes my core tighten. Then he turns and walks away.
“Come. I’ll show you around.”
I snap a quick picture of the living room showing the fireplace and wolf-skin rug and send it to Mom.
Got here safe, place is great.
If only she knew…