Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Me:
If I turn up on national news, here’s my last known location.
I don’t have a legal will, but consider this my formal notice that I leave you my book collection.
Don’t you dare dog-ear a single page, or I will HAUNT you.
Keri:
GO GO GO.
Do it.
Live a little, Mia. You fucking deserve to have some no-strings-attached fun this Christmas.
Fuck the cowboy while you’re at it, and I expect a librarian-worthy star rating and review delivered to my inbox afterward.
That means I wish to be blessed with ALL the spoilers.
Cowboy has a sexy ass, a sexy truck, and hoooooly shit… a sexy as all hell home among these mountains.
Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor.
The log cabin vibes are immaculate. With a sprawling porch set up to face the snow-covered ridgeline to the south, perfectly positioned for what I’m sure are long summer days, enjoying the sun out here when it’s baking hot, rather than knee deep in snow.
This place is grand, but feels cozy. Kind of like Reid himself. What might under other circumstances come across as oversized and imposing actually feels warm and comforting.
Just like the way he held my hand.
I can still feel the tingling in the center of my palm from where his touch lingered.
This is unfathomable.
If it looks like a serial killer lives here, I’ll just keep driving. “I’m the kid prepared to risk it all for Turkish Delight. How completely dumb is this idea?” I mutter to myself.
Yet, here I am, finding myself in what can only be described as a ranch life fever dream.
I’m following the back of his truck along a winding shingle driveway surrounded by snow, as we both pull up to the place he calls home.
My fake boyfriend, whom I get to pretend to be swept up in, for the next three days.
There will be no pretense required where that man is concerned.
My bigger issue is going to be how I continue to go about my mundane, quiet, single life when I get back home. Knowing someone as perfect as him exists out here? That’s gonna be the hardest part.
Three days of living out a fantasy. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and then it’s all wrapped in a bow the day after.
I’m excellent at disappearing into other worlds, they’re just usually within the pages of my books. This, however, is the very real picture postcard version of a snow-bound dream. Mountains. Horses. Cattle. Complete with a cowboy I’d quite like to take a bite out of.
Better make the most of it, I suppose.
Double-checking my phone, I look back over my last text exchange with Keri. You know, just to make triple certain that I didn’t smack my head on the ground and hallucinate her enabling me in this madness.
I’ve pulled to a stop, and before I know it, my boyfriend is opening the door for me. From the startled look on my face, he must see just how unaccustomed I am to having anyone do anything like this. Not even while dating douchebag Dale.
“Just getting a little early practice in, sugar.” He leans down, giving me a look that should be illegal.
Dimples. This cowboy has dimples when he smiles, and I’m in so much trouble.
As I try to step out of my car and avoid the embarrassment of my knees buckling beneath me for a third time in front of this man, I hear a few excited yips from Stella followed by a sound that catches me by surprise.
Something drones over the stillness of the snowy mirage surrounding us. High-pitched and metallic. Is that… grinding?
My gaze drifts to an open barn door next to the house, and an acrid smell of burning metal wafts our way. But that’s not the most striking or unexpected thing about the scene.
A figure is hunched over, working inside what appears to be a garage converted into a studio.
The noise and smell are accompanied by a peacock tail of flying golden sparks.
And as I stare, captivated by the warm orange glow and noise of whoever it is at work, I see broad shoulders straighten up.
The machinery cuts off, those sparks dying down at the same time, to reveal the sight of someone with a welder’s mask covering their face.
The male figure raises his head, lifting his concealed gaze to look our way, and my pulse does a little kick. With one gloved hand, he reaches up to pull the protective shield off. In one smooth motion as he does so, he shakes unruly dark hair out.
My mouth goes dry. I bite my tongue to stop myself from gasping out loud.
That mask is tossed onto the workbench, revealing a dark mustache, scruffy jawline, tattoos climbing up the front of his throat, and a glint of silver in one ear.
He’s an absolute work of art, striding toward us, with the dog weaving circles around his ankles… and he pulls his gloves off to reveal yet more ink, along with silver rings to match the small hoop in his ear that I can see more clearly now.
“Well… hello, ma petite chérie.”
Oh my god. French?
Melt me down and call it a day. There’s going to be nothing left of me but wisps of ash blackening the snow.
He extends a tattooed hand to take mine and proceeds to slowly lift it to his mouth.
This man is just as tall as Reid, plenty muscular too, but leaner in comparison.
I mean, the guy is still enormous; it’s just when side by side with the imposing stature of this cowboy, he’s built like a solid oak, rather than a mountain.
As he brushes his lips over the knuckles of my gloved hand, his mouth tilts into the sort of smile that I would be extremely wise to forget about immediately.
Hazel eyes glint with flecks of copper around the irises when he flicks his gaze to the man at my side.
A silent look passes between the two of them that I can’t interpret.
“I’m Henri,” he murmurs, ever so slowly, allowing my hand to drop back down. “What brings a gorgeous thing like you to Mistwood Falls?” That hint of Québécois rolls off his tongue more strongly as he speaks.
I gape and apparently forget how to form a single word. Instead, I simply blush from head to toe because that’s a totally normal reaction to meeting two beautiful men in quick succession. I’m about as useful as a faulty string of fairy lights; my bulbs have all frazzled.
“This is Mia, she’s a guest at the ranch for the next few days,” Reid mutters, clicking his tongue. “Let’s go inside... and you’re only allowed in with us if you remember your house training.” He waves a big hand in the direction of the other man, whose smirk only grows wider in response.
“Woof. Let’s go, ma cocotte.” Henri pats his thigh to call Stella, gives me a wink, and strolls off toward the house. As he passes Reid, he gives the other man a soft bump with his shoulder.
Good lord. He’s stunning. My focus bounces down to the globes of an incredible ass perfectly hugged by charcoal denim, strong, thick quads, all that expanse of strong back revealed where his shirt clings to his spine.
The immediate heart eyes I feel taking over, yeah, they’re beyond a problem.
Guilty, horny, no good thoughts roam through my mind as I swing my gaze between him and Reid, and oh my god, why didn’t I click before?
They live here together.
These two men have an obvious familiarity, an understanding passing between them. A closeness about them that only comes with years of spending time in each other’s company.
They’re together.
No wonder Reid was so quick to offer himself as my fake boyfriend for a couple of days. He’s already happily taken.
Well, don’t I feel mighty embarrassed at misreading all the signals.
He’s clearly a lot older than me—if I had to hesitate a guess, I’d bet he’s in his early forties—and while Henri is a little harder to pick the age of, he’s not too far off that mark either, judging by the sexy creases around his eyes that were impossible not to notice before.
Why am I a magnet for the attached and unavailable ones?
I’ve already learned my lesson. Won’t be making that mistake again.
I stall just inside the doorway to their impressive home.
My eyes dart around, catching glimpses of rustic wood, soft furnishings; a distinctly masculine yet homely feel everywhere my attention falls.
Stella is curled up in front of a roaring fire, and of course, there’s the unmistakable and alluring sight of two impossibly handsome men having what looks to be a rapid discussion across a large metal-framed kitchen island.
A conversation that I unfortunately can’t catch more of than a mixture of rumbles and low murmurs by Reid, followed by a deep, velvety chuckle from Henri.
His hazel eyes lift my way, seeing my hesitation on the threshold, and he proceeds to wave me inside. All tattooed skin and silver rings glinting in a way that is so sexy it leaves me breathless.
“Come in out of the cold, Mia.” He says my name with that distinctly francophone tone to it that I immediately feel between my thighs.
With a wicked glint in his eye, his gaze drops down my body, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say his expression was keen.
This man has a way about him that feels much more open and flirty in comparison to the cowboy filling the open-plan kitchen. His cowboy, I hastily remind myself.
“I’m going to go get changed into something else, then we can figure some things out.” Reid slides me a look before disappearing.
Leaving me alone with a man who looks like a piece of art. He’s all angular cheekbones, jawline carved from granite, and roguish energy rolling off him in waves as he folds his arms and leans that perfect ass against the counter.
“Sounds like you two are up to no good.” He smirks.
“I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to—It wasn’t my—” I’m fumbling. Tripping over my words. This is the stupidest idea I’ve ever had, and now look at the mess I’ve made of things, disrupting their plans for Christmas.
Henri’s smile is hypnotic. Those lips and that mustache are all too tempting. If I’d wondered what it would be like to feel Reid’s stubble scraping over my skin, the single thought of what this man—no, a man like him—might do with his mouth, given the opportunity, leaves me covered in goosebumps.
“You don’t have to apologize. The big guy could use a little adventure; he works too hard.” Those rings of his keep drawing me to hone in on them, like some sort of slutty magpie searching for her newest prize. “I’m pleased he’s found a beautiful distraction for the holidays.”
Wait? He’s happy about this?
My stomach does a swan dive from a dizzying height.
“I don’t want to interrupt your plans…” It feels like a record just scratched to a halt inside my brain.
Henri pushes off the counter, stepping into me, bringing a wave of masculine scent that leaves me fighting the urge to inhale him like a madwoman. A wash of pine, resin, and working in that studio with whatever machinery he wields so effortlessly.
“You just focus on enjoying your date.” Those hazel eyes of his are a tad greener now that we’re inside.
“Fake—” I croak. “It’s just a silly pretend thing. Reid’s playing along.”
“Mmm.” Henri drags a thumb with one of those sexy as hell silver rings across his lips, brushing up against that mustache and stubble.
As he captures my every last brain cell with that slow movement, his focus drags down my body again, and the traitorous hussy comes alive.
Humming and buzzing and growing hot as he looks me over in a way that shouldn’t be turning me on.
I’m damn near panting when he stoops to bring his mouth close to the shell of my ear, all broad chest filling my vision, heat radiating off him as he lingers close, but not touching.
“Ma petite chérie, we’re big fans of sharing our toys when we’re playing.”
My body goes tight at the insinuation.
Oh my god.
I’m left stunned, blinking, when he abruptly vanishes. Did he really just say what I think he said?
Sharing.
All my fantasies come flooding to mind, the deepest, darkest secret desires hidden within the pages of my books.
Dirty thoughts and make-believe situations I’ve held close to my chest for so long.
How would I ever possibly think they might happen in reality, when I couldn’t even find myself one person who would want me… let alone two?
God, I’m a fluttering mess. So much so that I make my way over to where Stella has gone to sleep by the fire, with her graying muzzle resting on both front paws.
She lifts one eyelid at the sound of my approaching footsteps, gives a small thump of her tail, then promptly snuggles back into a tight donut of contentment.
The open plan layout of this place is gorgeous.
Wooden beams ribbed along the ceiling protrude up into a peak, with a massive full-length window overlooking the undulating snow outside.
Mountains soar up into the sky, dusted with lengthening pink and purple shadows as the sun continues to set.
Tiny black dots roam across the landscape that must be the cattle Reid was referring to earlier.
Cracks and pops from the fireplace accompany me as I turn around and take everything in with a whoosh of air leaving my lungs.
One whole wall is floor-to-ceiling books.
This is a home library of dreams, with shelf upon shelf of neatly arranged spines.
My heart gives a little double skip with delight at imagining these two gorgeous men spending evenings curled up in front of this fire, surrounded by books and a mountain view to die for.
“Is there anything you need before we go?” Just as I’m reaching out to glide my fingers along the titles nestled side by side, Reid’s deep voice makes me jump.
I squeak and turn as if I’ve just been caught raiding the cookie jar at midnight.
“Ahh, you found our collection.” He rakes strong fingers through his hair. “I keep joking with Christine that she can’t ever close the bookstore; the two of us will keep her in business forever.”
Well, fuck me. This man.
It takes everything not to audibly sigh and swoon off balance.
Instead, I’m left gulping, gnawing on my bottom lip to suppress a wanton sort of noise, because it surely couldn’t be possible, he just got even more handsome.
Walking in here with a chambray shirt rolled to his elbows and yet another pair of jeans, even more perfectly fitted than the last pair.
He’s made an effort to look the part, and he’s an absolute walking country boy dreamboat.
Although he’s clearly no boy.
“Ready whenever you are, ma’am?” He inclines his head toward the door. “Time to get into the Christmas spirit?”
With an unsteady breath, I nod. I’m not certain about any of this; it could all end up a complete and utter disaster. But even if it’s all just a game, all pretend, it’ll be more enjoyable than having to face this on my own.
I guess it looks like I’ve just landed myself a cowboy for Christmas.