Seven | Jasmin
Seven
Jasmin
“ I ’ll be fine,” I shouted over my shoulder, knowing Brody couldn’t hear me over the wind howling past us as I sunk deeper into the snow.
There was no way in hell I was going to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with him. I was determined to comb every inch of the ranch until I could find my SUV and get the hell out of there. He had made it abundantly clear that he didn’t want to be around me, so I was going to give him what he wanted.
“Why are you being so difficult?” he growled, suddenly behind me as strong hands gripped my waist and stopped me.
“I’m not. I’m trying to get out of here before I get stuck with the grumpiest ass I’ve ever met!” I shouted, my eyes blinking rapidly to see through the snow that was falling between us.
“It’s a little too late for that, Princess.”
He stood in front of me, towering over me to where I had to tilt my head back to see him.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not a princess. I’m a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need a man to—”
Before I could finish my sentence, he leaned forward and grabbed me, tossing me over his shoulder as he stomped back to the house.
“Put me down, you big bully!” I pounded my fists against his back, trying to get him to listen.
A few minutes later, I was greeted by warmth as I watched the door slam shut behind us. He bent down, placing me on the rug in the entryway, eyes boring into me.
“I told you to let me go.” I placed my hands on my hips and glared at him.
“And I told you I’m busy and don’t have time for this shit.”
“Which is why I was trying to get out of your hair,” I objected, throwing my hands in the air in frustration.
“How the hell do you think you’re going anywhere in that? You can’t even see your car, let alone the road.” He pointed a finger toward the large window, proving his point as a blanket of white fell outside.
“I told you—I’m determined. I would find a way.”
“And then I would have to waste more time I don’t have digging your body out of the snow when you got stuck and froze to death.”
“So what am I supposed to do now?” My irritation was growing thicker as we stood inches apart, staring each other down.
“It seems we’re stuck together for a few days, whether we like it or not.”
“No.” I shook my head vehemently. “There has to be another option. Something— anything other than this.”
“Sorry, Princess , this is what happens when you go snooping around places you’re not supposed to be. Seems luck wasn’t on your side, and now you’re stuck here until the storm passes.”
He pulled off his jacket and hung it on the coat rack beside the door before breezing past me.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I grumbled, tossing my head back and closing my eyes.
“That’s the same thing I said when you started talking about the Frozen Palooza.” He winked as if I would find him funny.
I didn’t. He was downright infuriating, and I wanted nothing more than to punch him in the dick and steal his reindeer.
“Frosty Fest,” I snarled, hands planted firmly on my hips.
“Tomayto- tomahto.”
“No,” I growled, shaking my head as I followed him into the kitchen. “You don’t get to dismiss it as something stupid that you make fun of. Frosty Fest is an amazing event that helps hundreds of people every year. You don’t get to discount it just because you’re some cranky grinch who hates Christmas, Brody.”
He opened the refrigerator and then closed it, locking his eyes on me.
“How do you know my name?”
My eyes fluttered rapidly as I tried to figure out where that came from.
“What?”
“How do you know my name? I didn’t tell you.”
He leaned against the counter, arms folded over his chest as he studied me.
My face heated with embarrassment, knowing I was going to have to come clean about how I knew so much about him.
“It’s a small town. Everyone knows everyone’s name,” I countered, trying my best to appear unphased by his question.
“I don’t know yours.”
“Well, that, my friend, is because you didn’t bother to ask.” I pointed my finger at him, spinning it in circles as I tried to stay focused. “I don’t want to keep bringing it up, but your manners kind of suck. I mean, who has several conversations with someone and doesn’t even know their name? Sheesh.” I looked away before I made more embarrassing noises, my blush already showing how uncomfortable I was to be put on the spot.
“Yeah, well, we haven’t had an actual conversation until today. You just keep showing up and forcing yourself on me.”
My jaw dropped at his words.
“I did NOT force myself on you,” I objected, stepping closer to him as I poked a finger at his chest. Man, that’s hard. “I never asked you to hoist me in the air and put your face right by my lady bits. You did all of that yourself. If anything, you might be the one forcing yourself onto me .”
I stepped back, needing distance between us to keep the fog from taking over my head. There was this pull I felt every time I got too close to him, and even though I was curious about it, I also knew I would be the one to get burned.
“I had to lift you to get you unstuck from the post—which you wouldn’t have gotten stuck on had you not been forcing yourself onto my property and looking around when you weren’t invited.”
My mouth opened to contest what he was saying, but the words wouldn’t come out.
“Do you eat meat?” he asked, suddenly changing the subject as he opened the fridge again.
“Meat?”
Was he subtly flirting with me? Was meat code word for something else? I had no idea what he was packing, but I could possibly be interested in checking out his sausage—if that was what he meant.
“Steak, specifically.”
I shook my head, feeling like my brain cells were depleting quickly.
“For dinner,” he continued, unamused. “I’m making steak and baked potatoes for dinner. Do you want some, or are you one of those who only eat organic plant stuff?”
I took a deep breath in, hoping the oxygen would restore my ability to think clearly around this man.
“Yes, I eat steak.”
“How do you like it cooked?”
He set the package of meat on the counter and looked over his shoulder as he waited for me to answer.
“Medium.”
“Alright. I’ll let you know when supper is ready.”
I shifted my weight, unsure of what to do with myself now.
“Do you need any help?” I offered.
“Nope.”
I nodded my head, hating how uncomfortable it was right now.
“If you have a shovel, I can go out and start—”
“Do you have a death wish?” he snapped, turning on me so quickly I had to take a step back.
“Maybe?” I mean, where he was involved, it might be better at this point.
He stepped in front of me, invading my space again.
“I don’t want you to be stuck here any more than you want to be stuck here. But I’ve already told you that trying to leave in this storm is stupid. Now, I don’t know if you just have a hard time accepting no as an answer, but I don’t have time to play these games with you. If you want to be helpful, go find something for us to watch on TV and take off those so-called boots before you trip and break your ankle. I don’t need anything else to worry about right now.”
I stepped back and looked down at my feet.
“They’re not stupid. They’re cute.”
“They’re ridiculous to be wearing in this weather, and you’re just asking for trouble in them.”
“Fine,” I said with a dramatic sigh and roll of the eyes. “I’ll take them off, you big grump.”
“Thank you.”
I turned to walk away but stopped and spun around to look at him.
“It does have manners!” I squealed, clapping my hands for added effect.
He glared and then turned back to the stove to prepare dinner.