Chapter Thirteen
Ellie woke to the rumble that only came from one thing: a plow pushing snow.
She opened one eye, then the other. Sunlight streamed into the room, bright and full of promise.
Too bad what she wanted was the promise of another day snowed in with Jack.
She reached over to the spot where Jack had been the last time she had consciousness and found it empty.
Apparently, she was alone in that feeling.
“Good morning,” Jack said, sitting on the edge of the bed and holding out a steaming cup of coffee.
She sat up and accepted the mug, inhaling deeply before taking a sip, decidedly less disappointed than she’d been ten seconds ago. “How late did I sleep?”
“Not very. I think the plow crews started early now that the snow has finally stopped.” He drank from his own cup, looking oddly relaxed in her sweatpants and shirt.
“If I tell you again how adorable you look in my clothes, will you be annoyed with me?” she asked.
He stuck out his chest, spread his arms wide. “I am secure enough in my masculinity to take that as a compliment.”
“You should be more than secure after last night.” She had an ache between her thighs that would undoubtedly linger all day.
Jack cocked his head, and his smile held more than a trace of arrogance. “I try not to hang my worth on what I do in bed.”
“No? Why is that?”
“Because sex is subjective and bragging about having lots of practice is gross.”
Ellie tsked. “I disagree. While there might be some inherent or learned skill, really good sex comes with paying attention and being more invested in your partner’s pleasure than your own ego.”
He set his coffee down and folded his arms. “And you’re saying that’s what I did last night? Paid attention?”
The attention he was paying her right this second had her libido revving despite the soreness. “I’m pretty sure you know the answer to that.”
“I do my best never to assume.” He looked her up and down slowly. “But I’m glad to hear you’re feeling good about it.”
Good wasn’t the half of it. “Did you worry I wouldn’t?”
“I mean, I’m pretty sure you had a good time. But we had more wine than I would consider ideal for a first time. I was worried you might feel differently about your choices in the light of day.”
Seriously, who was this guy? “My consent was enthusiastic. I wouldn’t try to take it back after the fact.”
“No, but you might acknowledge that it was your choice and still regret it.”
She reached for his hand. “I don’t regret it.”
He gave a tiny but brisk nod, and his features relaxed. “Good.”
“You?” she asked, not entirely certain she wanted the answer.
“What about me?”
“Are you regretting what we did?”
Jack gave her another slow, appreciative once-over. “No. I don’t regret it.”
Ellie nodded, not quite wanting to admit how badly she needed him to say that. “We should probably—”
A loud knock interrupted her half-baked thought and just about sent her out of her skin.
“Hello? Anyone alive in there?”
Ellie didn’t recognize the voice, but it definitely belonged to a woman.
“That would be my sister.” Jack stood. “I’ll go thank her for plowing us out.” He stepped into his boots.
“Did you want to”—she flicked her finger up and down to indicate his legs—“put on real pants?”
“Nah. She’s seen me in worse.”
He left the room, and Ellie debated staying where she was or attempting to make herself presentable.
As much as she’d like to thank whichever of the Barrow siblings had come to their rescue, she wasn’t sure she could play it cool, and she had a feeling Jack didn’t want to advertise what they’d gotten up to.
And there was no hiding her sex-tossed hair.
In the end, she dragged herself from bed and threw on leggings and a hoodie. But she lingered in the room, giving herself a minute to be sad the last couple of days were over. Silly, really. Being stuck was never a good thing, even if the company turned out better than expected.
Jack returned, cheeks flushed from even that short time in the cold. Ellie studied him, fondness and arousal swelling in equal measure. “Well, what’s the verdict?”
“Roads are clear, and thanks to Maddie, the driveway is, too.”
She nodded, reminding herself to be grateful. “That was very kind of her.”
“Well, I’m guessing we aren’t a priority for whoever Pablo contracted to plow here, so it means we don’t have to wait around for them to show up.”
“They’ll come, but it might be middle of the afternoon if they think no one’s working.” And calling Pablo to try to get ahold of them would have been more trouble than she wanted to make.
“I don’t like that. Pablo should have checked on you, out here by yourself.”
She was used to not being checked on, but she couldn’t think of a way to say so that didn’t make her sound either pathetic or stubborn.
“We’ll have to dig out our vehicles, but she brought an extra shovel so we could both make progress on that front.”
Ellie laughed, happy to change the subject and for the spare shovel. “Yay.”
“We all take turns with the family plow.” Jack chuckled. “I owe her breakfast for making her come all the way here, though. She was adamant this place falls beyond her coverage area.”
Ellie’s instinct was to feel bad, but based on what Jack had shared about his siblings, about their relationships, she realized bartering favors was simply one of the ways they showed affection. “I hope you expressed my gratitude.”
“She knows,” he said with a grin, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Speaking of breakfast, can I take you out for some?”
Was he asking her out? Or was it simply his own way of showing appreciation? How much should she overthink it? “How about I make us some toast and we do lunch? I have a feeling the shoveling is going to take a while.”
“I like the way you think.”
Would he if he knew her thoughts were actually tangled up with digging out and then tumbling back into bed together like they were still stranded? “I’m pretty smart.”
He lifted a chin. “It’s hot.”
After second cups of coffee and toast with extra butter and jam, they bundled up and headed out. In addition to the sun shining, the wind had died down, making for a day that felt almost balmy. Great skiing weather. Not that she skied, but still.
They worked side by side, unburying Jack’s truck and then her SUV.
Jack cleaned up the path to the garage, and she worked on the front walk and widening the path to the back door.
Chipping away at thirty inches of accumulation was no joke and, by the time they were done, she had half a mind to tumble back into bed for a nap instead of more sex.
She tidied her space while Jack showered.
He went out to warm up his truck while she got ready.
It was surprisingly companionable, given how much they’d bickered up until a couple of days ago.
She had no idea what would happen next, or even what she wanted to happen, but she could worry about that later.
For now, her thoughts turned to whatever soup and grilled sandwich combination awaited her at the diner in town.
* * *
Apparently, Jack and Ellie weren’t the only ones with a case of cabin fever. He’d suggested the Little Gem Diner since it was the closest restaurant to Hampstead House, but when they arrived, the parking lot was packed. He literally got a space only because someone was leaving.
“I bet it’s clearing out from a late breakfast rush,” Ellie said.
“You’re probably right.” He hoped so.
“One day, I’m going to get you to say I’m right without any qualifiers.” She grinned and didn’t wait for him to reply before sliding out.
Jack followed. “I’m not opposed to admitting when other people are right as long as they are.”
He held the door and Ellie ducked past him. “Is that a literal quote from the stubborn guy rulebook? Because if it’s not, it should be.”
“More of a personal mantra,” he quipped, rather than defending the logic of his position.
“Of course it is,” Ellie said.
The diner was crowded, but several groups hovered near the register to cash out, and no one else appeared to be waiting for a table. In short order, a middle-aged woman with two pencils in her hair pointed them to a booth in the front corner by the window. They settled in, facing each other.
Ellie picked up the massive menu and opened it like a book. “I’m starving.”
He laughed “Same. Are you a breakfast anytime you’re at a diner person, or do you flip a switch at a certain time?”
“Lunch. All the way. As soon as it’s an option. I’ve never met a sandwich I don’t like.” She lowered the menu just enough to peer over the top. “That’s a lie. I’ve had some crappy sandwiches, but I’d take a turkey club over a pile of eggs every time.”
“That hurts,” he said. “Truly.”
She shook her head, clearly unfazed. “Haters gonna hate.”
He’d barely perused the options when the woman who’d seated them came over. “Start you with something to drink?”
Ellie set the menu down and offered her a bright smile. “I’ll have a Diet Coke, please. And a patty melt with fries if my friend here is ready to order.”
“I thought you wanted soup,” Jack said as he scrambled to decide.
“Changed my mind. Because patty melt.”
Liz, the server, pointed at Ellie with her pencil. “She makes a valid point.”
Jack folded his own menu. “Well, at the risk of your derision, I’ll have the tall stack of blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon.”
“Also legit,” Liz said.
Ellie nodded like it was a reluctant concession. “I find no fault.”
“And a cup of coffee, please.” He handed his menu over.
“You got it, doll face.”
Liz headed to the kitchen, leaving Ellie regarding him with curiosity. “Do you ever max out on coffee?” she asked.
Jack laughed. “I’m not sure I understand the question.”
“Okay, then.”
He tapped a finger to the table. “Don’t judge me, Diet Coke.”
Ellie lifted both hands. “I know. It’s awful. But also, so good.”
“I won’t judge you if you don’t judge me,” he said.