Chapter 3
THREE
ANNALISE
Why in the world would Walker send Sebastian Hayes to the cabin as though he’s some kind of knight in shining armour to save me from some horrible decision I’ve made?
Heaving a frustrated sigh, I throw myself onto the bed and stare up at the ceiling.
I just wanted to come to the cabin and enjoy one last Christmas here before some random person takes it over.
I wanted one last set of good memories. My plan was to venture out and find a small tree and cut it down—I know there’s no way I could get my dream tree, because the damn thing would be too big and heavy for me to do it myself.
I’d then haul out the boxes of decorations stashed in the closet and make this place into a picture out of a Christmas movie.
I don’t understand why Walker thinks my wanting to be here one last time is such a big deal. So what if it’s snowing outside? I don’t have plans to head home until New Year’s Day. That’s plenty of time for it to die down before I leave. It’s only the fifteenth.
I lie on the bed staring up at the ceiling, unsure of what to do right now.
When Sebastian started banging on my door this morning, I was just getting up to make breakfast and coffee, really hoping the poor old coffee maker we keep here still works.
Now, I’m here hiding from the last person I wanted to see while he cleans the damn chimney because the bastard had to go and push my buttons about random animals living in it.
Don’t get me wrong, I like animals. I’m a lifelong dog person, and if I didn’t live in an apartment in the middle of downtown, I’d have one. But out here, far away from civilization, I think it’s best to keep animals at more of a viewing distance than a petting one.
When my stomach lets out a loud growl, I huff and shove myself up into a sitting position.
Okay, Annalise. This is your trip and your place. You’re not going to let Sebastian Hayes of all people ruin it. You’re going to march your ass downstairs and make yourself some breakfast.
One pep talk later, I find myself at the base of the stairs staring at the way Sebastian’s T-shirt rides up as he reaches up into the chimney. When he twists slightly, I can see the trail of hair that descends from his navel down until his jeans hide the rest.
“Having fun?” Sebastian asks, and I hate the humour that laces his voice.
“Nope. Just wondering how long until I can be rid of you and enjoy my little vacay on my own,” I say with just enough enthusiasm to hopefully convince him that I wasn’t just ogling him.
He grunts, and I head into the kitchen, pulling out a couple eggs, some peppers, green onions, and some cheese before whipping up an omelette.
I brought enough food that I shouldn’t have to leave the cabin for at least two weeks.
Nothing fancy, just easy to make meals and things that were light and easy to pack.
As I plate my omelette and take my first bite, Sebastian pulls himself out of the fireplace and moves to the sink to wash his hands. His eyes stay on me the entire way, and something about it has chills racing up my spine. I ignore the feeling and take another bite.
“Going to maybe offer me some for cleaning the chimney?” he asks, and I shake my head, taking another bite. He quirks a brow. “Really? Just using me for free labour.”
I shrug. “I didn’t exactly ask you to come up here, and you basically begged me to let you clean the fireplace. Sounds like a win-win to me.”
“Still a ball buster, Lise.” Something about the way he says my family’s nickname for me has butterflies taking flight in my stomach. I fight them, taking a sip of my coffee, hoping it’ll act like bug spray on the unwanted insects.
Everyone calls me Anna. It started in grade school, and I never stopped anyone.
I hated my name growing up. Annalise is such a long name and not the easiest for kids to pronounce.
My family has always called me Lise. Very few people know the nickname, and the way Sebastian says it pulls me right back to the night here in this cabin eight years ago.
That’s enough to have me putting my fork down and turning to Sebastian to say, “Well, thanks for cleaning the fireplace, but it’s really time for you to go now.”
He stares at me, shocked. I don’t say anything. After a few seconds, he seems to gather himself, and he says, “What about firewood? You don’t have any, and I didn’t see any on the porch when I got here. I should cut some so you can start a fire.”
“I’m good.”
He looks at me like he’s fighting for his life. “It’s supposed to get cold in the next few days, and you never know if the power’s gonna get knocked out. You should have wood so you can stay warm, and you might need to use it to cook.”
I want to stomp my feet and shake my fists and yell at him to leave. I want to throw a tantrum like a child and tell Sebastian I don’t want him here, but of course, the man has to be fucking logical.
While I know I’m perfectly capable of cleaning the fireplace and chopping wood—Dad taught Walker and me when we were younger—the thought of having someone else do it is so appealing. It doesn’t help that he’s basically begging to do it.
I open my mouth to say no, but something about the look in his eyes has my shoulders slumping and me saying, “Fine.”
He perks up almost immediately and slips back into his boots and jacket. He grins at me as he reaches for the door. “How about one of those when I get back in?” he asks, pointing to my omelette.
I roll my eyes, and he heads outside while I finish my breakfast.