Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Imake the first move.
The car door swings wide as the wind wrenches it from my grasp.
“Jesus!” I yelp as the whirling snow whips my face and clings to my jacket, which I hurriedly pull on.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Ethan’s question catches on the wind and is sent out into the abyss.
“I’m okay!” I yell back, steeling myself to get to that front door. We made it this far, and god damn it, I’m not turning back now.
I don my bobble hat, dip my head like a bull set to charge then barrel through the storm, not stopping until I reach the cabin steps.
Ethan calls out, “I’ll get the bags!” then casually strides to the back of the car, carving an easy path through the storm as if it’s nothing but a light breeze. God, I love that man.
I get to the base of the building and am forced to wade through the steadily rising snow to reach the first step. If it continues settling like this, we won’t even be able to see the car by the morning.
I shake my head, banishing the thought. But then I smile, chasing up the steps in my brand new snow boots. Would it be so bad if we got snowed in?
I reach the top deck and am instantly drawn to the warmth tucked behind the impossibly large windows. Huddling by the Christmas tree, I peer through to the perfectly cosy yet totally open-plan living space. I try the door handle, but it’s locked.
Shit. If Willow isn’t here …
I rap on the door and wait.
Moments later, Ethan sidles up behind me, his reflection eclipsing my own. He places both suitcases at our feet –because of course, typical man, he only makes the one journey, even if it means battling through a fucking blizzard with a hefty suitcase in each hand.
He wraps his burly arms around me, holding me tight, then dips his head to plant a kiss on my neck.
My breath fogs up the glass in front of us.
“Mmm.” I buzz with pleasure, closing my eyes and melting into the warmth of him, until— My eyes spring open. “I didn’t pack a scarf!”
Ethan chuckles, backing up then turning me to face him.
I simper as he adjusts the collar of my coat. Then he swiftly unwinds his scarf from around his neck and places it lovingly around my own.
He tips my chin up and presses his lips to mine, and before I know it I am lost in his deepening kiss, our hot breaths steaming into the cold storm as if we’re twin flames burning in the snow.
“Erm … Do you guys need a minute … or?”
We startle and break apart at the unfamiliar voice.
I didn’t even hear the door open.
My cheeks burn as I turn to find—
“Juniper, I take it?” Ethan recovers before I do.
“Yeah.” She grins and stands back. “Come in, come in! It’s fucking crazy out there!”
I dart inside. “You can say that again!”
Ethan grabs our luggage and shuts the door behind us, and in an instant a beautiful quiet settles over the room, the storm shut firmly outside.
I haven’t had a whole lot of contact with Willow since booking this place, but from her social media presence—and her politely formal and definitely not sweary emails—I pictured someone very put together.
Someone older, wiser perhaps; someone who had their ducks in a row.
Overall, an entirely different host to the one standing before us now.
Her blue eyes are sort of dazzling. I dip my gaze to stop from staring. Her chestnut brown hair falls in soft waves to just above her shoulders, and her fringe perfectly frames her face. Then there’s the septum ring. I very much doubt Willow would have a septum ring.
In short—I bite my lip, trying and failing to dash the thought before it helplessly bubbles in my mind—Juniper is freaking hot.
Shut up, brain.
I swallow.
“So, I guess I should show you around?” Juniper breaks our awkward silence, and I all but gasp at the relief of having some direction after taking so much control over this whole god damn day.
“Please do!” I beg. Go ahead, I’m more than happy to let someone else take the lead.
We kick off our boots by the door then shake off our coats and hang them on the stand.
“Um … well…” Juniper takes a few steps back then spreads her arms wide, gesturing to the room around us. “This is the living space.”
We nod.
She points. “T.V.”
She gestures. “Log fire.”
Ethan and I share a smile, and Juniper’s eyebrows wiggle up and down suggestively. “I know, right? Pre-tty niiiiice.”
We all laugh.
“But yeah, there’s um … there’s lamps.” She shrugs, and I notice, looking up, there’s no “main light” or “big light” as we call it. It’s very modern. Chic. Still super cosy, though. I love it.
“Couch.” She gestures some more. “Though I’m guessing you guys call it a so-fa?” she says in a hideous attempt at a London accent. Oh lord. “Windows …” she carries on, undeterred.
I bite my lip to stop from giggling. She’s funny. Hot and funny. “And our room?” I ask, my voice pitching a little higher than normal.
“Right. Yes!” Juniper beams. “This way!”
She leads us down the short hallway then pauses to open a door. “And this”—she walks right in ahead of us—“is your room!”
We follow and— Wow.
We’ve saved and saved for this trip, for what we’ve jokingly coined “the ultimate romantic getaway,” but I still can’t believe we’re actually here.
I walk over to the window, practically pressing my face to the glass.
We didn’t have a big wedding. We barely had the budget for the paperwork, let alone a honeymoon.
We got hitched in a registry office, which was fine, standard, not exactly special, but it was more about the “I Do”s than the decorations.
Then we both took a week off work and honeymooned at home together—and agreed we’d do it “properly” when we had the money.
Years later, I worked my way up in programming, and Ethan scored himself a permanent teaching position, and with that, we were finally good to go.
Until, of course, everything kicked off with our parents.
I step back again, almost afraid to fully believe how far we’ve come.
Our honeymoon plans got postponed until Mum was better, then until Ethan’s dad had finished radiotherapy, and somehow we made it to December …
But it doesn’t matter. I look around in delight. We’re here now, so this must be the right time. And as I try to take it all in, I can say, without a doubt, this is so the right place.
Fairy lights dance about the wood-panelled walls, and the window takes up almost the entire side, looking right out at the wilderness.
I gape at the surrounding forest, the snow still whirling. It rushes the window, pounding the glass as if to demand we let it inside. I step closer again, reaching out as if I could touch it, then I let my hand fall, leaving the biting wind behind.
“Um … Another window …” Juniper commentates. “Bed.”
I turn, and she raises an eyebrow.
“Looks great.” I grin, taking in the king-sized bed, with its tartan bedspread and the blanket on top which might actually be real fur?
It’s everything I dreamed it would be.
I sneak a glance at Ethan, and he winks at me, reigniting that same heat from when he kissed me outside. I’m so in the mood for us to break in this bed.
Now, we just need to get this little tour over with, so I can give Ethan a long overdue tour of my—
“There’s a bathroom across the hall.” Juniper slides past me and I smile at her sweet yet woodsy scent.
I get all flustered for a second, and I shake my head before following.
Jesus. I know I’ve been a little sex-starved with all the stress back home tamping us down, but right now I’m so riled up I can almost picture jumping Juniper’s bones too.
What is this? Bi panic at the cabin?
I suck in a breath.
I mean, this holiday wasn’t supposed to be solely about the sex, but … well, I definitely had an “everything shower” before we left …
“Aaaaand the kitchen.” Juniper ends our tiny tour at the fridge, and it suddenly occurs to me how totally starving I am. Horny and hungry. Not the best combination, but just as soon as Juniper’s gone, I vow to do away with both, and quickly.
“Thanks for the tour,” Ethan says, also eyeing the fridge before heavily eyeing me.
My cheeks burn.
We are so on the same wavelength. “So, are you um… staying nearby or …?” I hitch a thumb over my shoulder. “We didn’t see your car—”
“Or a truck?” Ethan smirks.
“Oh!” Juniper guffaws. “No. No. I am not allowed to park outside.” She shakes her head, grinning as if the thought alone is quite clearly hilarious.
Not allowed? “Uh …” I start, but I have no idea where I’m headed.
“Big sis says my campervan is too much of an eye sore for the guests to see,” Juniper explains.
“Right,” I say, with sympathy. “I too have an overbearing big sister with a ‘holier than thou’ attitude.” I laugh then stop myself. Oops. That might’ve been a bit much.
But Ethan, my hero, slings an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “She really does,” he says easily. “So, where are you parked?”
We mosey back to the living room and stop by the front windows, which look right out onto the still rather spectacular snowstorm.
“About a mile or so out that-a-way?” She gestures to the right side of the forest.
I gulp. Oh? Then—
“Hold up.” Ethan looks at her, flabbergasted. “There’s no way you can walk a mile in that …” He gestures outside, where the storm looks far more brutal now than even a few minutes ago.
“It wouldn’t be safe,” I agree, albeit a little reluctantly.
“I’ll be fine!” Juniper sings.
Here’s hoping.
“Anyway, must not intrude on the guests,” she says, in what I assume is an impression of her older sister, Willow. “Enjoy your stay!” She bounds over to the door while Ethan and I look at each other, horrified.
I sigh. Dammit. “But—”
Juniper swings open the front door and is buffeted backwards about three feet by the sudden burst of wind and snow. “Well, fuck me!” she shouts as she loses her balance and careers backwards.
Oh my god!
I spring into action, catching her just before she hits the floor, and Ethan darts to the open door, digging his shoulder right in to get it shut.
Fuck.
We collapse in a heap, Juniper practically on top of me, and we’re all so stunned we burst into raucous laughter.
“You’ll be fine?” I ask her through my giggles.
Her pale cheeks turn a bright red. “Er …”
Ethan takes my hand, and hers, then pulls us both to standing.
Juniper winces, dusting herself off. “Oh-kaaaaay, maybe I’ll give it a minute.”
I shake my head, smiling. “Yeah. Good idea.” Then a small pit lodges itself in my stomach.
I’ll just have to wait a little longer …
But then Ethan tells her, “Stay as long as you like.” And I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little taken aback. I mean, there’s being polite, then there’s inviting a near stranger to tag along with us on our first night away in god knows how long.
Stay as long you like?
I frown.
Stay as long as you need would make more sense, surely.
Or better yet, let’s give it five minutes then try again …
Juniper smiles shyly. “Okay. But just until it’s—”
“Less fucking mental?” Ethan suggests.
“Yeah.” She laughs. “Mental. I like that.”
“Do Americans not—”
“We tend to say crazy.” She shrugs. “Or wild. But I am just a sucker for a British accent.” She swoons.
“Looks like we came to the right place then.” Ethan grins, crossing the room to call dibs on the sofa. Is he flirting with her right now?
I plonk down next to him, assuming Juniper will follow, but—
“I’ll just …” She heads for the hallway.
“You don’t have to make yourself scarce.
Honest,” Ethan tells her. He is. Fucking hell.
I mean, we’ve both fancied the same women in the past—celebrities mostly, but there’s been the odd occasion in real life—but this is just weird.
He is so at ease with her already. Damn. I almost feel like a third wheel.
“Um, yeah. You can hang out here if you want?” I back him up.
“Urgh.” Juniper groans, dropping her face in her hands. “I’ve already messed up so bad.” She shakes her head. “Willow would totally kill me if she found out I was still here.”
Ethan and I exchange a look, and— Fuck it. “Then she won’t find out,” we both say at the exact same time.
I grin. And we’re back on the same page.
Juniper peeks through the gaps between her fingers at us. Ethan nods, and I present to her the empty side of the sofa where there is just enough room for one more.
And so we sit.
And wait.
And wait some more …