Chapter 2
REMY
Please please please don't let this be the worst idea I’ve ever had in my life.
The huge pickup rumbles up a long private road as I sneak glances at the man who is so intent on taking me in.
Stone truly seems like a nice guy, and very polite.
I like that he put my bags at my feet instead of in the back of the truck.
I also appreciate that he let me climb in without touching me.
I think he gets that I'm skittish. Why wouldn’t I be? He's a stranger, twice my size, and I'm out here all alone.
But Stone is doing everything right, chatting about things that put me at ease.
"The weather up here is as unstable as a newborn colt," he jokes, looking over at me.
He truly is striking. Not just because he's so tall and solid – a wall of muscle.
He has classically perfect features. Strong jawline, warm, brown eyes, straight nose.
And work-worn hands with thick fingers that look capable of doing anything.
It’s like they got a gorgeous movie star to play the handsome man next door, but he’s almost too good-looking for the role.
Wow, I’d better stop staring or he'll think I'm a weirdo.
"It's never about fighting the weather," he continues. "It's about being prepared for it. Planning. Letting mother nature run her course, no matter how fickle she might be."
I normally have to force myself to smile at people, yet it's easy to smile at Stone. "I really do like the great outdoors. I just never have the time to get out there."
“Pfft. City folk.” He smirks, his eyes twinkling. "You don't take a walk through your neighborhood after dinner? Or stroll around while you're shopping?"
A small laugh bubbles out of me. "I don't shop. Just groceries on Sunday mornings."
I may as well tell him. "I have two jobs," I explain. “I work customer service and support at a specialized software company from eight till four – hence my need for Wi-Fi. Then most days I work four to midnight as a freelance bookkeeper's assistant."
The last time I mentioned my work schedule to someone in Oakton, they gazed at me with a mix of shock and admiration, then complimented my hustle and dedication to the grind. Stone, however, looks horrified.
"How… You can't live like that, Remy."
"Well, right now I’m not. My main job demanded that I take my two weeks’ vacation from last year, and it's the slow season for the bookkeeper, so I just put in whatever hours I can get." I smile at him. "Which is as many hours as possible, of course."
He frowns. "We're going to chat about that later. Right now, it's time for you to breathe in some fresh air and wave to the horses."
Fresh air sounds great. The air on the bus coming here was stale. With the windows open as we drive, I feel the country-fresh oxygen is cleaning my lungs and recharging me from the inside out.
We drive through a large gate marked Bone River Ranch. It’s like crossing from the real world to… I don’t even know.
Five horses in various shades of brown come trotting over to the driveway to welcome the truck. Stone slows to a crawl, rolling down his window to call out, "Evening, boys."
They whinny at him, practically nodding hello. He drives slowly along the lane as they walk right alongside the truck. Then he waves goodbye to them and drives past a couple of large buildings to a house at the end of the gravel road.
"This is not how I pictured a ranch," I whisper, looking at his home in awe.
It's kind of a mix of cottage and cabin. Plenty of wood that almost blends into the forest behind it. But the windows are huge, with modern, black trim. Everything looks expensive but doesn’t shout about it.
When we go inside, it's the same vibe – beautifully understated furniture.
Top-of-the-line appliances. A television so large, I could stretch my arms wide and not be able to grasp each edge.
Stone carries my bags upstairs and sets them on the floor of a charming blue and white guest room. "You’ve got your own bathroom in there," he says, nodding to the corner. "This is totally your space." What a polite way to say that he'll respect my privacy.
As I look around at the crisply painted walls, the beautiful furniture and the view of rolling hills and patches of forest through the window, some of the tension in my chest begins to loosen. "This room is bigger than my entire apartment!" I laugh. "And there's so much light here.”
Once again, Stone gives me that horrified look. "Good lord, where do you live?"
My mouth opens, then shuts. He's being so kind to me, I might as well tell him the truth, or he'll think I'm super sketchy. He probably already thinks that, after seeing me trying to break into a house.
“My dad took off, leaving Mom with nothing.” I don’t mention that we were glad to be rid of the bastard. “She managed to find a cheap apartment, but there wasn't really room for me. So I've been living in a small basement unit in Oakton."
"But you get fresh air and daylight when you go to work, right?" he asks hopefully.
"Oh, I work at home. The day shift I work at the kitchen table, then I work on my bed for the night shift. You know, for an exciting change of pace."
I think it's hilarious. Stone clearly doesn't.
"I really appreciate you letting me stay tonight, by the way.
I barely know her, but Aunt Sonia demanded that I come out here for a break in the country when she heard about my vacation.
But just as the bus was dropping me off, I got a text saying that she won fifty percent off a cruise or something and was already on her way.
She said she left the key under the mat and that I should help myself to everything—"
"How did you get there from town?" Stone suddenly asks. "Don't tell me you walked."
"Sure I did. I didn't want to waste money on a taxi."
He slumps against the door frame, scrubbing his face.
I hope I haven’t pissed him off. "Look, Remy, you're welcome to stay here as long as you like.
Please help yourself to everything in my house, too.
In fact, I'm about to make dinner, and it would make me extremely happy if you came down and sat outside with me while I grill. Okay?"
I guess a girl can't say no to that. "Okay."
He smiles at me. It’s the kind of smile that flows through me and warms my center.
Suddenly I'm smiling as well, fighting the urge to step forward and into his arms. A shiver runs through me just thinking how amazing that would feel. He’s so sexy, yet it’s more than that. Stone is a protector, I can feel it.
Of course I’m drawn to him. I've never been protected in my life.