Chapter 7
A snow day is a little gift from the universe.
Scarlett
“D amn it,” Weston growls. “There’s still no cell service. I guess you’re stuck with me for another night.”
Whereas he appears annoyed to be stuck here, I’m tingling with excitement at his presence. I’m enjoying getting to know him better. It’s been a fun day playing board games and messing around in the kitchen with him.
All my teenage fantasies are coming true.
“I’m sorry.” I’m not but it feels like I should act as if I am.
“Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault. But I feel bad for putting you out.”
“You’re not putting me out.”
“You had to take care of me while I was sick.”
I actually enjoyed it. It’s nice to feel needed. My family certainly doesn’t need me.
“And I’ve been eating all of your food.”
“I didn’t think it was possible for someone to eat an entire box of pasta.”
He rubs his belly. “I’m a growing boy.”
“Being tall isn’t enough for you? You want to become a giant?”
“I’m not a giant. But you are tiny.”
I snort. “Tiny? No one’s ever said I’m tiny before.”
“What are you? Five foot?”
“I’m five foot and three inches.”
He chuckles. “Those three inches make all the difference.”
“That’s what she said.”
He barks out a laugh. “You, Scarlett Harris, are not the innocent little girl you pretend to be.”
I wag my finger at him. “I never pretended to be an innocent little girl.”
“But you sure looked like one with your glasses and pigtails in high school.”
I glare at him. “I never had pigtails and it’s not nice to make fun of someone who wears glasses. Shall I call your mom and tell her what you said?”
He points to his phone. “No cell phone reception.”
“You’re a lucky man.”
He smiles. “Yeah, I am.”
His words hit me in the chest. Does he feel lucky to be with me? I feel lucky to be with him.
I was dreading coming to Smuggler’s Hideaway for the Christmas holidays. If I had known I’d end up in a secluded log cabin with the boy of my high school fantasies, I would have sped all the way here.
“I—” My words are cut off when a yawn hits me.
“You’re tired.”
“I didn’t sleep well last night.”
He frowns. “Sorry you felt obligated to stay awake and nurse me.”
“I didn’t feel obligated. And before you ask, I don’t have a sexy nurse’s outfit.”
“Damn. I bet you’d look hot in a short white skirt and tight top with those glasses.”
His gaze rakes over my body. My oversized Hello Kitty pajamas hide my body, but he acts as if he can see right through my clothes.
“You’re trouble, Weston Milton.”
He waggles his eyebrows. “But I’m the fun kind.”
“I never knew there was a fun kind of trouble.”
“Stick with me, kid. I’ll show you the ropes.”
There’s plenty I’d enjoy having him show me. Starting with how those abs look without his shirt on. And ending with how good he could make me feel in the bedroom.
I usually have no interest in jumping into bed with a player – and make no mistake about it, Weston is a player – but I’d make an exception for him.
I start to yawn again and slap a hand over my mouth.
“Go to bed, Scarlett.”
My body tingles at the sound of Weston telling me to go to bed in a growly voice. I can think of at least a thousand other things I want him to tell me to do in that voice.
“Okay.” I stand. “Get off my bed.”
His brow wrinkles. “I know Hermit Jeremy had a bedroom in this cabin.”
“He does. The bed’s all yours.”
“I can sleep on the couch. You take the bed.”
“Your feet hang off the end of the couch.”
“I did fine when I was ill.”
I roll my eyes. “Because you were delirious, and I wasn’t strong enough to drag you to the bedroom.”
“Don’t be cute, Scarlett. I am not allowing you to sleep on the couch.”
I fist my hands at my hips. “Allowing me?”
He stands and grasps my hands. A spark ignites when he touches me. I gasp as tingles flow, from the area he’s touching, through me until my entire body is burning in anticipation.
“This is your place, Scarlett, and I’m the unwanted visitor. Sleep in the bed.”
“I never said you were unwanted.”
“Unexpected then.” He tugs me toward the bedroom. “Come on. I bet the bed is super comfy.”
I allow him to lead me down the hallway to the bedroom. The door is open to catch the heat from the fireplace.
Weston pauses at the entrance. “That is not a small bed.”
“I know, right? The first thing I thought when I arrived was how all of my brothers and sisters could fit on this bed with plenty of room.” Which gives me an idea. “Why don’t you sleep in here instead of on the couch?”
He smirks. “Scarlett Harris, are you asking me to sleep with you?”
I roll my eyes. “The key word being sleep.”
This is a bad idea. I’ll probably jump him in the middle of the night and embarrass myself. The teenager in me is giddy with joy. She’s ready to let all of her sexy fantasies about Weston become a reality.
Slow your roll, Scar the nerdy bookworm. No one’s having sex tonight.
Weston motions to the bed. “I’ll stick to my side of the bed if you stick to yours.”
I want to argue with him. The good girl in me knows I should march to the couch and sleep there. Far, far away from temptation.
But I’m tired. And I’m an adult. I can sleep in the same bed as a man and not give in to temptation. Besides, Weston doesn’t want to have sex with me. I’m merely an old classmate helping him out during a snowstorm. Nothing more. Nothing less.
“Okay,” I give in.
He pushes me toward the bathroom. “Go do whatever gazillion things a woman needs to do before going to sleep.”
“Gazillion things? Did you fail math? Brushing your teeth and emptying your bladder equals two things.”
His face softens. “You’re unexpected, Scarlett.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter as I make my way to the bathroom. “I didn’t have harboring a police officer player during a snowstorm on my Christmas bingo card either.”
I hurry to brush my teeth and pee. What if this is a mirage? What if Weston Milton isn’t in my bed waiting for me?
Hold on. He’s not waiting for me. He’s merely stuck here because of the snow.
When I return to the bedroom, Weston is laying under the covers. There’s one candle lit on the side table.
He smiles at me and lifts the covers up. “Climb in, roomie. It’s nice and warm under here. I piled all the extra blankets on to keep us nice and warm.”
I wish I could say I hesitate. But I don’t. I practically jump into the bed.
I cuddle under the blankets and he blows out the candle.
“I’m sorry.”
I roll to face him. “You don’t need to keep apologizing for getting stuck here. You’re not inconveniencing me.”
“I’m referring to high school.”
My heart gets lodged in my throat. “High school?”
“I never should have laughed when the other kids called you Scar the nerdy bookworm or Goody Two Shoes.”
“Why did you?”
“I was a kid. I was stupid. I thought if I didn’t laugh, I wouldn’t fit in. But I never realized how hurt you were by the nicknames. You never seemed affected by them.”
Because everyone knows not to let a bully see your reaction. No matter how much it hurts.
“I tried hard to hide how hurt I was.”
“Damnit, Scarlett. I never want you hurt.” He pulls me into his arms. “I’m sorry. No one will ever call you names again.” He kisses my hair. “Now, go to sleep.”
Sleep? The last thing on my mind is sleep. I’m in Weston’s arms. I want to lay here and enjoy it. Especially since he apologized for his behavior in high school.
Maybe there’s more to Weston than his player persona.