Pepper laughed as she went around the other side of the bed. “How about I flirt with you instead?”
“That’s a splendid idea,” Mr. Lake said with an impish smile.
Pepper perched on the side of the bed and returned Mr. Lake’s smile. Stone chuckled to himself. The old man would forget everything else if she kept looking at him like that. “Would you like to hear about my role in a movie?”
“You’re a movie star?” Mr. Lake asked.
“Not a star, but I’ve been in a movie. Do you want me to tell you what it’s like?”
“I do. How many takes before you get the finished product? I’ve always wondered about that.”
“Well, that depends. Some of my costars in this thing were awful…like excruciatingly bad.” Pepper launched into a full story about her time on set. Between her melodic voice, the painkillers, and the booze, Mr. Lake seemed to be in a lot less pain. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying himself. Who wouldn’t? Pepper was the greatest painkiller a man could have.
She was the greatest.
“Do you have kindling for the fire anywhere?” Stone asked.
“In the basket by the fireplace,” Mr. Lake said. “My maintenance guy always leaves a big stack.”
After assuring Mr. Lake that everything would soon be fine, Stone left the room to fetch a piece of wood. The fire was almost completely dead, so he stuck a few logs on top of the last of the burning embers. When he returned to the room, Pepper was sitting on the other side of the bed next to Mr. Lake pressing a cloth against his forehead.
“Everything all right?” Stone asked.
“I thought it might feel good to him to have a warm cloth on his forehead.”
Mr. Lake nodded. “This darling girl is just what the doctor ordered.”
“She doesn’t like it when you call her a girl.” Stone winked at Pepper.
She flashed him a sassy smile. “I don’t mind if Mr. Lake calls me that.”
Mr. Lake patted her hand. “We have an understanding, Pepper and me.”
“I leave my girl with you for a minute and you’re already making your move,” Stone teased Mr. Lake.
“Apparently, she likes a man with a little more experience under his belt.” A dreamy expression had smoothed Mr. Lake’s features.
Pepper sparkled up at Stone. “What can I say? I love Mr. Lake’s house.”
Mr. Lake closed his eyes and mumbled, “It’s considerably prettier with you in it.”
The drugs were doing their job. Mr. Lake would soon be asleep.
“You lose power around here?” Stone asked Mr. Lake.
“The power could go out?” Pepper asked with a slight elevation in vocal pitch. She removed the cloth from Mr. Lake’s forehead.
“Happens sometimes,” Mr. Lake said. “I’m surprised a city boy like you knows that.”
“I’m not a city boy, Mr. Lake. The town I grew up in was smaller than this house.”
“I knew there was something I liked about you.” Mr. Lake trailed off, then began to breathe evenly.
“This is good. Won’t feel a thing now,” he said to Pepper.
“You sure you don’t need me?” Pepper hesitated at the end of the bed.
“I’d rather you not see this,” Stone said.
“You’re my hero.” She leaned down and gave him a kiss on the cheek. With that, she left the room and Stone got to work.
Chapter 14
Pepper
* * *
Pepper hurled one log, then another on the fire. Once they caught, she paced around the living room, wiping imaginary dust from vases, running her fingers along the books on the tall shelf, and turning the television on and off using the remote she found on the square coffee table. The television worked, at least. When they’d been outside, she’d spotted a satellite dish. If the power stayed on, at least they’d have some connection to the outside world. This venture up the mountain had thus far been nothing short of terrifying.
Although he hadn’t said so, she could tell the condition of the roads and the lack of visibility had spooked Stone. He drove in that blizzard like a rock star, but his white knuckles gave him away. Pepper was accustomed to snow, having grown up in the Northeast, but was not at all familiar with narrow mountain roads in the middle of a snowstorm with no cellular coverage. She shuddered to think what would have happened if Stone hadn’t proven to be such a capable driver.
Another tremor passed through her at the thought of elderly Mr. Lake outside in the snow with a broken leg. How much longer would he have survived out there had they not come along? She had no interest in being in a real-life stuck in the wilderness adventure. Those were better in the movies.
She’d been relieved to leave Stone to do the splint alone. There weren’t many things that rattled her. No one auditions for theater directors once a day for a decade and remains frightened of much. However, being stuck on a mountain in the middle of a blizzard scared her. She also couldn’t stand the sight of anyone in pain. Mr. Lake was putting on a brave front, but he wasn’t a good enough actor to hide the flashes of pain that tweaked his face. The last thing she wanted was to witness Stone fixing the splint.
She picked up her cell phone, hoping for a signal. No bars. Was this always the case or was it the blizzard? If it was always this way, Mr. Lake must keep a landline up here or he wouldn’t have been able to call them earlier. She scanned the room once more. No phone. She moved to the kitchen and found one on a corner desk. Thank God.
She picked it up, praying for a signal, and sighed with relief at the buzzing sound. How long had it been since she’d heard that sound? Even her mother had gotten rid of the house phones and gone exclusively to cellular.
Pepper dialed Lisa’s number first. She’d had the same number for twelve years, so she had it memorized. It rang a few times before Lisa picked up, sounding wary. “Hello?”
“It’s me,” Pepper said.
“I thought it might be when I saw the area code. Why aren’t you calling me on your cell phone?”
“Do you have a minute? Because it’s a long story.”
“Yes, I’m in my trailer waiting to be called to set. Rafael went to get us lunch.”
She conveyed the adventure of the last twenty-four hours. “Stone’s in the bedroom putting a splint on Mr. Lake’s leg. There’s no way we’re getting out of here anytime soon.”
“I knew this was a bad idea.” A sigh and then high-pitched groan—both sounds of Lisa fretting—were clear despite the miles between them. Pepper could almost see her pacing around her trailer with the phone pressed to her ear.
“It’s a great idea. The blizzard’s only a minor setback. Wait until you see this house. It’s perfect for your wedding weekend.” As she said all this, Pepper walked back into the living room to check on the fire. The logs had caught and were burning nicely, casting a cheery glow into the dim room. “Plus, we’re totally safe here. There’s even a fireplace in case the power goes out.”
“The power? But you’re afraid of the dark.”
A fissure of fear broke through her resolve to remain brave. “Yeah, I know. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“Is Stone taking good care of you?”
“Totally. He’s like lumberjack Marine guy.” She told Lisa about how he’d kept them from sliding off the road and how he’d lifted Mr. Lake from the snow and carried him inside the house. “Now he’s in there putting a splint on his leg like it’s something he does every day.”
“Wait a minute. What’s going on? Your voice is different. Oh my God. You’re falling for him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You are. You’re falling for him. I know that voice, all husky and giggly at the same time.”
“Maybe a little. It’s kind of impossible not to.” Pepper glanced toward the hallway. How was he doing in there?
“I knew it. I knew it.” Lisa sounded way too smug for Pepper’s taste.
“You knew what?” Pepper asked.
“That if you could get past the whole military thing you would see how special he is. How kind. And smart.”
“And funny. Not to mention solid and strong and just everything anyone could want.”
“Right?” Lisa sniffed.
“Are you crying?” Pepper asked.
“Maybe a little. I can’t help it. I’m just so happy.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. We’ve only been on one date. Plus, I’m no good with men. You know I’m not.”
“It doesn’t matter. The games we had to play with other guys aren’t relevant when it’s the right man. And Stone’s like Rafael. Real. No games. They’re not like the guys we knew in New York.”
“For one thing, they’re not actors,” Pepper said.
“Right. Shoot, they’re calling me to set. You guys stay safe and warm…and cozy.”
“Very funny. Could you drop a text to my mom and let her know my phone isn’t working? I don’t want her to worry.”
Lisa agreed before they said goodbye.
After she hung up, Pepper returned to the kitchen and set the phone back in its cradle. She rested her elbows on the countertops and looked around the rustic but high-end kitchen. Her mom would love the light granite countertops paired with dark walnut cabinets. An island in the middle of the kitchen had room for eight to sit comfortably. She traced her finger along a streak of gold in the granite, imagining Lisa and Maggie here with their families. All the kids would be running around playing while Lisa and Maggie made dinner together. Rafael and Jackson would be in the other room talking about sports or politics or whatever it was men spoke of to avoid intimacy. After dinner, the families might play board games around the fireplace.
Could she see herself in that scenario? Try as she might, she couldn’t think of being there without cringing in embarrassment. The mooch. The crazy aunt who wasn’t really anyone’s aunt, just Mommy’s weird friend who always showed up at holidays like a stray cat. She did not fit in the pretty picture with her friends and their families. In under two years, everything had changed. They were no longer the glossy, gorgeous trio out for a night in New York. Her friends had moved on and grown up, and here she was yearning for a time that no one wanted to return to but her.
The day had flown. Outside, the light faded with every passing moment. Soon it would be dark. Should she get dinner started now? She wasn’t exactly the domestic type. The last time she’d made anyone a meal was…well, never. Lisa cooked for them back when they were in New York, or they ordered takeout or picked up something from the frozen section.
She opened the refrigerator, pleased to see it well stocked with fresh meat and vegetables. Even with her limited skills in the kitchen, they wouldn’t starve.
Under the island, the glow of a wine refrigerator caught her eye. She opened one side and pulled out a bottle of white. Surely Mr. Lake wouldn’t mind if she opened it? He didn’t seem the type to begrudge a guest an adult beverage, especially since they’d rescued him from the snow. She found an opener in the drawer above the cooler and had just popped the cork when Stone appeared.
“Hey now, there’s an idea,” Stone said. “Now that I’ve got the patient splinted and he’s fast asleep, I’d kill for a beer.”
“There are some in the main fridge,” she said. “Bottom shelf.”
He opened the doors of the refrigerator and made a low, appreciative growl before coming up with a beer in his hand.
She handed him the bottle opener. He thanked her and popped the top with a practiced flick of his wrist. Instead of drinking from it, he left the bottle on the island and crossed the room to ease a wineglass from where it hung over the counter.
“Classy place.” Stone poured a nice-sized portion of wine into her glass. “Mr. Lake is all fixed up and sleeping soundly.”
“Do you think he’ll be all right?”
“Sure thing. We’ll take him to the hospital the minute we can get out of here. They’ll put a real cast on him. He’ll be fine.”
“I hope it stops snowing soon.” She looked away from him to the windows. Outside lights had come on, illuminating the falling snow.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.” He reached for her hand and pulled her to him. “You were spectacular today.”
“No, I was a full-on hot mess from head to toe,” she said.
“From my view, you were cool, levelheaded, with extra credit for distracting the patient with your charm and beauty.”
She placed her hands palm-down on his chest. “You were nothing short of phenomenal yourself.”
He kissed her until she was dizzy and almost staggered out of his arms. Being here with him was dangerous. She hadn’t thought of it until just now. One thing could lead to another here. A fire, wine, good food, and not even a phone to distract them. Anything could happen. She disentangled from his arms. “This is weird, right? Snowed in together after only one date?”
“I’ll be a perfect gentleman. I swear.”
“Good. I think.”
He laughed and pulled her toward him. But instead of kissing her, he wrapped his arms about her waist and lifted her onto the island. “You say the word, Pepper Shaker. I’ll go at your pace.”
“Even if it’s slow? Like hare slow?”
His expression sobered. He tugged playfully on one of her curls. “You lead. I’ll follow.”
She wrapped her legs around his waist. “Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving.”
“You want to play house with me and make dinner?”
He lifted his eyebrows and gave her a sultry, searching look that set her on fire. “Playing house with you sounds like the best offer I’ve ever had.” He lifted her from the counter and set her on her feet. “What do I do?”
She scooted across the kitchen to the refrigerator and pulled out a package of ground beef and a few potatoes. “How about hamburgers?”
“Nothing sounds better.”
She set the package of meat on the counter. “I’ve seen you slap patties together for Sunday-night dinners.”
“On it.” He rolled up the sleeves of his flannel shirt, then washed his hands at the sink.
She handed him the dish towel hanging from the oven door.
He thanked her with a peck on the lips. “Playing house is fun so far,” he said.
She found a skillet in one of the drawers and placed it on a burner on the large cooktop. “This looks like a good pan. Right?”
He laughed as he ripped open the package of ground beef. “Do you not cook?”
“I know nothing.”
“Let’s try not to burn down the house. We have enough trouble.” He divided the meat into four sections and started pounding together a patty between his large hands.
She tore her gaze from the bulging muscles of his forearms. God did a particularly good job on Stone Hickman. Everything about him was bigger and brighter, more vibrant than other people. What would it be like to have him in her bed, to learn every inch of him?
“Hey, Pepper Shaker, you all right?”
She jumped. “What? Yes, I’m fine.”
“Good. You looked a little flushed for a minute there.”
Just picturing you naked. Nothing to worry about.
“I was wondering how to make the potatoes,” she said.
“Cut them up into little pieces and put some oil on them? Lisa made them that way once.” Stone sprayed a layer of oil into the frying pan. “I have a limited repertoire, and hamburgers happen to be on the list.” He twisted the red knob of the cooktop, and a flame leaped to life. He set the frying pan over the heat. He waved the spatula at her. “Get to work, young lady.”
For the next few minutes, Pepper bustled around the kitchen while Stone fried the burgers. She turned the oven on and cut up potatoes, then tossed them in oil before spreading them on a cookie sheet. She poked around the refrigerator and found a head of lettuce, a tomato and a jar of pickles.
Soon the kitchen filled with the aroma of frying meat.
“That smells amazing. I’m starving,” she said.
“I guess traipsing around the yard in the snow burns a lot of calories.”
She settled onto one of the counter stools with her wineglass.
“Did your family have dinner together when you were growing up?” Stone asked.
She jerked her head up, surprised by the question. “Most nights, I guess.” Evenings had just been the three of them. Often, they ate together in front of the television watching old movies. Dack had taken her education of film very seriously. “We liked to eat and watch movies together. My mom isn’t much of a cook, but she can pick up takeout like a boss.”
“That sounds nice. The watching movies together part.” He made a sound somewhere between a snort and a laugh. “We were lucky to have food, let alone a movie.”
“Oh, Stone.”
“Ah now, don’t give me that sad face.” He patted his chest. “I’m all big and strong and well fed now.”
For the next ten minutes, as she cut up the lettuce and tomatoes and Stone cooked the burgers, she asked him questions. By the time the burgers were done, she’d learned that he’d played football in high school, worked as a bag boy at their local grocery store, and had his first kiss in Ellen Moore’s hayloft with Patti Newman. He’d also shared how the three Hickman siblings had worked as a team to take care of one another after their mother left. Stone was the woodcutter and roof fixer, while Kyle worked after school and managed the bills. Autumn cooked and cleaned. When she asked him about his mother, he changed the subject.
With the spatula in one hand, he crossed his arms and regarded her from across the island. “This playing house thing is super fun.”
“Other than poor Mr. Lake and his broken leg, I’m enjoying myself immensely.”
“I’ll check on him after dinner,” Stone said. “But I suspect he’s out for the count.”
She moved to the window. Thick snow continued to fall. She watched an individual flake as it traveled to its destiny, then another, then another.
The alarm for the potatoes beeped. She opened the double doors of the upper oven. A waft of hot air pushed against her face. The heat could melt the mascara off her eyelashes. However, the potatoes looked crispy, just like Lisa’s. She looked around for an oven mitt and found one by the cooktop.
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