The room appeared to expand further, but the lights were out on the far end through another archway, and I couldn’t make it out from here. It didn’t matter though. The place looked safe enough to me.
Ranger Haxley returned with two small bowls, placing them down in front of the dog. She ravished them within seconds and jumped back up onto the woman’s lap, wagging her scruffy tail.
“She’s exhausted, poor darling,” the woman cooed. “I think we will call it a night, Ranger. Thank you for finding my baby.” She stood up with the dog in her arms and called over to her husband. “Barry, pay the man.”
Ranger Haxley instantly blocked the door and scowled at her. “Woah, where the hell do you think you’re going? No one is leaving tonight.”
“We’ll take that little cabin thing next door. That’s safe, isn’t it?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, thinking up an answer. “It’s not a guest cabin, it’s for employees.”
She popped out her hip, staring up at him. “I see. And do you reside in it, Ranger?”
“No, I live here.”
“And is there anyone residing in it at the moment, Ranger?”
“No, but – ”
“Well then, it’s decided. We’ll take it tonight and get out of your hair.”
His jaw clenched at the losing battle, but even I could tell this woman was used to getting her own way and wasn’t for backing down. I half expected the ranger to keep fighting but he looked exhausted, as if he didn’t have the energy left for the argument. Maybe his adrenalin high was finally crashing. He stepped back from the door and grabbed an old rusty key off the wall, handing it to the lady.
She smiled innocently but bellowed back over her shoulder at her husband again. “Barry! I told you to pay the man!”
“Yes, honey.” He pulled out a checkbook and scribbled something down before ripping it off and handing it to him. “Pleasure doing business with you, Ranger Haxley. By the way, your head is bleeding.”
He grunted in response and held open the door for them. “Call out incase of trouble. If I don’t hear you...well, I’m sure I’ll hear your wife.”
Barry roared with laughter and the woman stormed out into the night, fury in her eyes. He chased out after her, slamming the door shut behind him.
And just like that, we were alone.
I couldn’t help but notice how quiet the place was now. The TV was on low and the only thing breaking through was the crackle of burning logs along with the faint sound of rain hitting the roof above.
I could feel my nerves kicking back in. I wasn’t afraid of Ranger Haxley. After all he had saved my life, but after everything that had happened, I couldn’t stop the uneasiness creeping into my bones.
He smiled down at the check in his hand, and I couldn’t resist the urge to fill up the silence. “They paid you to find their dog?”
“Yep, and a very nice chunk of change indeed.”
“Enough to risk your life for?”
He raised his bloody eyebrow at me and smiled. “I’ve risked my life for a lot less. I needed the money anyway. The damage from the storm’s gonna cost a pretty penny, and I’ve got employees that need paying next week.”
He took off his wet jacket and strung it over the hook by the door. Now that it was off, I could see for the first time how strong his arms were. His muscles bulged against the wet green fabric of his shirt. He started unbuttoning it. His white vest underneath was damp too and clung to every grove of his hard torso. Slowly, he began moving towards me with his shirt wide open.
Heat rushed up my neck. Was it nerves? Lust? Who the fuck knew anymore. My clear and composed head was still back at the Marigold Cabin, under a mountain of earth.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You still look a little freaked out.”
Of course I still looked freaked out. I was freezing, soaked, traumatized, and now, all alone in a sexy woodsman’s cabin.
“I’ll be okay,” I muttered, more to myself than him.
“Yeah?” He approached me closer, stopping inches from my feet. His gruff voice kicked my heart rate up another notch and I suddenly felt drunk.
This wasn’t nerves. It was something much more inviting. For the past four weeks, my nights had been filled with fear and isolation. But tonight, I wasn’t alone. And there was a strange warmth to that, being here with this man. Sure, he was a bit of a daredevil, but his all around heroic tendencies left me feeling safe. Protected. The thought alone had me questioning myself, but that was normal, right? Afterall, my sane mind was under the landslide.
He inched even closer to me. My body froze as he reached out for my hand. “Well then, how about we just put this down then?”
“Wh…what?” I glanced down as his hand pried my fingers from the brass poker.
I was still holding it? This whole time it had been clutched in my hand. I hadn’t even realized until he had to physically remove it from me.
I was mortified. He must have thought I was crazy. “Oh, my god. I’m so sorry. I totally forgot I was holding it.”
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. You’ve had a scary night, Tia. I understand.” He placed the metal bar on top of the information desk and smiled down at me. “Come on. Let’s get you taken care of.”
He walked over to the dark side of the room and flicked on a light switch. The rest of the station lit up, and I could see now that the dark extension on the other side of the room was in fact a gift shop. It was just as big as the main room, packed with stuffed toys and souvenirs. On one wall were camping supplies, clothing and fishing rods. And on the other side, a large bookcase full of nature books, maps, and local guides.
He waved me though, holding out his hand. “Take whatever you need.”
I scrunched up my nose and scoffed. “I don’t need any novelty fridge magnets right now, Ranger Haxley. But thanks for the offer.”
“Colton.” He smiled back at me. “Call me Colton. I’m only Ranger Haxley on the sunny days. And I meant the clothes. There’s sweaters, jackets, pants, anything you might need. Go on, take it. It’s on the house.”
It was a sweet gesture but a far too generous one. “I can’t do that. You’re broke, right?”
“Not anymore.” He grinned. “I got a big ol’ check in my pocket, and I just won on the hockey game. You’re my lucky charm, Tia. What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t let the lady take first dibs on the winnings? Go ahead. Grab whatever you need.”
That was when it hit me. My heart sank into my stomach. “All my stuff. It was in that house. My design plans for work, my sketchbooks, all my clothes. Fuck!”
“Yeah, that sucks. Sorry about that.”
The clothes could be easily replaced, but the designs would be a little harder. I’d have to figure out a way to get a copy of them. Maybe my new boss still had his samples that Lily sent, or maybe I could contact her parents. Even the mere idea of the last choice, filled me with dread. I hadn’t seen them since the funeral and wasn’t ready to speak to them again just yet.
I’d figure it out, one way or another. I had to. After what I’d been through tonight, there was no way I was turning back now.
I glanced over to Colton. My cheeks blushed when I caught him watching me from the archway with his arms crossed. I shook away his distracting gaze and went to work on the clothing section. “You’re sure this is okay? Your boss isn’t gonna be mad I ravaged the rails, are they?”
“I am the boss, darlin’.”
I smiled in appreciation and grabbed a large red sweater and a pair of tight sweatpants. I couldn’t wait to get cleaned up and changed into something that wasn’t wet or covered in mud.
He led me through to the kitchen, towards a short hallway. I stopped instantly when I realized we were heading into the living quarters. “Wait. Where are you taking me?”
“Shower.” He stopped outside a wooden door and opened it wide, gesturing me to go inside. “No offence, Tia, but you’re covered in dirt and dog grime. Th
e generators are strong, so you might as well make the most of it.”
I willed my courage to snap me back into motion. After a far too long pause, my feet began to move again, taking me to where he was standing. I stepped into the small bathroom and closed the door before he could make a comment about my cautious attitude.
The lock was flimsy and easily broken. There was nothing I could do about that now though. I just hoped Colton was the gentleman he seemed to be and left me to my privacy.
He seemed decent enough. Brave and generous. His blue eyes were filled with kindness, and nothing about him made me feel he wasn’t genuine. I was pretty good at spotting a fake. Growing up in the city, jumping from foster home to foster home, had given me a sixth sense for the liars. The ones that would say you were a precious gem, only to treat you like trash in the end.
But Colton hadn’t said or done anything to make me doubt him. Everyone in his home was his responsibility. From the bratty married couple, to the hungry dog. He didn’t even take the poker from me until I felt safe enough to let him take it.
He didn’t seem to hold much for his own safety though. He clearly loved a risk, and I wasn’t getting caught up in that. I’d known risk takers and seen the damage that rippled out from their actions. I had no desire to get to know another one. No matter how handsome this one was.
Chapter Six
Colton
When I heard the shower switch on, I left Tia to it. She was obviously a nervous person, even before the house fell down. I didn’t want to push her, especially since we were both stuck here together for the night.
That didn’t sound too bad to me at all. Trapped in a storm with a beautiful woman and a heavy check in my back pocket. Now that’s what I called a good night shift.
I filled the kettle and turned on the stove. She didn’t need to be any more jittery than she already was, so I tossed the coffee out in favor of some hot tea. By the time the kettle whistled, the bathroom door creaked open and out she stepped, wearing the red Bluerock Park sweater and carrying her filthy clothes in a neatly folded pile.
“Do you always fold your laundry before it gets washed?”
She tucked her wet hair behind her ear and shrugged. “Habit.”
“Fair enough. So, you’re a neat freak?”
“No. I’m organized. There’s a difference.”
“Organized, huh?” I handed her the tea and took the clothes from her arms. “Well, if you really are organized, why didn’t you check your emails this morning and change your accommodation?”
She tilted her head at me. “What email?”
“I emailed you this morning about the storm heading this way. I told you to find another place to stay or postpone your trip. You didn’t get it?”
Tia shook her head, taking a seat at the dining table. “No. Nothing.”
“Well, I sent it to the address Roger Anderson gave me. He’s your new boss, right?” I opened the utility closet and tossed her clothes into the washing machine, along with my wet shirt and a splash of detergent.
Tia still hadn’t answered me. When I shut the utility closet and glanced back over to her, she looked lost, slumped in her chair, staring down at her mug.
“What is it?”
She shook herself from the haze. “Nothing. It’s just…you must have sent it to the wrong email address. My roommate, Lily Dole. She was supposed to be doing the job. I’m guessing Mr Anderson forgot to update the email address you had. You must have sent it to her instead.”
“Got it.” I nodded, picking my mug off the counter. “But if that’s the case, why didn’t she tell you I’d been in touch?”
“She died.” The words came out fast and direct, but I could clearly see deep pain in those chocolate colored eyes.
I knew grief, and this girl had it plastered all over her face. It must have happened recently too. Roger Anderson had only booked out the cabin for his new artist last month. “Shit. I’m so sorry.”
Tia ignored my condolences and pulled a phone out from her sweater pocket, holding it up above her head. “When will the phones be back up? It’s been hours, and I still don’t have any bars.”
I leant back against the counter as she attempted to gain a signal from my kitchen roof. “Depends.”
“On what?”
“The storm.”
She dropped the phone onto the table and sighed, sinking back into her chair. “Is it always like this up here?”
I smirked over the rim of my cup. “Wet and windy?”
Tia flashed me an annoyed look, but she couldn’t hide her smile. Damn, she was cute.
I pointed towards the other room. “If you need to call someone, there’s a landline on my desk. Help yourself, darlin’.”
I expected her to bolt over to it, but instead she stiffened in her seat and asked, “Did you lock the door?”
I shook my head and sipped my tea. “We don’t do that here.”
Tia’s eyes widened. “What? Like, never?”
“No. This is a ranger station. The doors always open.”
“But what if you’re asleep and someone gets in?” She sounded as panicked as she did on the drive over. “Or out finding a lost dog and they steal your TV?”
I couldn’t help chuckle at the idea. “That’s the risk we have to take up here. Bluerock is pretty safe. Most of the time anyway. And we don’t lock the door in case someone needs help. Shelter or water? It’s a safe haven.”
She looked horrified at the notion. “But you live here.”
“Yeah, so?”
“How the hell do you sleep, knowing your door is wide open, available for anyone to just walk in?”
I shrugged. “It’s the job, I guess.”
She shook her head in disbelief and stormed back out to the front door.
I followed her through and watched as she rubbed her hands down the wooded frame. “What are you doing?”
“There’s not even a keyhole. It really is always open.” She backed away from it, as if a beast was hiding on the other side, ready to pounce.
This girl wasn’t just nervous, she was darn right scared. From the way she had locked herself up at the Marigold, to the way her hand fused to that brass poker. She even hesitated when I offered her a hot shower. It was understandable after everything she’d been through to be a little jumpy, but this was something else.
I contemplated telling her it was perfectly safe up here, and that no one was out there tonight. But that wasn’t exactly true. I’d already proved myself wrong when I kicked her last door down. Instead, I placed my cup down on the coffee table and headed over to my desk. Grabbing one side of the giant block of wood, I dragged it across the floor until it was flush up against the door. “There. How’s that? It’s not a lock, but nobody’s gonna get through that tonight.”
When I turned back around to her, she had the sweetest smile on her face. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” I headed over to the information desk, snatching the first aid kit from a shelf underneath. “Any injuries, Tia? Besides the scratches.”
She looked at me a little confused. “Scratches?”
“You’ve got a couple on your face.” She stood perfectly still as walked up to her and lifted my thumb to her cheek, running it under one of the cuts.
Her skin felt like liquid gold. The soft warmth ran up my hand as I moved it up to the smaller scratch, just above her eye, and caressed the sensitive spot. The fact that she didn’t pull away or tense up, filled me with deep satisfaction. She was afraid of a lot of things, but right then, at that moment, I knew I wasn’t one of them.
Tia closed her eyes, sinking into my touch. It didn’t last long though. Her eyes snapped back open and she stepped back a little. “The branches,” she whispered, before clearing her throat. “I mean, it must have been from the branches on the hike down. I’m fine though. No other injuries.”
“Well, okay then.” I placed the first aid box on the coffee table and sat down on one of the sofas. Now that I
knew that Tia was okay, I needed to get to work on myself. My head had stopped bleeding and I was finally starting to feel it throb of my wound.
“Let me help with that? It’s the least I can do.” Tia took the seat next to me and scrambled around in the box for her tools.
“Be my guest.” I slumped back on the couch and watched her play nurse.
She leant over me and began cleaning up the dried blood. The ends of her wet hair tickled my bare arm. My muscles tensed up when I caught the scent of my showergel on her skin. Her tongue poked out to the side in concentration as she cleaned the wound and carefully cut pieces of medical tape.
She was beautiful. My eyes were fixated on her, and I swore I could see a little smirk creep up on her blush colored lips.
“Something amusing, nurse?”
Her smile deepened. “I was just thinking how lucky you got off tonight. All these heroics and you get away with just a scratch.”
“What can I say? I’m a professional knight in shining armor.”
She placed the tape down and looked me straight in the eye. “Thank you. For tonight. For everything. I mean it. You saved my life, and I might not have shown it, but I am grateful, Colton.”
The sound of my name on her lips was all the thanks I needed. “You’re very welcome.”
She picked the tape back up and carried on closing the wound.
I was desperate to know more about her and with her relaxing by the minute, I took the advantage to ask away. “What’s your last name, Tia?”
“Lopez.”
“Tia Lopez, huh? Now, that is a beautiful name.”
She nibbled her bottom lip, attempting to hide her smile.
“So, where does the beautiful Tia Lopez come from?”
She rolled her eyes and snapped the first aid box shut. “New York.”
“Oh, so you’re a city girl. That makes sense. Tonight must be a hell of a culture shock for you.”
She stood up, taking the cotton swabs into the kitchen. She shouted back over to me whilst rinsing her hands in the sink. “You can say that again.”
Lost at Heart: A Steamy Small Town Romance (Bluerock Series Book 2) Page 4
