As she stared into the snow, she was sure she saw an animal out there with brown fur and antlers. Gina put her hand to her head. It had been a long day, a stressful day. She was seeing things and feeling things that were not real.
But as Dash closed the door, shutting the world out, Gina wanted to believe. Just as she’d wanted to believe in Santa when she was a child, even when Andy told her he wasn’t real.
Chapter Five – Dash
“Are you hungry?” Dash closed the door securely and headed back to the kitchen, while Gina hovered in the living room. Since Ingrid and Greg had left, she’d been preoccupied, her eyes darting toward the door as if she should yank it open and follow them into the snow.
She wouldn’t make it to town, his reindeer said. We must make her feel safe and comfortable.
“I’m just going to check for messages.” She headed toward the stairs. “If that’s okay with you?”
“Go for it. I’ll make us something to eat and then I can help you get anything you need from the car.”
“Oh, yeah. I hadn’t thought about that.” She dragged a hand through her hair.
“While you’re upstairs, you can pick a bed. They both have fresh bedding on. It depends if you want to be a princess or a race car driver.”
“I outgrew princesses a long time ago,” she said lightly. “But maybe I need a little magic right now.”
“Then the pink princess bed it is.” He smiled to himself as he opened the fridge and took out the steaks he’d picked up on the way home. Luckily, he’d grabbed some fresh food from the grocery store in town before driving to the cabin and he always kept a good supply of dried goods since he lived out of town and the weather was often unpredictable.
Although, there wasn’t much the elements could throw at them that would stop his reindeer from getting to town if he needed to.
Dash cut up some of the potatoes he’d bought and sliced some mushrooms. He worked quickly, cooking the food while he figured out exactly how he could make his fledgling relationship with Gina work. He couldn’t keep her prisoner here, not when she needed to get to her family.
We are not the ones keeping her prisoner here, his reindeer told him. The snow is doing that for us.
True. Dash left the steaks sizzling on the grill and went to the back door that led out into his yard. Switching on the outdoor light, he stared out into the falling snow. The yard was unrecognizable, the trees and shrubs, along with his handcrafted bench, were featureless lumps of snow. He couldn’t remember the last time they had such a heavy snowfall. Not one that had changed the landscape so completely in such a short space of time.
“It sure is coming down.” Gina stood in the kitchen, hugging herself as she looked outside.
“It is.” He nodded and switched off the light. The world outside instantly disappeared. There were no stars in the sky, no wishing moon shining down on them.
“How long until it clears?” She covered her face with her right hand and shook her head. “Sorry, I know there’s no real answer to that.”
“That’s okay. I know how much you want to leave.” And how much he wanted her to stay. The ache in his heart now that he’d met his mate would only grow larger until it was a fathomless void if she left him. But staying hurt his mate. This was an impossible situation.
“I’m just thankful that you have given me a roof over my head.” She inhaled deeply. “The food smells wonderful. I’m lucky to be here and not stuck on the road.”
“You’re welcome to stay as long as you need.” He went back to the stove, the food was nearly ready. “And I promise I will do whatever it takes to get you to your family in time for Christmas.”
Whatever it takes? His reindeer didn’t approve of the promise.
“Maybe the snow will thaw enough tomorrow for me to drive back into town. They clear the roads out of Wishing Moon Bay, don’t they? I mean, the tunnel will be clear anyway. Since no snow can get inside.” She sounded positive. Gina was a glass half full kind of a woman and he liked that. She lived in hope rather than despair.
“I’m sure everyone will be out trying to clear the roads as soon as the snow stops. With people coming and going for Christmas, they’ll want to keep the roads open.” He put two plates on the counter and dished up the food.
“What aren’t you telling me?” she asked.
“Getting out of town might be easy. Getting into town from up here...not so much.” He picked up the plates and set them down on the table.
Gina pulled out a chair and sat down. “Maybe I can hike down like Ingrid and Greg and then rent a car.”
“We’ll figure something out, Gina. But for now, eat and rest. You’re going to need your energy.”
“I should have left my stupid phone.” She sighed. “I figured that a couple of hours out of my way would be easier than buying a new phone and setting it up with the apps and contacts I have stored in this one.” She placed it down on the table. “How wrong was I? Instead of taking a couple of hours, this detour is going to cost me a couple of days. And those couple of days will mean I miss Christmas and break the promise I made to my brother.”
“He’ll understand. And I’m sure your sister-in-law and nephew will make the most of Christmas together.” He tried to make her feel better, but he didn’t succeed.
“I’m sure they will. But this is all because of a stupid phone. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve watched kids walking down the street with their phones in their hands and not taking any notice of the world around them and wanted to stop them in their tracks and tell them there is more to life than a phone screen? Yet here I am, missing Christmas with my family for that exact reason.”
“Okay, listen. One thing I have learned is that sometimes you have to just accept what life throws at you. And right now life has thrown a snowstorm your way. You’re stuck here and for tonight at least, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.”
“Your advice is to suck it up?” A ghost of a smile crossed Gina’s mouth as she picked up her fork and dug into the food he’d cooked.
“I was trying to put it more politely, but pretty much that.” He chuckled, happy that he hadn’t upset her. Their mate had a sense of humor.
“I’m sorry, you invite me into your home and cook me dinner and I complain.” She took a bite of the steak and chewed. “This is so good.”
“At least you are stuck in a cabin with a guy who can cook, right?” He arched an eyebrow, and she nodded, her smile broadening.
“Yeah. I was scared when I drove up here and got out of the car that you might be some weird guy who was going to ambush me and keep me prisoner.”
“You thought I’d taken your phone on purpose so I could lure you here?” Ah, so that was why she didn’t want to come into his house. He’d thought it was because she was hoping the snow would stop long enough for her to drive to her brother’s house. But what had she said about being too stupid to live? Gina really was worried this was a setup.
She was right to be wary.
“Yeah, until I realized you had no idea I could trace my phone.” She relaxed as she ate, the tension in her shoulders dissipating. “I feel kind of foolish. You didn’t deserve to be judged like that.”
“No, it’s good that you are aware of the dangers. That’s what keeps you safe. Living up here, even though I’m close to town, if anything goes wrong or I get hurt, then there’s no one within shouting distance. The same goes for if I’m out hiking in the mountains. You have to be aware of the dangers around you.”
“You must like living out here. Is the solitude something you crave?” She pointed her fork at him. “I apologize for ruining that for you.”
“No problem.” He thought about his answer for a moment. “It used to be what I wanted. I mean I like living on the edge of town. I love being so close to the mountains, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t love to share my life with the right woman.”
“Ah, the right woman. As elusive as the right man.”
> His heartbeat quickened. “You don’t have the right man back home then?” He hadn’t given any thought to whether or not she had a significant other. Dash had figured that if fate had thrown them together and she was his mate then she was single. But that assumption could be wrong.
“I don’t have the right man back home or anywhere else.” She finished her meal and leaned back in her chair. “What about you?”
“Me?” He swallowed hard and coughed to clear his throat.
“Yes, haven’t you ever met the right woman?” She leaned her elbows on the table, unaware of the effect she had on him. “You can cook, you seem like a nice guy. Haven’t you ever found the right woman, or aren’t you looking?”
“Would you like a beer?” He abruptly got up from the table and went to the fridge. “I don’t have wine or anything else, except some whiskey. I have a bottle of whiskey in the living room.”
“A beer would be good. Thanks.” Dash got two beers from the fridge and passed his mate a bottle, unsure of how to answer her question. If he told her he had met the right person, she’d think he was in love with another woman. But he couldn’t lie to her and tell her he’d never met the woman of his dreams.
Tell her the right woman is sitting across the table. It’s not as if she can run anywhere if that freaks her out. His reindeer found the whole situation amusing, even though he realized how easy it would be to lose their mate forever. If he said the wrong thing or made the wrong move he could ruin everything forever.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you such a direct question.” She sipped her beer and studied him closely. “I just wondered, since you live all the way out here in your lonely cabin, if you ever get a chance to meet women. Or if the reason you live out here is to avoid them.” She took another sip. “Or maybe you met the right woman and she escaped you and now you live alone with a broken heart.”
“I’m not a hermit.” He drank deeply, the cold beer welcome. “I’ve been out of town for a few months myself. A friend needed help with some construction work, and I managed it for him.”
“You’re in construction?”
“I like to work with my hands. I’m pretty adept. I’m good at organization, too, so I project manage construction jobs and get my hands dirty when needed.”
“I’m an architect.”
“You are?”
“You sound surprised. Don’t you think a woman can design buildings?” Her barbed question held a warning, one he heeded.
“No, not at all. I believe women can do anything.” He chuckled. “You met my sister. She is an equal in everything she’s ever tried.” He leaned forward. “I’ll freely admit she’s better at some things than any man I’ve ever met. The only department Greg and I have ever beaten her in is strength. But she’s smart enough to build a contraption that could lift a weight instead. No problem is insurmountable, that’s Ingrid’s belief. And it’s never been proved wrong before.”
“You love your family very much.”
“I do.” He locked eyes with her. “Just like you love yours. We have that in common.”
“We do, the only difference is that you have a good chance of spending Christmas with yours, while I am likely to spend it on the road.”
“You never know. A Christmas miracle might save you.”
“I gave up believing in miracles and magic about the same time I gave up believing in princesses.”
“Ah, but you are now in Wishing Moon Bay. Which means anything can happen.”
“After a couple more beers or a glass of your whiskey, I might just believe you.” She raised her bottle to him.
Dash touched his bottle to hers. If they were going to spend their lives together, Gina would believe in magic once again. Only this time it would be real magic, not the stuff of make-believe.
Chapter Six – Gina
Gina cracked an eye open and checked the time on her phone as she snuggled down under the pink princess bedcovers. The cabin wasn’t exactly cold, the heat from the fire downstairs seeped through the whole cabin and warmed the air. But the temperature outside of bed didn’t compare to the cozy warmth beneath the sheets and blankets. Lots of blankets and a toasty bedspread.
“Coffee’s hot!” Dash called up from the kitchen. Did he know she was awake?
“I’ll be down in a couple of minutes.” Or had he called loudly to wake her?
“I’ll get breakfast on.”
“Thanks.” Gina swung her legs out of bed and sat up. Grabbing her robe, she wrapped it around her before she padded to the window to check on the snow. It had stopped, that was a blessing, but the heavy clouds threatened that more snow was imminent and this was just a small reprieve. She wasn’t getting out of town anytime soon.
A flurry of snowflakes drifted across the window as if to confirm her suspicions.
She sighed as she dressed, she’d have to message her brother today and break the news to him that she couldn’t keep her promise. Gina folded her pajamas and robe and put them back into the suitcase Dash had kindly carried in from the car last night. Although, she suspected she’d be unpacking them again tonight. As long as her host didn’t mind, she’d be spending another night under his roof.
She made the bed, her hand smoothing over the pink bedspread with its castle and pretty princess in a long blue dress. If only magic was real. A fairy godmother would be handy right about now.
“Morning.” She breezed into the kitchen with a smile on her face. It wasn’t fair to mope around the cabin when Dash had been so kind to let her stay.
“Morning.” He slid a plate of bacon and eggs onto the table. “Did you sleep all right?”
“Best night’s sleep I’ve had for a long time,” she confirmed. “I don’t know if it was the beer or because I was so tired, or maybe it’s because it’s so quiet up here.”
“Glad to hear it.” He sat down across the table from her. “It’s stopped snowing. You might get better cell reception this morning. If you want, we can try to get down into town.”
“Is that safe?” she asked. “I don’t want you putting yourself in any danger for me.”
“I’ll dig out the truck and see if I can fit the snow chains. If I can, then we can attempt to drive down. If not, then we stay put. We take it one step at a time.”
“Build a strong foundation for our plan.” She inclined her head toward him and smiled as she dug into her breakfast. It was good, the bacon crispy while the eggs were light and fluffy.
“How far is it to your brother’s house?”
“A couple of hundred miles. If I can leave by tomorrow morning then I should still get there on time, as long as the roads outside of town are clear.” She hadn’t noticed a TV in the cabin but maybe he had a radio that would give a weather update. Unless she could get a good signal on her phone and connect to the internet.
“As soon as we’ve eaten, we’ll go and dig out the truck.”
“Even if we can get into town in your truck, that’s not going to help me get to my brother’s house. I need to get my car down off this mountain.”
“I’ll drive you to your brother’s house.”
She nearly dropped her fork on her plate. “I can’t ask you to do that. You have plans here with your own family.”
“You’re not asking, I’m offering. I can drive you there and then pick you up after Christmas and you can come back here and pick up your car.”
“No, that’s too much.”
“Call it my Christmas gift to you. My good deed so I’m not on Santa’s naughty list.”
“You’ve already done your good deed by letting me stay.” She couldn’t imagine Dash being on anyone’s naughty list.
“You are welcome for as long as you need to stay.” His eyes flashed and he smothered a look of hunger that was not meant for his breakfast.
“Thanks. I should be out of your way as soon as the snow stops and the road thaws enough for me to drive out.”
“My offer of giving you a ride still stands,” h
e reminded her.
“Let’s see how things go.” She finished her breakfast and then stood up. “I’ll wash the dishes. It’s the least I can do. Maybe if I’m still here this evening, I could cook dinner for you.”
“For us,” he corrected.
“For us.” She liked the idea of us. She liked it a lot. There was a connection between them. One she could not quite put her finger on, but it was there all the same. Undeniable. An attraction that ran deep, as if their souls were connected. As if they were meant to meet.
Gina blinked and shook her head, chasing away those thoughts. The only connection between them was their phones. They happened to own the exact same phone.
And left them on the exact same counter within minutes of each other.
She had cabin fever, that was it. Or perhaps she was simply drawn to Dash because he’d been there for her and taken her in instead of sending her on her way out into the snowstorm. If he hadn’t been so insistent that she stayed, she would have left the cabin and risked the journey down the mountain. Which would likely have ended in disaster. No wonder she was drawn to him. Just like any princess, her prince had come to her rescue.
Gina wasn’t the kind of woman who needed a man to rescue her. That didn’t mean on some subconscious level she didn’t want to be rescued. For generations, women had been raised on the idea that they needed a man. That a man would take care of them and fight their battles for them.
“I’m going out to start clearing the snow from the truck.” Dash placed his coffee cup on the sink. “If I can get you out of here, I will.”
“Thanks.” She held her hand under the faucet until the water turned hot. Who was she kidding? Dash was actually trying to save her. Save her Christmas at least. Save her sister-in-law and nephew from one more disappointment. There was no point fighting it, whether she liked it or not, she was a damsel in distress and Dash was the strong man who was going to do his best to save her. Sometimes you had to let yourself be a princess.
Dashing Home for Chrstmas Page 4
