by Layla Skylar
A Snowy Night
By Layla Skylar
Kindle Edition
Copyright 2012 Layla Skylar
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A Snowy Night
Anna watched the snowflakes drifting lazily on the breeze. It had been snowing lightly with sun breaks in between for some time, after the dense snow showers earlier in the day. The world was white, the banked snow sparkly when the sun hit it. Strange season for such a storm – it was only a week past Thanksgiving. Maybe eight inches had fallen earlier in the day. Enough that her car was essentially stuck. No one would dig out her private road unless she did it herself. And that wasn’t how she saw spending the afternoon.
She was stocked with enough food, water, and other essentials to last a week, easy. This was just a nice excuse to call in for a couple of extra days of vacation. Of course, she didn’t get a cell signal here, and there hadn’t been a landline in ages, so she wasn’t sure how that would work out. But she wasn’t expected back until Monday, and it was only Saturday. Tomorrow she’d worry about the implications of being snowed in, if that’s the condition she found herself in.
For now, she was going to enjoy a solo afternoon in her favorite spot in the world, the family cabin.
Her parents had inherited this cabin when her grandmother passed, a few years back. Anna could remember times here throughout her childhood. It had been a family refuge for her entire life. It wasn’t extravagant, but it had once been a permanent home, and that showed in the care given the details.
Her grandparents had lived here for about ten years after they’d retired. It was their dream. A cabin in the mountains, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Now it was a vacation home again, but the whole family appreciated the unique history of the place. Being here felt like a hug straight from childhood. Anna always felt restored when she came back from the cabin, just from being here where she remembered so many times with her family, with friends she’d brought along, with David when they’d been engaged...Anna decided abruptly not to go there.
They said all wounds heal with time, but she still wasn’t over losing David when he decided to move across the country for work, and she couldn’t bring herself to leave the Northwest. Some things just weren’t meant to be. It had been almost a year, though, and maybe soon she’d finally be ready to move on. She had dated, but no one compared with the man she’d lost, and it had taken her a long time to stop making those comparisons.
A sudden glimmer of low afternoon sunlight burst through the clouds and turned the snowflakes into sparkles of light. Anna smiled at the beautiful sight, which seemed to be just for her, and made a promise to herself. The next time I meet a good man, I’ll let go and see where it takes me.
She went to the kitchen to get another cup of tea. It was one of those afternoons where you should just curl up with a good book and a throw over your lap. She intended to do just that once she had her refill. There was a perfect spot in an overstuffed chair right by the large front window. She could watch the snow while she caught up on her reading.
Anna ran to her bedroom while the water for her tea reheated. She threw on her red heart pajamas and a pair of fuzzy socks, whistling a happy tune.
There was something about the feeling of being snowed in. She knew no one could possibly bother her, and that meant she could do absolutely whatever pleased her. She could stay up until two reading this cheesy romance novel. No one need ever know that was her deepest desire at the moment.
A knock on the door startled Anna out of her thoughts.
Who was knocking on the door of her vacation place, where no one but her parents knew she was for the weekend, during a snowstorm?
With trepidation, Anna went to the front of the house. She peered out the front window first. In the last of the afternoon sun, she could see a tall man at her door. He stared right at her, eyes gray as the sky during today’s snowstorm caught her gaze and held it as he smiled, dimples and all, and raised one hand in a casual and friendly wave.
Anna frowned at him. But he’d seen her, so what could she do? She could answer the door in her freaking pajamas at four in the afternoon. That’s what she could do.
“Yes?” Anna said casually as she opened the door a notch.
“I’m sorry to bother you. Do you have a telephone I could use? I can’t get cell service here.”
“No. I’m sorry. We let the landline drop a long time ago. It’s a vacation house. My cell doesn’t get signal either,” Anna paused, uncertain what was socially required of her in this situation. A woman alone should never invite a stranger into her home, to use the phone or for any other reason. But it was snowing outside.
“What brings you out tonight?”
“That’s a nice way to put it.” He ran his fingers through his dark brown hair, tugging at it anxiously. “My car got stuck.” He looked at her. “Let me amend that. I got my car stuck. I had to pee and I pulled off the highway. I went a little too far, and now my car is stuck on the road there.” He gestured to the north.
“There?” I pointed the way I hoped he didn’t mean. He nodded.
“The closest road that direction is half a mile through the woods.”
He nodded. “I guess so. I thought I saw porch lights, but they just kept seeming farther off.”
“So you’re telling me you’ve already walked half a mile through the woods, in eight inches of snow, in a t-shirt?” Anna’s maternal instincts took over. She pulled him inside. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Joshua.” He shoved an ice-cold hand into her grip.
She shook her head at him. “Jesus. What were you thinking leaving home without a coat? Or chains for your car?”
“Okay, now I blame the mud on that road for the car. If it hadn’t been snowy, I would have known to avoid the hazard, wouldn’t I?” He smiled to take the sting out of his hot-tempered words.
“I don’t know. You might be one of those idiots who’s only recently moved here, and knows nothing about how to drive in the snow.”
“It wasn’t that recent.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “I guessed it? Seriously?”
“But I know how to drive in the snow, I swear.” Again with the smile. Anna had to admit he was a good-looking guy. A little rough around the edges, but sometimes that’s just how she liked them.
“Did you have chains?”
“I tried them. They’re not getting me out of this.”
Anna looked toward her Hundai. “My car’s stuck, too.”
Joshua’s expression was bleak.
“Okay, let’s have a cup of tea while we think this through,” Anna suggested. The cabin had a great room layout, so all she had to do was step into the kitchen and pour the water over teabags. “Earl grey or peppermint?” she asked, smiling to set him at ease.
“Earl grey, please. I have a feeling I may need the caffeine.”
“Don’t get out of sorts. There’s no imminent danger here,” Anna laughed.
“Easy for you to say. I think I saw a pile of firewood out there that would last you a month of heavy use.”
“Good estimate. That’s my dad and my brother’s work. They let us womenfolk out of the wood chopping.”
“Nice guys,” he commented. “So it’s a family place?”
“My grandparent’s place while I was growing up.” Anna had no idea why she told him that. It was a rather intimate part of her past to share with a stranger. She set his tea in front of him. “Any c
ream or sugar?”
“No, thanks.” He looked out the window for a minute, before turning back to her, his expression serious. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Anna took a sip of her tea. “Mind if I ask where you were going?”
“Over the pass. I was supposed to meet up with some friends at Stevens Pass for a ski trip. I heard it was snowing, but I didn’t think it would take this long to get there. Guess I’m going to be a day or so late.” He shoved his fingers through his hair again, in a motion that was becoming familiar despite the fact Anna had only known the guy ten minutes.
“Do you think it’s going to keep snowing?” Joshua asked.
“I’m not a weather girl. I’m a photographer.”
“Really?” he asked. “So am I.”
“You’re kidding.” Maybe that was the reason for the feeling of camaraderie she’d so far chalked up to the snow.
“No, I’m not. I’m a photographer for the Seattle Times.”
Anna groaned. “So you are a city boy.”
“Completely,” Joshua smiled. “Come on. I know your business isn’t up here.” He gestured expansively.
“My studio is in Tacoma,” Anna admitted. “You gotta go where the money is.”
“Ain’t that true these days?”
The commiseration helped.
“What do we do about the snow?” he asked.
“We?” Anna said.
“I deserve that,” Joshua admitted. “What do I do about the snow?”
“Well, you could walk northeast along the highway for about three miles until you get cell service.” She paused and sipped her tea, fighting with herself. What did it mean that a hot stranger had shown up now, stranded, right on her doorstep? “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.” He raised his eyebrows as his gray eyes locked onto hers again, in that friendly but piercing way he had.
“If we were to reach your friends, what would they tell me about you?”
He grinned. “That I’m a perfect gentleman, of course.
“Will you be a gentleman if I let you stay here tonight?” Anna wasn’t sure why she asked. Her blood pounded in her ears, and she regretted the offer just a little, but she didn’t seem able to help herself. For some reason, she felt like taking a chance on this man. Maybe it was the back and forth of the conversation...the banter was leading, she just wasn’t sure it was leading him to the same place it was leading her. Or maybe it was the stupid promise she’d just made fifteen minutes ago to let go. It probably wasn’t a good idea. Of course it wasn’t a good idea. Her forehead crinkled as she tried to sort out why she trusted this guy.
“I’ll be a gentleman.” Joshua smiled convincingly. Anna had to admit there was a part of her that hoped he wouldn’t follow through on the promise. He seemed too good to be true. A hot guy to pass a snowy night with? When had she gotten the power to make her dreams come true? Because this was definitely straight out of her fantasies. She’d just always figured it would stay there.
Anna threw caution to the wind. He was cute; he was already providing more stimulation for her imagination than that romance novel could hope to. For once she was going to let go. “Then you can stay. There’s another bedroom.” She paused. “You know this is totally creepy, right? You’re going to have to tell me more about yourself. I’m second guessing my decision already. Prudent woman, you know?”
“Completely understandable.” He took a drink of his tea. “More about me?”
“More about you,” Anna agreed.
“I grew up in Philadelphia.”
Anna groaned. “Total city boy.”
“But we get snow there,” Joshua assured her. “I’ve driven in snow before.”
“I’ll let that one slide, current situation notwithstanding.”
“You’re cruel,” he told her, his eyes narrowing.
“You’re in my house, completely unprepared, on a snowy night,” she helpfully pointed out.
“Yes. I’ve noticed.”
“Have you eaten?” She didn’t know why she asked, besides that she suspected he hadn’t and she had an odd urge to take care of him.
“Not since a sandwich before I left town.”
“Do you mind if I tell you you’re an idiot?”
“I’m already suspecting that’s true, so why not?”
“You’re not making this any fun.”
“It seems like you’re having fun to me.”
“I have some left-over ham. Want ham and scrambled eggs?”
“I would kill for ham and scrambled eggs.”
Anna frowned. “That’s not a nice thing to say when you’re in a stranger’s house on a snowy night with no chance of rescue.”
“You’re right. That was callous of me. I’d still love ham and eggs, though.” The infernal smile.
“I’ll make ham and eggs.” Anna was glad to have something to do with her hands.
“So you’re on vacation?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“What do you mean, you guess?”
“Well, I have this hobby where I photograph wildlife and sell the pictures for calendars and such. So vacation? Not until it started snowing.”
“Let’s celebrate.”
It was the first cheerful thing he’d said since he entered the cabin, and Anna wanted to encourage him. “A celebration sounds nice.”
“Chocolate chip cookies are my specialty,” he told her.
“I don’t know if I have chocolate chips.”
“Maybe it’ll just be the cookie part, then. Let’s take a look.”
“If I have chocolate chips, they’d be in the pantry, which is that door, there.”
He rummaged through the pantry, and then closed it with a sigh. “No chocolate of any sort. That’s terribly disappointing.”
“How about peanut butter cookies? I always liked them.” I told him, feeling helpful again.
“Good choice.” Joshua clapped his hands and then reached back into the pantry and retrieved the peanut butter with perfect recall of where it had been sitting. A photographer’s attention to detail.
Anna directed Joshua to the ingredients for the peanut butter cookies, a bit bemused by the turn her afternoon had taken. He was fun. And hot. What the hell was she supposed to do with him now?
He turned on the oven, and Anna thought about turning the temperature up even more. Why not? She got to her feet and headed toward him. He looked surprised just before she went up on tiptoe and threw her arms around his neck, planting a deep kiss straight on his lips.
His reaction didn’t feel like surprise. He lifted her off her feet and groped her ass like he’d been waiting to do it since he walked in the door. He pulled her snug against him, and she felt his hard-on through his jeans. Anna didn’t know what she’d done to get so lucky tonight, but she wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Instead, she’d take what she’d been given, and take and take, if given the opportunity.
She would give, too, she thought as he deepened the kiss. He broke it to kiss down her neck and at the same time he pressed her against the counter and got one hand between them to stroke her breast. He tweaked her nipple roughly and she sighed, arching into his hand. His other hand brushed down her belly and she knew where he was headed. When his hand touched her thigh, she parted her legs for him. He pressed his palm against her pussy through her pajamas, and she moaned into his mouth. The utterly masculine sound he made, much like a growl, made her belly flutter in a wonderful way.
“The eggs,” she suddenly remembered. She gave him a woeful look as she turned off the burner and turned the eggs and ham out onto plates.
“Thanks.” It sounded sincere, and she’d take it. Anna wondered where that kiss had left them...had she just ruined everything by giving their dinner preference?
Joshua put a tray of cookies into the oven, giving her a small smile when he caught her staring at him.
They ate in companionable silence. Anna caught herself watching Joshua’s mouth m
ore than once as he ate. He had very kissable lips, and damn did he have a hold on her when he caught her with those intense gray eyes.
By now Anna was nervous for another reason. Not only had she invited a strange man into her house, she had to take it one step farther, didn’t she? She’d never gotten into it with a guy like they just had. Never let a man touch her without taking her on a date or three beforehand. It had to be the snowy night and the gift of an incredibly sexy guy to share it with that made her want to avoid any waste of time. Even taking time to eat was a stretch. She kind of wanted to tear his clothes off here and now, before that first batch of cookies could even come out of the oven. Slow down, Anna. Get a grip.
He stretched when he finished his eggs, and kicked off his shoes under the table. The motion was domestic, and Anna found it endearing. “Making yourself comfortable, huh?”
He looked at her, taking a sip of his tea. “Seemed the thing to do.”
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable. Didn’t I tell you I’m a photographer?”
“Why does that sound like a challenge? Is it a challenge?”
Anna thought fast. “Whoever takes the sexiest shot of the other gets the prize.”
“Which is?”
“There is one chocolate bar in the house. It’s in my backpack.”
“Hoarder!”
“That’s not a nice thing to say to a woman you just met about her candy stash. It’s one bar for god sake.”
“You don’t have issues, obviously.” He waved toward her body in a general manner.
So he thought she was hot. Awesome.
“I hike a lot.”
“Looks like a family tradition.” This time he pointed at the photos on the walls, of different members of the family on various peaks, at national parks and monuments.
“Yeah, my folks are big on the outdoors.”
“So, what are the rules of this little game? Do I get to tell you how to pose?”
“Yes, but I get to do the same, so don’t take advantage.” She didn’t like the wicked gleam in his eye. Though she suspected his intentions were not one hundred percent innocent, she looked forward to the game. “So you go first, since I don’t think I can trust you to go after me.”
