by Skye McNeil
Closing his eyes once more, the sounds of the cabin surrounded him. It was calm, serene even. Overcast skies peeked at him through the window’s curtain. He could only imagine how much he’d enjoy living in the mountains full time. Should I make coffee or wait until she wakes up? He shook his head and cursed his indecisiveness. He wasn’t good at this. The next morning wasn’t something he cared about. Now, the nighttime events were always a success, but this was foreign territory and more dangerous by the second.
Bobbi shifted against him, making the lower half of his body dance with glee. Down boy, he commanded, but it wouldn’t do any good. He was awake in more than one way. It was a normal part of the morning, but with Bobbi beside him, it was fifty times worse than being alone.
Just when he convinced himself to get up, she’d roll right into his chest again. A fitting puzzle piece to the jigsaw life he created to keep others out. He let the realization sink in. For years, he resisted a new relationship. And then you turn my world upside down. He smiled down at her. Bobbi swept him up in a mountain breeze and stole the very breath from his reluctant lungs. He didn’t want to fall in love with her, yet his heart was a damn traitor and did it anyhow.
Jared brushed her hair out of her face and placed a feathery light kiss on her forehead. She rustled but didn’t wake. He needed to see those periwinkle blue eyes; needed to know he wasn’t stuck in a dream. Another peck on her cheek followed by one on her nose. When he reached her lips, he slid his tongue along the crease, coaxing her to life. He sure as hell would’ve woken her up another way, but not yet. They weren’t quite there. Bobbi’s reaction didn’t disappoint as goosebumps rose on her flesh. Jared took them as a good sign and kissed her lips, softly at first, but then grew more demanding. A light moan escaped her mouth, and he chose that moment to slip his tongue past her parted lips. Tangling with her tongue, Jared rolled carefully on top of Bobbi, her arms latched around his neck. She still hadn’t opened her eyes, so he detached from her mouth and set a course down her neck to the thin pink tank top. More chills scattered along her skin, demanding his attention. Settling above her breasts, he playfully bit down on her right nipple through the fabric. She gasped when he let go and blew a steady stream of air on the taut point. Her fingers threaded through his short hair as he continued, determined to entice her eyes open.
Nibbling on the other breast, his free hand snaked under the teeny shirt and traveled upward. Bobbi writhed beneath him when his fingertips grazed her pebbled nipple. Holding in the urge to devour her, he pushed the tank up until her perfectly round breasts lay before him. He could stare at her beauty for years and never tire of it. Not rushing, he skimmed the underside of her left breast with his lips. She tasted as good as she looked. No, he took it back, she tasted better than what she looked. He needed more; had to have more of her. Enclosing one bud in his mouth, Jared sucked hard and wasn’t let down with her response.
“Jared,” she mewed, her back arching at his ministrations.
Pausing his act, he glanced up and lost his breath. Spellbinding blue eyes stared at him, a pink flush on her perfect face. He cocked an eyebrow. “Yes?”
“What—what’re you doing?” Each syllable sounded more delirious than the last.
He gathered her supple breasts in both hands and slowly massaged them. “Waking you up, that all right?”
A shy grin played her lips. “If you keep it up, you’re going to spoil me.”
“Good.” He crawled up beside her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Do you want more?”
Bobbi’s smile froze, and desire filled her eyes. “If I say yes, how long would we be here?”
He met her lips, biting her bottom lip and releasing it slowly. “As long as it takes.” He smirked at the swollen lip. “You look extremely sleepy.”
Stifling a giggle, she ran a finger over her mouth. At the same time her lips parted, another sound caught his ears.
“Yoo-hoo! Jared and Bobbi, are you alive or did a bear get you?”
Bobbi dove under the covers. “Oh, my God. My grandma is insane.”
He chuckled and looked around the room for his clothes. He spotted them on the other side of the bed. “We’re fine. No bear attacks,” he called loud enough for the older woman to hear. He ducked back under the covers. “Yet,” he promised for Bobbi’s ears, gathering her beneath his body.
“Oh, good, because the Smiths said they saw a big black bear near the cabin,” Grandma Jane chattered.
Bobbi rolled her eyes. “We’re fine, Grandma. Go away.”
The lock on the door rattled, and Bobbi squealed. “Mhm, I’ll bet you are.”
Bobbi’s face turned bright red. “Grandma!”
“All right, I’ll leave, but you best hurry. We’re going to St. Elmo before lunch. You don’t want to miss it,” Grandma Jane called.
Jared waited until he heard the front door close before he hopped out of bed. Checking out the window, he padded to the bed. “The coast is clear.”
Bobbi poked out from the covers and stood. “Thank God. Sorry. She’s a bit nosy.”
“So I’ve heard.”
She casually rummaged through the dresser, the flannel pajama pants covering too much of her for his liking. Still, she looked incredible. It took all his willpower to not drag her back to the bed and ravage her.
“Dibs on shower first,” was the last thing he heard before she closed the en-suite door, leaving him alone and much too excited. If the chance presented itself, he was going to sneak her into one of the abandoned houses at St. Elmo and bar the door until he got a close-up view of every tasty bit of Bobbi Davis.
»»•««
Gray skies greeted the Davis and Whitaker group as their caravan trekked up the mountain. The consistent drop in temperature forced Bobbi to huddle closer in her cousin sandwich. It also made her think back to being cozy warm with Jared a few hours prior. She shivered in delight at the memory. Shortly after the wakeup call, her cousins returned to the cabin from breakfast, and Jared disappeared to talk to Erin. When Gretta told her, Bobbi immediately wondered the reason. Jared hadn’t mentioned anything to her.
The truck ahead of them slowed as it went over jagged rocks covered in ice. Any other day, they would’ve taken the snowmobiles, but it was too cold for anyone. Well, anyone except Jared and Asher. Those two fools were currently chancing frostbite at whizzing speed. She rolled her eyes at the giggles her cousins emitted when the two men passed the slow-moving vehicles. Glancing out the window, Bobbi stared at the Whitaker sons. With giant goggles, scarves around their necks, and hats pulled low, she couldn’t decipher who was who.
The sign to St. Elmo loomed ahead, and her stomach swirled with anticipation. She was more than ready to explore the old ghost town and then pop over to the souvenir shop for piping hot cocoa.
The snow sleds kicked up slush as they slid to park. It didn’t take Bobbi long to pick out Jared once he hopped off the machine. Those muscular legs and broad shoulders looked ten times more striking when he stood next to his older brother. A collective sigh echoed in the truck at the sight, and Grandma Jane chortled. “That man is a fine specimen. If I were sixty years younger…”
“Grandma!” the car yelled in unison.
Dennis put the truck in park, and the women scrambled out.
Bobbi clenched her jaw as Gretta, Erin, and Daisy gathered snow into balls and then chucked them at Jared. Being a gentleman, he reciprocated with an even bigger snowball. The white fluff floated around the main street of St. Elmo, but she skirted the fun. Her heart wasn’t in it. Plus, she was feeling quite frigid all of a sudden. The flirting and giggles didn’t help matters. Going back to earlier in the morning sounded like a much better plan to her.
“Hey, Bobbs, come check out the license plates,” her sister called.
Trudging in the drifts, Bobbi pulled her scarf away from her mouth and beamed. “They added more since I was here last.” Ducking under the wooden fence meant to keep intruders out, she ran a gloved
hand over the barn’s side, lined with plates from all fifty states and even a few Canadian provinces.
“Maybe I should close my eyes and throw a snowball at one of the states to name this kid,” Jessie joked.
Asher wiped snow from his pants and caught up with them. “And be stuck with Mississippi for a name? I don’t think so, Mina.” He looped his arms around her waist and laid a big smooch on her cheek.
Reviewing the dates on the plates, Bobbi blushed as Asher’s innocent kiss turned flat-out pornographic. “Still having trouble picking a name?”
Jessie pulled back from Asher and nodded. “Something along those lines.” She pinched Asher’s ass through his jeans. “This one wants some medieval name like Lancelot or Maleficent.”
“Okay, yes, but she wants a weird, trendy name like Applesauce,” the writer teased.
Bobbi averted her eyes when they started tickling each other. Focusing on the wall, she tuned out the other sounds except for the wilderness. It calmed her in an odd way to simply listen to branches moan under the thick layers of snow and critters scurry throughout the abandoned buildings nearby.
“Wow, this is awesome.”
Jared’s breath caused a puffy cloud as it collided with her temple. She didn’t have to look to know it was him. His woodsy scene gave the evergreens a run for their money.
“It was my favorite spot growing up. I used to try to organize the plates by state then date. Afterward, I’d plan out a trip to each place and imagine what I’d see and who I’d meet along the way.” Her cheeks heated. “You must think I’m a nut.”
Brushing his gloves along the Colorado license plate in front of them, he shook his head. “Nah, I like it.” His hand grazed hers. “You. I like you.”
Bobbi met his emerald gaze. “Do you now?”
“Yeah. You’re quirky, smart—” he leaned over. “And extremely sexy.”
Shoving him lightly, she grinned. “Who knew you had a sweet side, Ranger?”
“Ranger? Wow, a nickname, huh? You two must be getting intimate,” Jessie joked.
Opting to ignore her, Jared pointed to the license from Iowa. “Some of them are words. This one says ‘DogLuvr.’”
“And that one says, ‘Hollywood,’” Bobbi noted when a California plate stood out at her.
“I bet you could rearrange these to say something,” he said aloud.
Bobbi patted the siding. “Yeah. It sounds like a scene from one of Asher’s books.” She eyed the loving couple and saw neither heard. “Have you read them?” When a gust smacked her face, she adjusted her scarf.
“Nah, no time for mushy stuff when you’re deployed, and it’s not my go-to genre.”
Jared stepped closer, harboring her from the gale-like wind. “All the romantic gestures.” He nodded to his brother. “They were his thing, not mine. Even when we were kids.”
“What? I never would’ve guessed,” she jested.
“Shocking, I know.” He caught her hand in his and led her away from the barn. “But maybe with the right woman, I would be romantic and knock her boots off.”
Heart rate doubling, she stayed quiet, unsure how to respond. The simple act of being near him made her dream of a future. Reality always snuck back in though. He spent time with her cousin and jealousy coursed through her whenever he offered a smile to another woman. Jared didn’t hide who he was. A guy who would smash a heart without realizing or caring. He’d nearly done it to her earlier in the year. Thank God I didn’t sleep with him. No doubt it would’ve cinched it. She stalled her thoughts. But I just did. Sleep with him. In a non-sexual way, yes, but the emotions involved were the same. She swallowed hard. They were stronger this time around and even more crippling if it ended in a hasty departure.
They walked in silence, admiring the old community of a bank, barber shop, parlor, and even mail post. One other family was touring the town, so the noise mingled together in her ears.
Reaching the bridge, she stopped. “This goes up to Tin Cup.”
He read the sign. “Sure does. Too bad it’s closed. I would’ve liked to be on top of the world.” He winked. “With a pretty lady.”
“Come on, flirt. Our families will think we’re off in the bushes.”
“Is that so bad?” His eyebrows wiggled.
“When you’re you and I’m me, yes.” She steered them toward St. Elmo once more. The snow accumulated even as they ambled the road. A person couldn’t look a direction without stunning mountain views. The usually harsh wind didn’t bother her, though the scarf around her nose probably helped too. By the time they reached the general store, Bobbi wished she’d put on another pair of wool socks. One wasn’t doing a proper job today.
The little bell above the door clanged at their entrance, and both stomped their feet on the welcome rug.
“I’m closing up in a few, but feel free to grab some coffee or cocoa while I take the trash out,” the store owner called on his way out the door.
Bobbi waved at one of the few owners of St. Elmo. Sure, the state of Colorado took ownership of the ghost town, but a couple families of the mountain maintained the buildings and stocked the feed for the wild birds and not-so-wild chubby chipmunks during the warmer months.
Jared perused the T-shirts and knick-knacks, but she made a beeline to the table in the back. Pouring two Styrofoam cups full of hot chocolate, she brought one to him as he dug through a box of geodes.
“Wonder if I’ll get lucky.” He held up a perfectly round rock and reviewed it. “Nah, I doubt it.” He dropped it then took the proffered drink.
“This place was always our go-to when we were kids.” She fingered the racks of shirts. “I swear the shop manager made more from our family than any other.”
“I’d think tromping these hills would be fun no matter your age, but I’m more of an outdoorsy guy.”
She poked his side. “I never would’ve guessed.”
The rumble of engines outside caught her attention. Walking to the bay window, she watched as their families drove away without them. “They left us behind,” she huffed, opening the door. Jared’s snowmobile was the last vehicle remaining. “Even the store owner left.”
“He’ll be back.” He pointed to the assortment of candy at the checkout counter. “Someone has to lock up the sugar.”
Accepting he was right, Bobbi turned around as a loud crack stunned the outside world.
“What the hell?” Jared wondered, stepping closer. By the time he reached the front of the store, they had an answer. A thick sheet of snow dropped from the awning over the door. The shop dove into darkness as the window was covered as well.
“Shit.” She spilled her cocoa, the least of her worries.
Jared took out his phone and flipped on the flashlight. After scrutinizing the damage, he sighed when the lights overhead shut off. “The breaker must’ve gone out too. Damn Colorado snowstorms.”
Panic scattered through her body. “Then, we’re stuck?”
He jiggled the handle, but the door wouldn’t budge. “Seems so.”
“Shit, we’re stranded. I’m going to die surrounded by St. Elmo merchandise.”
Jared whirled around and caught her in his arms before a panic attack could ensue. She detested dark spaces, especially cramped, dark places.
“No, we’re not. Calm down, Bobbs.” He stroked her head, the action barely scratching the surface of her tension.
“Is it stuffy in here?” She tore away from him and checked every wall, each door, crack, crevice, and knob. Nothing moved an inch, and nothing turned the electricity back on. She placed both hands on her chest, heart flailing wildly.
“You’re claustrophobic,” he put together.
Bobbi shot a glare his direction. “Among other things, yes.”
“Come here.”
She ignored him, still on the hunt for an exit.
“Bobbi, let me help you.” His voice was calmer, inviting even.
Looking at him, she swallowed. Seeing her pause, Jared took two
strides and wrapped her in his arms. It should’ve freaked her out. She was already in a room with no escape, and now her space was entirely violated by his large frame.
“We’re going to be fine. The owner will come back, get a snow blower or shovel or something and clear us out.”
“Unless he thinks we left. Then he’ll wait until another day.”
He let out a breath and pulled off her hat. His thick fingers threaded through her hair and massaged gently at her scalp. “I have my cell. We’ll call.”
“You won’t get a signal up here,” she pointed out.
“Then, I’ll use the landline over there. It looks like a rotary, so it’ll connect.”
This thought made sense, but she wasn’t out of the woods yet. Their situation reminded her of the time she was stuck in a mine shaft, except this time around, she’d freeze to death instead of sweat to eternity.
“Shit, you’re shaking.” Jared guided her to the back of the store. Thankfully, they found a sofa in the back room along with a cot and television. “Looks like this has happened before.”
“Or he pissed his wife off one too many times.”
Jared settled her beside him and chuckled. “Good, you’re snarky. You must be feeling okay.”
She had to admit, his steady level-head and quiet nature put her at ease with record speed. The walls still felt as if they were closing in, but they stopped shy of strangling her. Jared stopped them with his hands, his voice, him.
“I’m sorry—”
“You’ve nothing to apologize for,” he reassured, holding her tighter.
They listened to the wind beat against the building until Bobbi spoke. “I wasn’t always claustrophobic. When I was seven, I was exploring a mine with my cousins around dusk. I tend to not heed parental advice, and I went through the broken boards barring entry.” She took a breath, reliving it. “I got a little way in, and the ground fell out from under me.”
