I turned off the burner under the water, as it was beginning to boil. Using a small towel, I held onto the coffee pot’s handle and lifted, pleased to find it heavy. Dark drops percolated within the glass top on the lid as the aroma of coffee joined the scent of the fire.
While coffee would be good, my empty stomach hoped for more. I opened a cupboard to find a few cans of soup. By the way it looked beyond the windows, sending for Uber Eats was out of the question. That thought led me to thoughts of my phone. I found it on the table near the bed, without signal and with very little battery.
There was nothing to suggest this cabin had electricity. Charging my phone or anything else was out of the question.
The cool cement floor beneath my feet was covered with an array of rugs of all sizes. The wood walls gave the feel of a real log cabin. The farther I moved away from the fireplace, the cooler the air became.
It was as I settled back on the thick blanket where I’d awakened and wrapped the quilt around me that the door to my side opened wide. A gust of cold wind filled with snow preceded the man from my memory. His arms were filled with logs. After giving me a quick glance, he kicked the door closed with his long leg. When he stood erect, he was tall.
I obviously didn’t know him or anything about him, other than he’d saved my life and apparently disrobed me, yet without a word, my pulse increased and my cheeks felt flush.
His green eyes came my way before setting the logs in a round holder near the fireplace. Wiping his gloved hands one over the other, he dusted the bark and dirt to the floor. One by one, he pulled the gloves away from his long fingers, and still his gaze stayed glued on me.
I tugged on the quilt, suddenly reminded that this had been the man who removed my clothes.
The ends of his lips twitched, perhaps humored by my unease.
Unzipping the front of his brown coat, he shrugged it off, shaking the snow to the floor. Next, he removed his stocking cap, revealing a crown of messy dark hair. Finally breaking his stare, he turned to hang the coat and his stocking cap upon a peg near the door. The shirt beneath was flannel and unbuttoned over a thermal shirt beneath.
Survival 101 came to mind with his layering.
Without glancing at my clothes, I knew I’d failed that test.
I worked my way to my feet and when he turned back, I spoke, “Thank you.”
He lifted his chin. “Not exactly a good night for a walk.” His gaze went to the window as white swirled in the darkness. “Of course, you’re welcome to leave, if you want.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want that, not now.”
Nodding, the man walked to the stove and pulled two metal mugs from a shelf. Without asking, he filled both with hot coffee and brought one to me.
His lips curled into a smile as he scanned the quilt and handed me the mug. “I usually try to introduce myself before I take off a lady’s clothes.”
“Usually?”
He nodded. “Usually, as with any rule. There are exceptions.”
I placed the mug of coffee on the hearth, and extended my hand. “Thank you for saving me. I’m Julia.”
The flames reflected in his eyes like glowing embers. As I stepped closer, the aroma of the outdoors surrounded us, fresh and cool. Although he’d been outside, as his fingers encased my hand, his touch wasn’t cold. It was the opposite, as if there was energy within him flowing from him to me. Our connection was a jolt like I had never experienced. It shot through me, electrifying my skin and sending sparks to my insides.
Pulling my hand away, I stared down at my hand, wondering if he’d felt the same thing.
What was it?
Maybe it was from the near frostbite.
As I lifted my chin, he began to speak. “Are you sure?”
“Am I sure?”
“Julia, perhaps you should reconsider your gratitude.” He looked around. “You’re in a blizzard in northern Wisconsin without a way to contact civilization. Does that sound like you were saved?” Small lines formed around his vibrant green eyes as he grinned. “Or are you perhaps captured?”
Chapter 3
My mouth felt suddenly dry as color drained from my cheeks. I feigned a laugh. “I believe saved. You see, I would have frozen to death without your help.”
Amusement danced in his gaze along with the reflection of the fire. “Julia, I’m Van. I suppose now that we know one another’s names, taking off our clothes is acceptable.” He tugged on the sleeves of his flannel shirt and pulled it off, tossing it onto the sofa’s cushions. Without the flannel, a light gray thermal shirt remained, nicely stretched across his wide shoulders and chest.
Sitting on the blanket, I said, “I believe I’m down to as few clothes as possible.”
Van shook his head as he picked up his mug of coffee. “I know for a fact that’s not true.”
Technically, he was right. I was still wearing my bra and panties.
I reached for the mug I’d set on the hearth and wrapped my fingers around the warm metal. “How long do you think it will be until we can leave?”
“If that was your car I saw down the road, I think you may need to consider a tow truck after the spring thaw.”
“What?”
“In all honesty, we’ll need some melting to find it. It was mostly buried.” He took a sip of his coffee. “I’m glad I saw it. That’s why I started looking for the driver.”
A deep sigh left my lips. “It’s a rental car. I can’t tell the rental company I lost their car in a snowbank.”
Van scoffed. “You could tell them you ran it off the road, but the good news is you didn’t hit a tree.”
My mind went back to the car. “All of my things are in the trunk. I even left my purse in there.” I tilted my head toward the bed. “All I took with me was my phone.”
He nodded. “That would be why I couldn’t find anything to identify you.” He tilted his chin toward the phone. “That’s not going to do you much good here. Once the snow stops, you may be able to go up the hill and get a signal. I recommend you save whatever battery you have.”
My shoulders slumped as I shook my head. “It figures.”
“And what is that, Julia?”
“I finally decide to do something for myself and look.” My lips came together.
The tips of his lips curled upward as his green gaze scanned me. “I’m looking.”
Setting down the coffee mug, I stood again, pulling the quilt tightly around me and took a step toward the small table. A million things were swirling in my head, not unlike the snow beyond the window. I didn’t know Van. That meant, I could keep quiet or maybe take the opportunity to vent. I decided on somewhere in between. “My whole life has been planned and the one time I decide to take charge, I mess that up.” I pulled out one of the chairs from the table and sat. As I did, I ran my hand over the table’s surface. “Do you live here?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.
“No.”
My chin snapped up. “Who does?”
“No one, to my knowledge.”
“Are we trespassing?”
“This cabin is used during hunting season. I believed it would be empty. With as cold as you were, I thought the risk of me driving off the road trying to get into town wasn’t a good plan.”
“Are you from around here?”
Van nodded. “But you’re not.”
“No,” I said with a sigh. “I thought I could...” My head shook. “It doesn’t matter.”
Van reached for my coffee and brought it to me, placing it on the table. “Are you hungry?”
“Famished.” I looked around. “Is there...food besides the old cans of soup?”
He scoffed. “I see you’ve searched.”
“There isn’t much to search.”
“The good news is that I have a case of nectarines in my truck. And yes, there is always the soup.” He nodded toward a cupboard under the counter. “I’m not sure how old the cans are. We could search for expiration dates. There is a pan to
warm it if we want.”
That reminded me of the pot of water on the stove. “I turned the water off, it was boiling.”
Van nodded as he went to the pan and poured the water into a large jar. “This is to drink. I’m not sure about the water out of the pump. Boiling it first is best.”
It felt as though I was secluded with one of those mountain men from the movies.
“Why do you have nectarines in your truck?” I asked.
“I like nectarines.”
It was my turn to smile. “So you keep a case in your truck, just in case?”
“I order them by the case, and I’d recently picked up a shipment from the post office in town. At this moment, I’m glad I forgot to take them in my house.”
“Me too.”
Van headed toward the door, and stopped, picking up his flannel shirt from where he’d dropped it on the sofa. “You’re welcome to keep wearing the quilt, but I would guess that this shirt would make a decent length dress.” He brought it to me. “Your choice, but your clothes are still cold and wet.”
I reached out and took the shirt. “Thank you.”
“There isn’t a lot of privacy here. If you want to put it on, I’ll be outside for a minute getting our dinner.”
Another thought came to me. “What about a bathroom?”
“There’s an outhouse about twenty yards from the door.”
For only a moment, my mouth dropped open. “You’re not serious.”
He grinned. “As a matter of fact, I am. I even shoveled a path out to it when I went for more wood. And the increased accumulation of snow works like insulation. Once you’re inside, the wind won’t freeze you.”
“The wind doesn’t need to, the cold will.”
“Not if you hurry.”
My head shook. “This is just unbelievable.”
Van went to a skinny cupboard near the table with the old pitcher and basin. Opening it, he pulled out a pair of what appeared to be rubber pants, complete with boots and suspenders. “After you put my shirt on, you can wear these out to the outhouse.”
My eyes narrowed. “What are those?”
“Waders,” he replied, as if I should have known the answer.
“Waders? Aren’t those for fishing?”
“Very good.”
“You said the cabin is used for hunting.”
“During the summer, it’s used to hunt fish,” Van said with a grin. “Instead of a gun, a fishing pole is used. There’s a lake nearby.”
“Nectarines.” I reminded.
Leaving the waders on the bed, Van put his coat back on, his orange hat, and his gloves. When he turned my way, he winked. “I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to seeing that old shirt more.”
His gaze lingered a bit longer than it should before he turned and disappeared beyond the door, leaving a powdering of snow on the floor in his wake.
Despite the gust of cold air, Van’s comment warmed me, from my head to my toes. How was it that this man I barely knew could incite the visceral response with a relatively benign comment about clothing and the man I was engaged to couldn’t or didn’t make me feel that way even when he was kissing and touching me?
I refused to give that any more thought.
Besides, I wasn’t engaged.
Not anymore.
Lifting my left hand, I stared at my bare ring finger.
The last time I saw the huge four-carat diamond, it was on the counter next to Skylar’s phone and a note that read:
* * *
Beth needs you. Good-bye, Julia.
* * *
Of course, after I left, Skylar has tried to call and text. I haven’t answered.
Taking one last look at the closed door, I dropped the quilt. As I reached for Van’s flannel shirt, the tempered air sent goose bumps over my skin and caused my nipples to tightened beneath my bra. Without thinking, I brought the soft material to my nose, closed my eyes, and inhaled.
The fresh scent of soap, the aroma of fire, and the spice of cologne all created an enticing concoction that even in this short time had me thinking of Van. Slipping my arms into the sleeves, I realized that Van had been right; this could be a dress. As I began to button the front, the tails in the front and back came to just above my knees.
While I had dresses that were shorter, wearing this man’s shirt—a man whom I barely knew—somehow felt more scandalous. I was in the process of rolling the sleeves when the door opened. As he’d done before, Van used his booted foot to kick the door closed. This time, instead of logs, his arms were filled with a wooden crate that he set down on the floor. Between the slats of wood, the orange spheres made my mouth water.
After shedding the hat, gloves, and coat, Van retrieved the crate from the floor and brought it to the kitchen counter. Once there, he turned in my direction and smiled. Without a word, his green stare scanned me from my messy hair to my bare toes.
With each passing second, I became more self-conscious, and yet he didn’t speak. Van’s lips formed a straight line, his cheeks rose, and his eyes sparkled with flakes of gold I was just now noticing.
“Thanks for the shirt,” I said, slapping my thighs with the palms of my hands. “It’s better than wearing that quilt.”
“It definitely is.”
His deeper tenor and slower cadence twisted my core and returned my nipples to their hardened state from the earlier cool air.
“You’re making me self-conscious. What are you thinking?”
Van walked around me, all the way around, the entire time keeping his eyes on me. “I think it’s better if I don’t say.”
“What?”
His smile grew. “I’m thinking that if I ever plan an abduction in the middle of a blizzard, I need to remember a flannel shirt because on you, it’s sexy as hell.”
I lifted my hands to my cheeks feeling the growing heat.
Van took a step toward me. “Come on, Julia, there has to be a man in your life who tells you how damn sexy you are.”
Swallowing, I turned away, avoiding the subject, and began to open the crate of nectarines.
As I tugged on a plastic cord holding the lid in place, Van’s hand came over mine.
The electricity from before returned.
When I looked up, Van held a pocket knife in his other hand. “Step back so you don’t get cut.”
Without speaking, I did as he said. The plastic snapped as the blade sliced through it. The muscles in his arms bulged as he lifted the lid and placed it under the counter. Turning, he held out a nectarine. “Dinner.”
I took the orange fruit from him, careful that we didn’t touch again. “Thank you.”
Retrieving our mugs, I added more coffee to each one and took them to the hearth. Even with the roaring fire, the air farther away was chilled. Basking in the warmth, I settled on the blankets and rugs where I’d awakened. After taking off his boots and leaving them by the door, Van joined me on the blanket.
With our legs crossed, we both stared into the flames. Every once in a while, our knees would touch as we both ate our nectarines and drank our coffee. As the fire warmed my outside, coffee and his incidental touches warmed my insides.
Chapter 4
My teeth chattered as I opened the door to the outhouse and sheepishly smiled up at Van. The snow blew around us as he tucked me under his arm and we hurried back to the cabin. Once inside, I shivered as I shrugged off my down coat and looked down at the ridiculous waders.
“Thank you for going out there with me.”
“What good is it to hold a beautiful woman captive if I let her freeze to death?”
“Or if she’s eaten by wolves.” I had been ready to venture out to the outhouse by myself until I heard the howl of a wolf. There weren’t many literal wolves to deal with in the Chicago suburbs.
“Wolf attacks are rare,” Van said with a grin.
“Rare implies that they do occur.” Holding onto the wall, I pushed down the giant rubber waders until I could step out
with one foot and then the other. When I turned, Van was looking in my direction. “If you say the waders looked sexy, I’ll know you’re lying.”
He came toward me and grabbed the waders, taking them to the pegs on the wall to let them dry. “No, Julia, the waders aren’t sexy.”
I nodded. “Maybe you don’t lie like other men.”
My attention went to the one bed. I reached for a pillow. “I can sleep by the fire.”
“There are plenty of blankets on the bed. You’ll be warm.”
“How do you know?” I asked, pulling back layer after layer of blanket. “You’re right.”
Van gestured out to the room. “I figured if all these blankets are out here, there would be plenty on the bed.”
“Shit,” I said, noticing my phone. Picking it up, I saw that not only was there no signal, the battery was down to less than ten percent. “I meant to turn this off.” Once I did, I put it back on the bedside table. Slowly, I turned toward Van. His dark hair was messed from the hat and there was dark stubble on his cheeks. His coat and boots were again near the door. Starting at the floor, I scanned his wool socks, long legs in faded denim, the way his shirt stretched over his chest and arms, his five o’clock shadow, high cheekbones, emerald green eyes, and back to his messy dark hair.
It wasn’t until my scan reached his stare that I realized Van had been doing the same to me. Nervously, I ran my fingers through my hair and laughed. Seeing the door, I asked, “Should we lock that?”
“If anyone finds their way out here, they deserve a warm shelter.”
“But what if they’re bad people?”
“What if I told you that I was a bad person?”
I reached again for the pillow and hugged it in front of me. “I wouldn’t believe you.”
Van took a step toward me. “Why?”
I stepped back as I hugged the pillow tighter. “Because you saved me. You gave me coffee and fed me.” I grinned. “And saved me from the wolves.”
He came even closer, his scent clouding my thoughts as he reached toward me and then...beyond me and pulled down the blankets on the bed. “Climb in, Julia. You’ll be warm in no time, and I promise it’s more comfortable than the floor.” He lifted his chin toward the fireplace. “I’ll sleep by the fire and keep it going so we don’t freeze.”
I Have Lived And I Have Loved: A Charity Romance Collection Page 39
