Twenty (novella) (Love By Design Series)

by M. C. Cerny

  “I wish this day never happened.”

  “Well, we’ll be out of the elements soon enough, Amelia, and then I’ll get you back to your friends.”

  “Lia. You can call me Lia.” I helped her step over another log and we walked in silence for what felt like another twenty minutes in the dark. The trail was littered with fallen branches from the wind and leaves that covered the natural trail markings.

  “Not much farther now.”

  “Thank goodness,” she muttered, and I could see the cabin ahead of us. Reaching the door, I let her go and used my keys to unlock it. I flicked the switch and found that the electricity was out.

  Looking back over my shoulder, she was pathetic looking and had her arms tightly wrapped around her middle. “No lights.” She shrugged, so I worked quickly to get the door open.

  “We’re inside. That’s all that matters.” I was pleased she was at least acting positive and not pouting like a spoiled brat. I was going to have to start a fire to heat things up in here so neither of us got sick sitting in our wet clothes.

  “Right then. See if you can find some dry blankets in the closet.” I pointed to a door in the corner and pulled out my cell, seeing that I had no service at the moment. It wasn’t the end of the world, but I wouldn’t be able to call in to headquarters that I’d found Lia. “You check your phone?”

  She shook her head no. “I didn’t bring it.” Nodding at her, I looked around the Spartan cabin and figured we could get through the night. We were lucky there was no major storm brewing besides the downpour. “I’ll get a fire going.”

  “Isn’t anyone coming?”

  “Coming to do what?”

  “T-to rescue us?” That right there insulted me. I’d just hiked a mile in and out of the woods soaking wet and she didn’t realize I was the cavalry come to save her sweet ass. I revoked my earlier assessment. She was a damn brat.

  “Sorry, sweetheart, I’m the rescue committee. We’ll have to hike back to the jeep in the morning once there’s daylight. Just us two for now.” She looked crestfallen, but there was nothing I could do about that except get this place heated up as quickly as possible.

  Chapter 5

  Lia

  “I found some candles and blankets.” My arms held two woolen blankets that smelled of mothballs and summer camp. The candles looked like two nubs that would barely last us the night.

  “Excellent.” Whit ignored me, his attention focused on the fireplace, setting up the logs in some tripod arrangement that I hoped generated instant warmth. He was acting like I bruised his male ego assuming there was someone else coming for us. He hadn’t exactly been a warm welcoming committee and naturally I assumed incorrectly.

  Nerves coursed through me that could be either cold or actual anxiety at being alone with an attractive guy near my age and stranded miles from civilization. Okay, Whit-whatever-his-last-name-was looked hot. A feeling of shame washed over me because if I was having thoughts about my sexy park ranger, I obviously didn’t have much in the way of feelings for Ryder West-nearly-football-pro-college-hottie. I realized these were shallow first world problems my philosophy professor would have a field day with, but I still couldn’t knock the thoughts about Whit’s uniform and how hot dark green had suddenly become.

  Feeling about as helpful as tits on a bull, I was fidgeting to put the mothball smelling blankets down on a wooden bench. I placed the candles on the matching wood picnic style table and looked around the cabin. Thick beams of wood and space utilized to its fullest with everything having multiple utilitarian purposes. My fashionista mother would say the place was like a Whitman’s sampler with a little bit of everything, but nothing special.

  “Come sit down, the fire will get going in a minute.” Whit encouraged me to join him, patting the floor absently as he used a flint to spark the dry brush. Flame caught air and substance, flickering like a fledgling fire. Leaning over, he blew on it slowly and I couldn’t help but notice the way his lips pursed, forcing air out in a controlled manner, stoking the fire. His butt filled out his park issued pants nice and firm while the cargo pockets made me curiously wonder what secrets he had hiding in each. On his knees, the fabric was pulled tight and belted at his hips, accentuating each masculine curve and dip. They were stupid thoughts that reminded me of my own immaturity. I was here with a complete stranger and already thinking about how I could hook up with him for just one night. I didn’t need a fire to keep me warm; Whit’s body stirred something within me. Flush heated my cheeks, and embarrassment that he might catch me looking him over had me awkwardly sitting down, my body falling to the floor in an ungraceful heap of horniness I didn’t expect.

  The loud sound of my fall had Whit looking over at me, his brows drawn together before he spoke. “Are you okay?”

  Embarrassment flooded me and I nodded awkwardly. “Yeah, I s-should thank you for coming out here to save me.” Lamely I didn’t know what else to say.

  “You should, but I won’t hold it against you.” Whit drawled the last bit out and continued looking me over, his indigo eyes filled with mirth darting back and forth. He was probably laughing at me.

  “So is this part of your job?” He smiled at my question, kindness crinkling at the corner of his eyes, so I knew he was definitely laughing at me now.

  “Job?”

  “Rescuing stupid girls who go off on hikes ill-prepared for bad weather?” He could see right through me. I was never good at small talk.

  “Oh. Well…I suppose search and rescue comes with the territory. I guess there is more to your story than you being a stupid girl, right?”

  Rolling my eyes earned me a genuine laugh from Whit and I was struck by his unusual name. “What’s your full name?”

  “Deflecting. Nice.” He leaned back on his knees, arms crossed over his chest, which I noticed was pretty brawny underneath his jacket. “It’s Whittaker Jones. I’m named after my grandfather, crusty old bastard but a good guy growing up. He used to take me fishing and hunting in these woods as a kid. You?” He was right again. Smart and good-looking, Whittaker was definitely trouble for me.

  “Named after a great-aunt who never married and died with twenty cats in her house. It sounds much worse than it actually is. She was sweet and owned a kitschy book store back home.”

  “Ah,” he nodded. “Where is home?”

  “Brooklyn, near Williamsburg and the bridge.” He rocked back on his heels and flutters of emotion erupted under the guise of his perfect smile.

  “You miss her.” Slowly he reached up and brushed a hunk of my wet hair back over my shoulder, exposing my face to him, and the light of the fire burning brightly warmed me.

  “Yeah. I ended up working there as a teen after school to give her breaks. She always baked these lemon iced cookies for me to sneak back home. I loved her.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t turn down cookies if you felt inclined to bake me some, as a thank you gesture, of course.” Winking at me, I was lost.

  “Of course.” Reel me in because I was done. Blushing singed my cheeks and I would have dug up Aunt Amelia and shook her alive to get her recipe if it meant Whit would look at me like that again. “How about chocolate chip? You get me out of here and I’ll bake you a double batch.”

  “Seems like a good deal. So tell me again what prompted you to walk out on the trail with no real jacket or a phone?”

  “Not giving up on that, are we?”

  “Nope. You’ve made me curious why you’d risk life and limb hiking in the dark.”

  “Fine.” Exasperated, I started to shiver again, partly from sitting so close to him and out of damp chills from my clothes. “It was about a stupid guy, but it doesn’t matter because I’m not interested in him anymore.”

  “Good, because we should probably take our clothes off now.”

  “What?” I screeched and Whit looked at me wide-eyed as mine focused on him.

  “Oh shit, I didn’t mean it like that.” Holding his hands up defensively, I thought
about sucker punching him in the mouth. I might have my moments, but I was a city girl and I didn’t take crap from anyone. I didn’t mind being the forward one, or seen as fickle of heart, but I drew the line at someone taking advantage of me.

  “Sure you didn’t,” I grumbled.

  “Honestly, no. I’m not that kind of opportunist. With the fire going, we should probably get these wet clothes off and the dry blankets on so our stuff can dry overnight. I can’t have you getting sick on my watch.” Now I felt like an idiot for assuming he was trying something when he was really just doing his job. Who was I kidding? I was an idiot. I couldn’t read signals from the opposite sex if my life depended on it apparently.

  Standing up, I grabbed the blankets and tossed one to him and took the other. “I’ll uh just…can you turn around and not look?” Flustered, I took the blanket and walked over to the cold corner, ready to change.

  “Lia, come back. Change by the fire and I’ll go in the corner to change.” Stalling, he urged me again. “Come on, I promise not to look if you promise not to look.”

  “Fine.” Stomping to the fire, he brushed past me. His clothed chest inched past mine. If our clothes were currently air drying at all there would have been steam when he walked by me. “Don’t peek.” I looked over my shoulder and saw his back against the wall, arms crossed over his broad chest.

  “Scout’s honor,” he said smiling, holding up two fingers, and I began to take my clothes off.

  Chapter 6

  Whit

  I should have confessed I was never a Boy Scout despite my wilderness background and survival skills, a lie of omission on my part. Honestly, I hadn’t intended to look. I promised her I wouldn’t, but the shiny metal frame hanging on the wall as a makeshift mirror reflected her little show. I had forgotten it was even there until I turned around and saw her sliding her clothes off in the wavy reflection. If I told her about it now it wouldn’t look any better for me. I decided to keep that little pearl of information to myself and save her from any embarrassment she might be feeling. That was about as honorable as I got.

  Awestruck, I watched Lia wiggle her pert ass out of her soaked tight jeans, leaving transparent panties struggling to hug her ass, ending with an awkward hop to untangle them from her legs. She tried draping the blanket around her to get the rest, but after dropping it twice she gave up and gave me another show pulling her top off. Her breasts bounced inside the cups of her sheer bra. Not exactly hiking attire and I had a feeling she’d meant for that dumb jock to catch a glimpse of her in them.

  Jealously coursed through me unexpectedly. I didn’t know this girl from anywhere, but she toughed out the hike here without too much complaint in the pouring rain and did what needed to be done. I found that admirable and far different from the stupid girl she claimed herself to be. Lacking self-confidence that would come to her in time with life experiences, she didn’t strike me as stupid at all. My dick didn’t care and certainly rose in her general direction with interest and appreciation.

  “Done,” she said from the direction of the fire and I gulped back a response. I didn’t want to be done watching her, so I quickly stripped down, leaving my tight fitting boxers on and draped the blanket over my hips, hiding my body’s reaction to her as best I could. The air inside the cabin was cold on my chest, but I wasn’t going to risk her seeing my dick misbehaving from an automatic response I couldn’t control.

  Walking back toward the fire, Lia stood in front of it, her hands tightly clutching the blanket like a lifeline. We were stuck here for the time being. Gruffly I stuck my hand out. “Hand me your clothes.” Lia bent down to pick hers up and I moved the bench closer to the fire to lay the wet items over it as best I could, pressing out wrinkles to dry the denim and cotton.

  “How long do you think this storm will go?” She was watching the fire, her head bent down as I was watching her.

  “Morning, I reckon.” I moved to stand next to her and a shiver coursed through her. Without thinking, I pulled her into my arms and discreetly adjusted things below, rewrapping the blanket around us both.

  Looking over her shoulder, she eyed me from the chest down and back up again snorting. “Smooth.” She actually growled, saying it like she was torn between what I assumed was annoyance and something else I found alluring.

  “Wasn’t trying to be. Although, you’d know it if I was.” Chuckling into her now damp hair that smells like coppery rainwater and the fire, she elbowed me gently in my gut and I suppressed the desire to push back into her. Maybe…I was a bit of an opportunist after all.

  “If you try telling me that sharing body heat will dry us quicker I’ll kick you.” Our eyes met and hers rolled, letting me know she didn’t appreciate my moves, so I tried changing tactics by offering a calorie laden bribe. Food should pacify the savage beast, right?

  Reaching up between us, I raised my hand, pointing a finger at her, and her face crinkled at the corners like she didn’t trust me. “Ah, I have a diagnosis,” I informed her.

  “Okay, you’re a doctor now?” She didn’t trust me, but I’d go with it, ignoring her sarcasm.

  “You must be grumpy from lack of food.”

  Her shoulders rolled and I wrapped the musty blanket tighter around us. “Is that what we’re calling it now?” She was snippy and I wondered how long tonight was going to drag on waiting out the storm because sleep seemed doubtful in these conditions. Tracking a wayward hiker was part of my job, but usually they were much more pleasant, even grateful and I hated that maybe I’d pissed her off somehow.

  “Do you have any medical issues I should know about? Diabetes? Hypoglycemia? Medication needs?” I was mentally crossing my fingers that she’d say no. “I’ll have to come up with another plan to get us out of here if you do.” Her tone changed, almost contrite.

  “N-no. I guess I am hungry, though.” Her head rolled and I rested my hand on her shoulders to keep her from bumping into my nose. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be a complainer,” she said, and I believed she meant it.

  “It’s all good, Lia. I’ve got some energy bars in my backpack.”

  Grousing, she leaned back and I guided her to sit down, wrapped up in the blankets as I reached for my bag. “It’s not any vegan hippie shit, is it?”

  “I thought you were from Brooklyn?” Surprised, I nudged her, earning me a laugh.

  Lia snorted and I watched her nose turn up. It creased slightly, making it look tiny and adorable on her face. “I might be from Brooklyn, but I’m not one of those granola loving hipsters.”

  “Oh, well, it’s one hundred percent high protein and carb content covered in chocolate.” I had no idea guessing what was in my backpack. I hoped it wasn’t the leftover spirulina algae bars I had been trying to get rid of from the cute hippie chick who was always trying to jump me. Calisto Anderson owned the organic shop, Dingleberries, in town. Yeah, I know. The name spoke for itself. My man granola was about to take a nose dive and I reminded myself that a bushy hippie chick’s tantric sex moves were not worth the taste of green algae.

  “So are you feeding me to distract me?” I handed her a bar, letting her rip it open. Secretly relieved, it was Rocky Road granola peppered with marshmallows and vegan coco-chips.

  She broke off a piece, handing me half of the bar, which I put into my mouth, chewing. “You must have a really poor opinion of men, sweetheart.”

  She sighed, leaning against my chest and I adjusted my legs around her. “I’m sorry. It’s not you…honestly. I just feel defensive.”

  “Tell me why? Surely that idiot jock didn’t break your heart?” I couldn’t believe I was having a heart to heart with this girl I barely knew. It wouldn’t be happening unless I felt seriously attracted to her. I could see my best friends Hunter and Damien forcing me to turn in my man card afterward.

  “No, I can’t even decide my college major, so I’m sure my heart hasn’t been damaged by that jackass too badly.” It did make her sound flighty, but I wondered.

  “I�
�m not sure anyone truly knows what they want at twenty. Heck, I joined the army for two years before I figured myself out.” She made a sound that seemed like she agreed and it passed the time as we warmed up. I supposed stranger things could have happened. Chewing my half of the bar, I let her talk it out. I liked her voice, sweet and smooth once she stopped shaking with chills.

  “I was just thinking about my aunt and how she lived her life. I’m only twenty years old. I haven’t experienced much in the way of relationships and I really don’t want to die an old maid with twenty felines as my only company.”

  “Sounds dire for someone so young and twenty is an awful lot of cats.” She half turned to look at me and the blanket slipped down over her shoulder, exposing the soft swell of her lace covered pale breast.

  My mouth ran dry looking over the creamy skin of her shoulder. I bit my lip and tried focusing on imparting wisdom instead of her leaning into my lap and feeling my arousal jammed up against my abdomen between my legs. “How old are you?” The question imparted an annoyed tone.

  “I’m twenty-six.” I wondered if she was asking to make sure I wasn’t some old pervert. Six years wasn’t a huge age gap between us, but I’d done my stint in the army and seen a few things of the world.

  “And your stance on relationships?”

  Feeling oddly put on the spot, my initial response sounded way more defensive than I intend it to be. “I find love a bit overrated.” I wasn’t sure if Lia was querying me to hook up or berate me for being a relatively normal adult single guy.

  “Of course you would.” She huffed, almost knocking my nose again with her head and dismissal of me. “Men don’t start looking for love until they’re at least thirty and still not in a committed relationship. You’ve gotta have that one friend who’s getting married to ruin it for the rest of you and even then you don’t call it love.”