“No, actually I don’t. Trust me, I need to be here with you.”
I don’t know what made me agree to it. Perhaps I was so desperate I assumed a stranger in my home was a good idea, or maybe I was delusional from inhaling the harmful fumes, or it was possible that I didn’t care whether I lived or died anymore. “Fine. I’m not a charity case. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve done a pretty good job taking care of myself. If you think it’s imperative to babysit me, so be it.”
He was already taking off his snow gear. “I won’t argue with that. It takes a brave woman to live out here on her own. I don’t even know if I’d have the balls to do something so adventurous. I’m sure you’ll be fine by morning, but I’d kick myself in the ass if I left you alone in your condition.”
“I get it,” I said with sarcasm.
He placed his hands in his pockets. “So you said your name is Amanda?”
“Amantha,” I corrected.
“Oh gotcha. You have one of those weird names you can’t find on coffee cups.”
I snickered. “Pretty much.”
“It’s nice. I’ve never heard it before.”
I managed to smile. “Yeah, it is different.”
“I’m Easton. Easton Pratt.”
I pointed to the couch. “Well, Easton Pratt, there’s the couch. I don’t have television, but there are plenty of books. Make yourself comfortable. Pee outside, if you’ve got to go.”
He let out a chuckle. “You don’t have many visitors do you?”
“Nope. Aside from my neighbors and the mailman during the warm months, you’re the first.”
“Doesn’t it get lonely?” He asked as I began to cough again. “I can’t imagine being cut off from civilization. I mean, things happen. Take tonight for instance. You could have died. God only knows if anyone would find you. They might assume the house was empty. By the time they were able to get up here to check it out an animal would have taken away your remains. Sorry, I guess I’m a little protective. I have sisters that make piss-poor decisions, and I find myself having to save them more than I’d like to admit. The way you live is your choice. It’s none of my business.”
Suddenly I felt overwhelmingly guilty and fearful. This handsome man was either trying to do a good deed or find out if anyone would be coming to interrupt him from slaughtering me. I’d been injured, and as much as I wanted to think I was fine, a part of me knew I’d done more harm than good by going inside the burning home. “No. I should be the one apologizing,” I managed to say, though still very unsure. “You saved my life. I owe you a thanks, not rudeness. You’ll have to excuse my manners. I’m not used to socializing anymore.”
“Interesting.” He kept giving me a once-over. “I never would have pegged someone who looked like you to live out here all by herself. Am I overstepping if I ask why?”
“Who looks like me?”
“Well, you’re pretty beautiful. I live in a city with millions of women, but they’re all done up. It’s disturbing how they can’t feel comfortable being natural.”
I was blushing. Thank God it was dark, or else I’d be completely ashamed of myself. This man was like a walking sex god in front of me, not just because of his looks, but because he was the first one I’d seen in months.
“Some people would say I’ve let myself go.” I shrugged and looked away nervously, as if it was embarrassing to stand before him. Then I threw caution to the wind and let the details fly. “I lost my family in a train wreck. We lived in a small town in Pennsylvania, and I felt like no matter where I turned there were reminders. In order for me to be able to move on I knew I had to get out of there. I spent a lot of my childhood hunting with my father, learning how to be a survivalist, and to be able to live off the land. I appreciate nature, and the beauty Alaska has to offer. It’s peaceful here, and I can be happy without having to look over my shoulder. I’m out of the spotlight. No one knows who I am, and I want it to stay that way. Don’t get me wrong. I love my family. It’s hard to live when society won’t let you forget how much you’ve lost.” I realized afterwards how much information I’d given him. It was pretty obvious I sucked at communicating. It didn’t help how I still kept thinking about him implying I was too good looking to live in a cabin on a mountaintop – all alone.
“Fascinating, but also pretty sad. I’m very sorry for your loss. What you’ve been through is tragic.”
“You’ve probably seen a lot of death in your line of work.”
He shrugged. “You don’t want to know what I’ve been through. On the brighter side, I like saving damsels in distress.”
“So,” I said while feeling nervous. “Is this how you pick up all your women?”
Another entertained cackle escaped his lips. “No. There isn’t anyone. I saw that you were in trouble and felt it necessary to help.”
“You’re just a natural saint, so it seems.”
Right when our eyes locked in on one another, a loud knock erupted at the front door. Ava started barking up a storm, and I didn’t make her stop as I made my way to see what the racket was about. Standing on the other side was one of Easton’s travel companions. He was blowing air into his hands to warm them up. I sprung open the door and allowed him entry. He stood, covered from foot to waist in snow, shaking around. I bent over and fetched a towel I used to sit my boots on, handing it to him. Unlike me, he wasn’t dressed for the weather. From how he appeared, I didn’t think he was wearing any layers. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. The storm is getting heavier. The fire is pretty much out. It’s contained, even if there are some remaining hot spots. You ready to go, man? Are you done trying to be the hero?” He asked Easton.
“No. Actually, I’m going to need to stay here with Amantha. I’m pretty sure she’s suffering from smoke inhalation.”
His friend got a frustrated look across his face and shook his head. “Yeah, it’s better if you come back with us.” He gave him this inquisitive look, as if he expected Easton to follow his orders. “We need to go.”
“I’m not leaving her. She shouldn’t be alone. I explained this already,” he said with gritted teeth, like he was purposely defiant.
The other guy turned his attention to me. “You got a phone we could use?”
I shook my head. “I don’t.” He scared me. Something about him was off. He wasn’t friendly like Easton. I chalked it up to him being interrupted by a fire. I’m sure he was tired and ready to get back.
“I understand why you volunteered for the job, but don’t get a hair up your ass and do something stupid. We’ll expect you back tomorrow. If you’re not there, we’ll come looking.”
I was shocked when Easton didn’t argue with him. What did his friend mean? Why would he say it like that?
“I’ll get up with you tomorrow after the storm is over. I’m not giving a time.”
“We’ll be there waiting.” Before he disappeared back out into the harsh weather, he said something sarcastically. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t approve of.”
Was he implying there was something going to happen between us? Should I have been worried? I was just glad the other guy finally left. He was a dick.
For me, being around Easton was the opposite. I could feel my cheeks reddening as I turned to address the man standing behind me. “You don’t have to stay. I’m perfectly capable of managing.” I wanted him to know he wasn’t obligated to take care of me. If his friends were going to be pissed about it, he could go with them.
“I’m staying.” He took a look around the cabin. “Are you sure there’s no phone?”
I shrugged. “I have a cell phone, but it doesn’t get service in this weather. I have to go outside to get a signal.”
“Can I see it?” He asked.
I grabbed the phone and handed it to him, feeling better about being honest with him instead of the douchebag who’d left. “Sorry I lied. Your friend creeped me out.”
“Yeah, he’s an asshole.” Without a coat he took the phone ou
tside and started walking around while I watched from a window. He came back in a few seconds later, covered in snow and trembling. “You’re right. It must be the weather.”
“You could try tomorrow morning when the storm rolls out?”
“Yeah, okay.” He looked around the cabin. “So, you got any cards? Hot chocolate? Coffee?”
I let out a sigh. “I have all of the above. I’m not a cavewoman.”
“I’ll take coffee then. You may have hit your head, so in case of a concussion we need to keep you awake for a bit.”
“I don’t have a concussion. Like I said before, I’m fine,” I pleaded my case while attending to the coffee maker. Because it wasn’t electric, I had to heat the pot on the woodstove. I poured fresh water inside the kettle and sat it down on the cook surface. “I have a deck of cards in the cabinet over there,” I announced while pointing in that direction. “I’m not any good at games, so be warned.”
“Go fish is fine by me.”
A giggle escaped me. “Seriously?”
“How about war? It’s just something to pass the time.”
“Your friend seemed to think you were here for another reason,” I couldn’t believe I said it, but there it was. I had nothing to lose. My dignity had escaped me long ago.
“My friend has a big mouth.”
“So you’re not here to seduce me?” I questioned. If he was, my dreams were beginning to come true. What damsel doesn’t want a sexy man coming to her rescue, only to want to ravage her all throughout the night. He wasn’t exactly a lumberjack, but a fireman would equally suffice.
A woman can dream.
“Not unless you feel the need to be seduced.” He chuckled. “I’m kidding.” While shaking his head, he continued. “Sorry, that was terrible. I know I’m a stranger. I need to remember it when I’m talking to you. I’ve been around the guys for too long. We can get a little crude.”
With a smile plastered across my face, I replied. “I happen to enjoy the humor. I don’t get to hear it much. It’s nice having company, even though it’s the middle of the night and I should be sleeping.”
“I like your place,” he changed the subject. “It’s pretty Alaskan. Are you sure you live here alone? It’s kind of masculine. Who does your taxidermy?” Ava moved toward him, taking her paw and rubbing his leg until he bent over to give her attention. My whore-of-a-dog then flipped on her back and spread out for him to keep going.
After feeling like she was stealing my moment, I looked around the cabin at the décor, and mostly the memories on the walls. I didn’t have much hung up. I wasn’t into trophies, but there were some things I needed to have with me. “It’s all my father’s stuff. Long story short, before he passed away he’d come on a hunt. They shipped his meat home, but kept the skins to mount. They hadn’t heard of his accident until they called to collect payment. At first I was going to let them keep the stuffed things, but when I decided to move here I thought it would be nice to fill the house with something. After a while they’re kind of like friends,” I joked.
“Oh really. Should I worry they’re going to start speaking?”
“Perhaps.” I smiled when I said it, familiarizing myself with the way the shape of his face changed when he was amused. “It depends how much you’ve had to drink already tonight.”
“You know, most women would think this kind of life is ridiculous, but standing here with you right now makes me wonder if it’s not the perfect place to be. You’re right. I can see how stress would be a minimum. The only thing I would worry about is if something happened to you physically. It’s not like you can call an ambulance.”
“They come by plane, and if the emergency requires immediate attention you’ll probably croak before help arrives.”
“Doesn’t that frighten you?”
What petrified me was rotting away with cobwebs in my vagina. I hadn’t been thinking about my sexual needs when making the decision to move to a remote location. When I’d said goodbye to my old life, I’d retired the area between my legs, accidentally.
I shrugged and put on a convincing grimace. “I’m happy with my life. I believe if my time is up there’s little I can do about it. I eat healthy, and stay in shape. I get a physical each year, and keep in touch with my general practitioner. As far as things like flu shots, well I don’t need to get them. I’m not around people to pass germs or catch them.” Good lord, I was giving him a rundown of everything personal, as if he was giving me an annual check-up.
“True.” He crossed his arms. “Don’t you get scared?”
I smirked. “Sometimes. I have Ava, and she keeps me company.”
“Don’t you miss having someone that can talk back when you ask them a question?”
“Are you asking because you’re interested in my lifestyle?” I handed him a steaming cup of hot coffee and sipped at mine as I waited for his reply. A strong gust of wind swept across the property, rumbling the house as it made contact with the windows. Easton became alert, coasting his eyes around the vicinity to make sure we were safe. “It’s just the wind. It happens during bad weather like tonight.”
Since it was pretty dark in the cabin with little candles lit, and my battery operated lantern set to low, I made my way to the counter to locate the matches. While I lit some more pillars, he sat down on the stool across from where I was about to sit. “I’m asking because I’m more interested in you. I want to know what makes a woman want to cut the world out?” He shook his head and corrected himself. “That came out wrong. Your life interests me, in an platonic way of course.”
He couldn’t know I was okay if he was attracted to me. Maybe I was desperate, but I found him sexy as hell. The fact that we were alone only heightened the chemistry between us. My symptoms were beginning to diminish as other parts of me seemed to be awakening. “What are we playing?” I began shuffling cards.
“Poker. Three card. Nothing wild.”
“What are we betting?”
He looked around the kitchen. “How about those nuts in the jar? Can we play with them?”
I grabbed the container and handed it to him. “Good idea. I assumed you’d say we were playing for clothes, in which case I’d win, because I’m layered more than you are.”
His eyebrow cocked as he contemplated what I’d said. “You think so? I’ve got to say, I’m pretty damn good at poker, but I didn’t offer to stay because I assumed I’d get lucky.” It was like the go-ahead to throw myself at him. With nothing to lose, I figured ‘why the hell not’ and kept running my mouth.
“It’s about luck, not skill.”
“No, that’s where you’re wrong. It takes skill.”
“I bet I’ll win, and I barely know the rules.” I was up for a challenge.
“No. I can’t be that guy. It’s not why I’m here.”
“That’s too bad. I don’t get many handsome visitors. It’s been a while for me. I wouldn’t complain if I was sitting across from a half or fully naked man.”
“I’m not as great as you seem to think I am, Amantha. You need to know that. Some things aren’t what they appear to be. Maybe living out here on your own has made you feel invincible. Life hasn’t dealt me a good hand in a long time. It would be easy to take advantage of someone like you, but I won’t do it. Like I said before, I can’t.”
“What if I wanted to be taken advantage of? What if I didn’t give damn about your life? If you haven’t noticed, I’m alone. If you’re scared it’s okay,” I taunted.
He smirked and pushed the can to the side. “You know what, you’re on. Screw the nuts. We’re two adults. I can handle a game of cards if you can.”
Was he agreeing to play strip poker? “Strip poker with a stranger? Do you think I’m crazy?” I teased. “Do you normally dive right into shady games with strange women?”
His snicker was amusing. “No, but I do think you’re sexy, and if we’re going to play, we may as well make the most of it. After tomorrow you’ll never have to see me again. It’s jus
t a game. How bad can it be? I promise to keep my hands to myself. Besides, I’m not letting you out of my sight until I know you’re out of danger.”
What did I have to lose? I’d put my life in harm’s way already, and he’d saved me. What could a game of cards do? If this guy wanted to attack me, he’d have to get past Ava first. “Fine. I’ll be dealer.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chapter 4
I dealt the cards, pulling up mine to look at the hand. I had a four of clubs, a six of spades, and a jack of hearts. It was a terrible hand. Still, since I was confident I’d win the game, I waited for the flip. The first down was an ace of spades. Then a seven of diamonds. I raised Easton two articles of clothing to make him think I had a good hand. While praying I’d flip a jack as the final card, I watched an ace of diamonds flash face up. I knew from playing it meant nothing as long as my cards were better than his. While I waited for him to show me his, I kept a straight face to try and elude him. He grinned and flipped his over without even waiting for me to go first. “I have a full house; a pair of diamonds and three aces.
Shit! My bluffed hand was terrible. I should have folded. While considering a way out of removing an article of clothing, I could feel my face turning a bright red. “I suppose it wouldn’t be fair if I quit?”
“With the amount of layers you’re wearing, I’m sure you have plenty of time to get me back.”
I took off my first sweatshirt, tossing it to the side. “Your deal.”
We played three more hands, all of which he kicked my ass, but in doing so we’d been able to talk. Truthfully, I did most of the blabbing, since it had been so long since I’d had human contact. This guy made me hot in all the right places. His smile was contagious, and his stare was inexplicably hungry. Perhaps I should have been scared of him. He could easily overpower me if he wanted to. I could have invited a murderer into my home and never thought anything of it, not when he looked this damn attractive.
I was down to a pair of leggings and a thermal undershirt. Finally I got lucky and pulled three of a kind. Watching him lift off his sweatshirt, and seeing his bare abs exposed before his other shirt was pulled back down was awakening. I felt warmth in places I knew I hadn’t paid much attention to in a very long time. Let’s face it, sex toys don’t compare to the real thing; to touch and feel another person’s skin brushing against your own. Thinking about it was making me want to close my eyes and pretend something was going to happen between us. Who was I kidding though? This man wasn’t going to seduce me, and I sure as hell wasn’t about to try anything with him. We were passing the time. That’s it. It wasn’t like he was going to carry me up to the loft and give me a run for my money.
Frigid Affair Page 3
