Home > Michigan for the Winter(3)

Michigan for the Winter(3)
Author: Rebecca Sharp

Thankfully, she slowed too, making sure I was easily able to keep pace with her though she was far more equipped to handle this road than I was.

Maybe I had a closet death wish coming out here. The thought tumbled into my mind for a second before I admitted that I did. The old Ryan Finan was dead, and the new one was done with women.

Our pace slowed, trekking farther down the unmarked road, until finally I saw the familiar shapes of the cabin I’d seen in the photos online.

A giant wooden A-frame protruded out from the layers of snow. The cabin rose up similar to the evergreens around it with the dark wood exterior and deep green frame. The front was all windows—two on either side of the door, two above the door, and a single round window near where the triangle peaked. Normally, I would’ve looked for something that wasn’t so open, but, if there was anyone around for miles, they would have a hell of a time finding this place.

“Perfect.”

The snowmobile turned slightly to the right, and I noticed how the drive appeared to continue that way, probably to the owner’s house I’d spotted on the satellite images. It wasn’t too far away, but with the snow and thicket of trees, it was a little hard to see it from here.

“Dammit.” I tensed, watching her slow the machine to a stop and shut it completely off.

I would’ve preferred that she just waved while making a U-turn and leaving me to my business. At least, that was what I told myself.

I angled my SUV to the left, away from where she’d parked, and turned it off. Bundling myself back up along with a few layers of curses, I stepped out into the now-familiar crunch of snow, slightly surprised by how far my foot sank into what had to be at least three inches.

“I’ve got it from here, thanks,” I called to her, making a wide arc around the front of my rental toward the front door and refusing to look in her direction.

As I approached the door, I heard her fumble with something on her snowmobile, my layers making it not worth the effort to turn around and see what. My only hope was that she took the hint and was about to leave and head home—wherever home was.

Like the instructions said, there was a key simply hanging from a nail pegged on the side of the doorframe. I guessed anyone who was fool enough to try and find their way out here in the middle of winter deserved easy entrance to a place to rest for the night.

“Oh, drat.” More clunks and clatters echoed behind me, but I ignored them, unlocking the door and letting myself inside.

The quaint space was even smaller than the photos made it out to be—and that was even better. I didn’t need space for anything except my body. Hell, if I could crowd out my thoughts—my memories—that would be great, too.

On the main floor, there was a stone fireplace in the corner with one small loveseat facing it. There was a small table on the other side of the room with two matching wood chairs that looked so incredibly uncomfortable it brought the ghost of a smile to my face. I didn’t want visitors. I didn’t want comfort. Behind the table was a compact kitchen and, in the far left corner of the living room was the door to the bathroom. Next to that was a ladder that led up to the loft where the bedroom was.

My satisfaction with my choice—no matter the pain and frustration it had caused me to find it—fractured with the swift crunch of small feet over frozen terrain.

“Wait, I wanted to give you—”

A low rumble boiled up from my chest and, swiftly yanking my scarf down so my mouth was free to make what I was about to say very clear, I dropped my bag next to the door and spun to confront her.

“Christ!” Grabbing ahold of the doorframe, I just managed to hold my forward momentum back before crashing dick-first into the case of beer the little white nymph held in her extended arms.

“Oh no.” She blanched, yanking her arms back in horror. “I’m sorry. Again. For almost—”

Taking in a very long breath of ice-cold air, I leveled her with a hard stare. “Thank you for getting me here. I’m good now.”

“Right.” She nodded rapidly. “Of course. I just wanted to introduce myself. Officially,” she went on, her breath creating small puffs in the frozen air. “I’m Winna. It’s nice to meet you.” She winced. “Well, maybe not exactly nice for you or your—parts of you.” Bending down, she set the case of beer in the snow between us. “I got this for you. As a welcome to Michigan gift.”

Winna. Even though I didn’t say it out loud, her name rolled around like whiskey on my tongue. Smooth. Potent. And intoxicating, if I wasn’t careful.

My lip twitched. I should be grateful and not a jerk, but I was tired and hungry and the woman had almost whacked my nuts for the second time.

“Thank you, but I’m good,” I said tightly, stepping back slightly into the doorframe.

“Well, then think of it as an apology,” she suggested cheerfully, her head tipping to the side.

My jaw clenched. “I think it’s actually safer for me to avoid any kinds of cans around you.”

Her cheeks deepened from cold-induced pink to an embarrassed red that spread well below the neck of her jacket.

“Well, maybe as long as I’m not holding them, your cock will be safe,” she surmised lightly, and I stared at her, wondering what kind of person just casually mentions the cock of someone they just met—the cock they’d already crushed once.

Winna.

I also had to wonder why the hell her mention of my cock made the damn thing turn to stone. She wasn’t trying to be seductive. She was about as far from unclothed as a person could get. Hell, aside from her white hair, plump pink lips, and clumsy personality, I knew next to nothing that should be attracting me to her the way that it did.

Travel. Celibacy. Lack of scotch.

I counted off all the reasons why my senses must be going haywire.

“It was nice meeting you, Winna. Thanks for getting me here, and thanks for offering the beer, but I’d rather you keep it,” I insisted with the best smile I could muster, stepping back through the threshold of the cabin and beginning to shut the door.

Her shoulders fell. “Alright, well, if you need anything, Ryan, you know where—”

My hand halted and my eyes snapped to hers. “How do you know my name?” I broke in.

I hadn’t introduced myself. On purpose. My gaze narrowed.

“Oh, drat.” Her mouth opened and closed in a manner that was far more uncomfortably distracting than expected. “Did I not—did I miss—” She shook her head, locks of hair tumbling against her pink cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’m Winna Madden.”

Madden…

“You’re renting my cabin.”

My eyes went to blink but remained shut for a long, unbelievable second.

It doesn’t matter.

She might own it, but the cabin was mine for the month. I didn’t have to see her. I didn’t need anything from her.

“Right,” I breathed the word out on a steely breath, opening my eyes once more.

“I’m sorry.” She pressed a massive gloved mitt to her forehead. “I thought I mentioned it.”

“Of course, you did.” My chin dipped slowly. “Well, like I said, I’m all good. Good on beer. Good with the place.” And good with her presence. “Thanks again. Have a nice night.”

Hot Books
» House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1)
» A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
» From Blood and Ash (Blood And Ash #1)
» A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime
» Deviant King (Royal Elite #1)
» Den of Vipers
» House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2)
» The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #
» Sweet Temptation
» The Sweetest Oblivion (Made #1)
» Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels #6)
» Wreck & Ruin
» Steel Princess (Royal Elite #2)
» Twisted Hate (Twisted #3)
» The Play (Briar U Book 3)