Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77611 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77611 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
What does it say about my personal life that how much he remembers about our short time together impresses me? My students are required to pay attention if they want to pass my tests, but the men I spend time with usually only hear, “Blah, blah, blah, pass the lube, blah.”
My anti-commitment philosophy does have some drawbacks.
“Someone gave the band my number, and the job paid too well to turn it down,” I say, though that’s not even remotely the whole story. “Also, it is someone’s special occasion. There’s a weekend-long anniversary party two miles away from here. I have a feeling you know about that already?”
Please, say no. Don’t be dating a Finn.
“That’s why I’m here.”
And that’s it. That’s all he says. No explanation about why he’s in this isolated cabin instead of with the others in the lodge. No references to a date of any kind. No confession that he’s a missing cousin or the child of a mistress and here to make some dramatic accusations or anything. I’m not known for my brevity, so I usually appreciate it in others. But in this case it’s aggravating. “Small world I guess.”
“Seems to be.”
So. Aggravating.
One of the dogs takes our momentary silence as permission to jump on my stomach, reminding me of where I was thinking about going before Michael came down the stairs. He notices and unfortunately comes to the right conclusion.
“Let’s get you to the bathroom.” Like that’s a totally normal thing to say.
I inhale sharply when he leans his large frame over me, and he freezes. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“You didn’t,” I lie. “‘Let’s get you to the bathroom’ just isn’t a sentence you expect to be dropped in the middle of a conversation, that’s all.”
“I was reaching for Mims and Mad. They need to get down first.” He keeps his eyes steady on mine as he slowly picks up the furry bundles and lowers them to the floor.
They disappear like speedy dust bunnies into the kitchen, and I wish I could join them.
“Mims and Mad?”
“Mimsy and Madeline. They belonged to my mother before she got married about three years ago. Her new husband is allergic, so I took them on.”
I cling to the personal information like a lifeline. I know so little about him. But his mother actually talks to him and trusts him enough to give him those two angels. I suppose I could consider that a character reference. “How did they get up here in the first place?”
“They’re cuddlers, and I thought they’d help to warm you up.”
That’s…incredibly thoughtful. “Well, thank you. They did a good job.”
His expression softens. “They usually do. They’re good company. I’m going to pick you up now.”
I lean away from him. “Don’t start that again.”
“I hate to argue, since I can see you aren’t comfortable being carried, but—”
“I’m sorry about earlier.” Did I slap at him in the snow to keep him away from me? I think I did. “Obviously, I did need help at that point, and I should probably thank you. For that and…those other things. Really above and beyond the usual rescue detail and you deserve a medal, and maybe brain bleach if it existed. But I’m fully conscious now, so if you just point me in the right direction, I’ve got it from here.”
His lips twitch as he stares at me before pointing up toward the loft. “The bathroom is upstairs.”
“A place that’s as big as three apartments in my complex only has one bathroom? What kind of fancy log cabin of the damned is this?” I joke with a shaky laugh.
“The master is easier to maneuver in. It’s what you used the last time.”
So there is another bathroom. “Let’s both try to forget about the last time.”
“Your skin was still blue and you were barely conscious,” he reminds me, looking unhappy with the memory. I can feel his arm cautiously sliding behind my back. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Anybody would need a helping hand in that situation.”
I shoot him a suspicious look when he slips his other arm under my legs, as if waiting for me to push him away. I’m going to in a second. I just like the feel of his helping hands on me. What can I say? I’m weak. “Were you trying to be punny?”
“Not at all,” he says innocently.
“I know it’s a stupid line to draw, and we’ve both seen it all before. Recently. I’m really sorry to be such a—” He lifts me off the mattress and I finish with, “What the hell, man?”
He settles my tense body more securely against his chest. “You can’t say I didn’t warn you. What did you think I was doing just now? Heading for second base?”
Is he sassy too? Nice and grumpy and sassy?
“I was distracted. You can’t go around picking people up without their permission, Pub—Michael.”