<<<>>>
CHAPTER ONE
I barely made it.
By the time I reached the cabin, the world was lost in a sea of white. I knew we were expecting a storm this weekend, but it wasn’t supposed to be a blizzard. And it wasn’t supposed to get bad until the middle of the night, not by dinner.
I hauled my bag inside and dumped it on the floor in the foyer, and then breathed in deep. There were worse places to spend a week in a blizzard. The only thing I worried about was if the rest of the family would make it.
Both my brothers were supposed to come, and they were planning on bringing along Brett. My breath shuddered out. Brett. Family friend and long-time crush.
Who was I kidding? He wasn’t a simple crush. I’d known Brett since we were kids. He used to pull my hair and tease me. Then in high school he acted like an older brother and screened all the guys I dated. And now?
Now he just avoided me.
I peered out the window with a frown. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to make it. As much as I wanted Brett here, part of me never wanted to see him again. Every time I tried to tell him how I felt, he had something to do. Somewhere to be. Someone else to talk to.
I don’t know what I’d done to offend him, but it had to have been something.
When my phone rang and I saw my brother’s number, I answered right away. “Hey, Jeff.”
“Where are you?”
“At the cabin.”
“Damn. You bring provisions?” he asked.
I walked to the kitchen. “The fridge was stocked a few days ago, but I still brought some snacks. Why? I thought you were bringing stuff.”
“Yeah, I was. But not anymore. Didn’t you hear? They closed the highway.”
Outside the window, the snow was so thick I couldn’t even see the road. “Wait—you’re not coming?”
“Can’t.”
“But…what about Drew? He and Brett were supposed to come, too.”
“Drew had to run into work. He was supposed to come with me.”
My stomach clenched. “And Brett?”
“He left an hour ago—should be there soon.”
Fuck. Maybe the road was closed before he got past. Not that I wanted to be stuck at the cabin all alone for a few days—or until the blizzard passed—but it’d be way less awkward. I could read a book. Drink some wine. Pine over Brett…
“This sucks,” I said, opening the refrigerator. Might as well check out the rations.
Jeff laughed. “Hopefully it’s only until tomorrow night. The snow’s supposed to slow down and we’ll head up then.”
A day alone with Brett was bound to feel like a month, but again…wine. Reading. I could even pop in a movie and lose myself in that. Brett could fend for himself.
“Let me know when you’re on your way,” I said.
Jeff promised to call me tomorrow, and hung up. At least the fridge was stocked. I grinned at the wine rack. That was stocked, too, which meant Brett wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.
I pulled down a bottle and opened it before grabbing my phone and attaching it to the wireless speaker on the counter. Music would pass the time. Later I’d start a fire and decide what to do next.
By the time I’d had almost an entire glass, I’d almost forgotten I was up here alone. I dawned my slippers and spun in the kitchen, dancing to 90s hip hop with my glass in hand. When the chorus started, I sang at the top of my lungs, pulling off some pretty stellar dance moves.
I downed the rest of my wine, spun in the other direction, and froze.
I choked on the lyrics of the song when I saw Brett standing at the edge of the kitchen.
To my dismay, he started clapping.
“Oh, God…I didn’t know you were here.”
He pulled off his cap, ruffling his hair, and dusted the floor with snow. My throat dried. Damn, he looked good. He always looked good. I squeezed my thighs together at the ache that bloomed. “I’m here.”
I swallowed and set my glass aside, suddenly nervous. “I’m the only one here.”
“Jeff called. I’m sure they’ll make it up tomorrow.” His gaze dropped to my slippers, and I swear the corner of his mouth quirked. Then he turned abruptly. “I have more stuff in the car.”
Before I could say anything, he vanished.
Damn it. What was his problem?
I walked to the window and watched him making his way to his car. I could barely see him by the time he reached it. Shit. It was only getting worse. Which meant I should probably get the box I brought as well—just in case I needed M&M’s in the middle of the night.
Tugging on my cap, jacket, and boots, I huffed out my irritation. Brett was just going to have to deal with me because it wasn’t like I was going anywhere. I yanked open the front door and trudged down the steps as he was coming up.
“Wait—Evie.” He held a box in his arms but turned back. “Where are you going?”
“I have stuff.”
I didn’t stop, just hiked through a couple of feet of snow to reach my car. There was so much snow on it, the trunk wouldn’t open. Then I realized I hadn’t brought my gloves.
“Shit.”
I watched Brett vanish inside the house, then reappear. Instead of going for his truck, he headed in my direction.
Ignoring him, I swiped at the snow, trying to knock as much off as I could to open the trunk.
“You’re not wearing gloves,” he said.
“Thanks for pointing that out.”
I hated the snark in my voice, but I was tired of his attitude. There was a time I would have died and gone to heaven knowing I would have been alone with him for a whole day. And night. Maybe longer. But now…
Brett jerked the trunk open and I reached for the box at the same time he did.
“I’ve got it,” I said.
“Get inside. You’re not wearing gloves.”
My mouth dropped open. “You’re not my boss. I—”
He tugged the box, and I tugged back. His eyes met mine in challenge. But when I tugged again and a whole pile of snow slid from the side of the trunk onto my arms, I gasp and released the box, falling on my ass in a snowbank.
Brett spun around, abandoning the box. “Evie.”
“Why did you do that?” I pulled my hands from the snow. They already ached from the cold.
“I didn’t mean to.”
And maybe it was because I was a little tipsy. Or a little frustrated. Or just because I wanted to see him in the snow, too. But when he reached down for me, I jerked his hand and made him stumble into the snow as well.
“Ha!” I rose onto my knees with a triumphant laugh. “Now you know how it feels. You—”
The snowball got me right in the face. I gasped and then reached for him, knocking him back into the snow. But this time he took me with him. I landed on top of him.
My breath rushed out and my hands pressed against his chest. My lips were inches from his, and our eyes locked. His fingers found my waist, squeezing through my jacket.
“Brett,” I murmured.
All my anger was lost in that moment. For once, he wasn’t turning away, wasn’t glaring at me. He was looking straight into my eyes with something like surprise.
I opened my mouth to say something else, but he sat up abruptly, nearly knocking me back in the snow. He hauled me to my feet without warning and then grabbed the box from my trunk.
Before I could say anything, he strode through the snow and to the stairs, looking like it took no effort at all. Stung by his actions, I slammed the trunk shut and hurried after him.
My hands ached from the cold, but not as bad as my heart.