Growing up in Arkansas, I’ve dealt with cold winters all my life. If preferences are based on genetics, my taste for warm weather comes from my parents who grew up in hotter climates.
Leaving behind the snowmobiles, we start our three-mile trek toward Janx’s cabin. Not even twenty minutes later, my feet are frozen, even though the rest of my body remains relatively warm. Glitch suggests I walk behind him so his body will act as a barrier for the harsh winds.
I’d rather be in the lead. If this Janx asshole opens fire on us, Glitch will take the bullets, and I refuse to have him die in this backwater shithole. Unfortunately, the winter winds keep knocking me over, forcing me to walk behind Glitch.
I’m soon hypnotized by the crunches our footsteps make in the snow. In my head, the sounds create a song in the same way Glitch does when tapping his fork against a glass whenever we’re awkward at dinner. He usually claims he’s playing a song by the Stones, but I swear it sounds like “Macarena.”
I smile behind my balaclava mask while imagining him dancing in his tiny house to the song. I even hear the lyrics, having endured Sage’s love affair with the song years ago.
“It’s addictive,” she explained back then, and I suspect Glitch agrees.
I don’t know how long I’m in my head before Glitch pauses and I nearly run into the back of him. Patting his shoulder, I reach for my gun with my other hand.
“Let’s stop for a second,” he says to me after the wind dies down enough for him to be heard.
We huddle next to a large, bare tree while he checks our current location on the GPS. I drink water from my backpack and then offer him some. He enjoys a few gulps before showing me on the phone how we’re still an hour out.
“Why are we taking so long?”
“The wind isn’t helping, and the snow nearly reaches your damn knees. We might not have thought this plan out enough.”
Closing my eyes, I wish we’d left earlier, but the wind chill lingered below zero until midday.
“We should have waited,” I mumble with my cheek against his arm. “At least, until the weather was better, but we got spooked about this fucker showing up and killing someone. I couldn’t have that on my conscience. Man, I wish I was more heartless.”
“I blame you too, Clove,” he says, and I hear him laughing behind his mask.
Smiling, I nuzzle closer to his body. My eyes remain closed for a few minutes and imagine us back at my place. The heat roaring so hot I can walk around naked. Gizmo chasing one of those cat balls with the bell inside. Glitch and me eating dinner in the living room while watching a cheesy action flick with D-list actors.
We recently learned we share a love for bad movies with over-the-top action scenes. Restless to return to our lives, I can’t wait to learn more about this amazing man.
“Are you ready?” Glitch asks, using the tree to push himself up.
Despite shaking my head, I force myself to stand and follow him. We make steady work of the walk until reaching dense trees. Rather than chance getting stuck in them—or injured by an unseen threat—we go around and add another half hour to our trek.
I start to think we’ll never arrive when Glitch stops again to check his GPS. “Let’s settle in until the sun starts to go down.”
“Are we that close?”
“Close enough that we should whisper.”
Nodding, I smile behind my mask. Walking has sucked the energy right out of me, but I feel it returning now that we’re nearly at our target.
Huddling between two trees, Glitch and I enjoy a dinner of beef jerky and trail mix. More than once, I hear noises, but he reassures me it’s only squirrels or raccoon. Janx wouldn’t wander the woods in this weather.
“No sane person would,” I whisper, and he laughs. “Should we set up camp here?”
“What if we can’t find our way back here after killing Janx? Might be better to bring our supplies with us, just in case.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Of course. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Neither do I.”
Glitch chuckles again. “I love you, Clove.”
“I love you too, Glitch. I’m glad we’re killing this guy together.”
Taking my hand, he nods. “Me too.”
“It’ll be a great story to tell our kids.”
“I prefer the one about the first time we fucked.”
“You will not tell them about that,” I mutter, horrified at my kids knowing what a horny bitch I can be. Glitch laughs at my tone, and I nuzzle closer. “I’m afraid I’ll miss my shot.”
“If you do, take another. It’ll be fine.”
His confidence in my ability to handle the situation makes me love him even more. How did I ever think this man was no more than a pretty boy sex toy? Clearly, my stubborn head was shoved up my luscious ass. Now that it’s removed, I see him for the incredible catch he is, and I can’t wait to get started on our life together.
First, though, we need to kill this asshole.