Page 29 of Cabin Fever

TEN

Carter

"OH MY GOD . . . UH, golly goodness, food. I'm stopping." Olivia jerked the vehicle toward an empty parking space just outside the Fire and Ice diner. I held my breath, covered my eyes, and grasped at hope with a death grip.

In the fifteen minutes it took to get from the hospital to here, I had easily lost five years of my life and shredded my voice. I screamed, loudly and more than I care to admit.

The door creaked open, followed by a blast of chilled air. Still frozen in place from three almost perilous accidents, I sat refusing to lower my hand from my eyes.

"Is this hell? Are we dead?"

A playful tap warmed my leg, and the heat trailed up to the apex between my thighs. How could my body mess with me like that? One minute I'm frightened that I'd never see Kitty or the sheep again, and the next, Olivia's touch had me remembering when I almost kissed her.

I did everything but kiss her. I felt her up and nuzzled her neck. It felt so good. She was so warm but I wouldn't be surprised if it was our physical attraction that caused the crack in the branch that fell on the cabin. I know it happened after the branch fell, but nature anticipated it. Our bodies were never meant to touch. We created an unsettling disruption in Mother Nature that chipped away at its balance. It made sense.

A woman as beautiful and soft as Olivia, who had never seen a washing machine in her life, did not belong with me. I had lived alone for the past two years, without a soul needed—okay, except for the occasional question at the grocery store or for someone to tell me what I owned when I bought my coffee in town.

The point was, she needed people; I didn't.

"You can stop cowering, we're here."

I lowered my hand and blinked. We were alive. I'd hug her but the last time I did that a roof caved in.

"Yes," I whispered.

For the first time in years, it felt good to be alive.

I hopped out of the car, closed the door, and practically skipped to the front door. Olivia stared at me as I held the front door to the diner open for her. With a grin.

"I don't understand you, Carter. Once minute you're Mr. Grumpington and the next, you act like a kid."

"So, I'm adorable and childlike?" With a quizzical stare, I followed her into the diner as she glanced around for a table.

"No. After all we've been through today—"

"You mean whatI'vebeen through today. I'm the one that had to go to the emergency room."

My eyes zeroed in on her butt as she bounced on her tiptoes and pointed to a booth by the window. The woman exuded happiness at all times. It was cute and as much as I learned about her from our time together, her reactions still brought a smile to my face.

Except for today when I told her to go away while I was on the roof.

It was the first time I had seen her heartbroken. I knew it wasn't me she was upset about. Olivia wouldn't have feelings for a scruffy farmer that would rather spend his time with dirty animals than with humans.

She wanted to help, and I did nothing but yell at her whenever she tried. It wasn't right of me. She loved to learn, and that's something that should never be squashed.

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