Page 19 of Snowed In

Edries joins me as the opening credits start to roll, dropping onto the couch.

“I’d like to point out that everythingIordered specifically is here. Therefore, I think you’re the one who’s the interloper.” I gesture to the wrapped items in the corner.

“Ah,” he says. “But the gifts under the tree are what I ordered.”

I glance back and frown. “Are you sure? Because I ordered some too.” Though, admittedly, I didn’t order that many. Now that I think about it, the pantryisoverstocked. What I thought might be storm prep might actually just be two separate orders.

“Hm,” Edries says. “Well, we’re going to have to wait until Christmas to find out. No peeking.”

A chuckle makes me shake my head. “Sure, Edries.”

We stay up through two movies and then I’m beat. I can’t keep my eyes open, so I finally head for the bedroom. Maybe I was subconsciously avoiding this moment. It’s one thing to get along with the guy and admit that his company isn’t horrible. But sharing a bed? He’s still a virtual stranger.

And there’s no doubt that we’ll be sharing a bed. I think we’re both convinced that this is our cabin. Even with as comfortable as thecouch looks, I’mnotsleeping on the couch for ten days. I know what I paid to be here.

I move through the bathroom quickly and then crawl into bed first. The lights are already off, so it’s the fire that throws a warm glow around the room. Edries comes in a moment later. I watch with my blankets up to my chin as he adds more logs to the fire before proceeding to the bathroom.

Minutes tick by before he steps back into the bedroom, now in only shorts. He’s… different from what I thought he’d be without clothes. Not that I’ve given it much thought. I haven’t.

His thighs are thick, like he’s played a sport that requires a lot of leg muscle for years. Football or… soccer or hockey, maybe. His waist isn’t as trim as his slacks make him look. He’s thick, not fat, but thick. His upper body is defined but, again, thick. Broad shoulders, thick arms.

He climbs into bed, and I roll onto my side so he has my back.

“I added more wood to the fire in the living room so it doesn’t go out in the night,” he says.

Well, thank fuck for that. It hadn’t even crossed my mind.

“Thanks,” I say. “I didn’t realize I paid for that service.”

He snorts. “Good night, Gabe.”

“Good night,” I murmur. I don’t hate his presence in the bed, either. Though I can already tell that his body heat is going to be distracting me from sleep for a while. As is the tantalizing dip of the bed.

Ugh.

Chapter Four

Edries

Iwake alone. When Bernice first left, I’d been counting up the days I’d woken alone. I’ve since stopped counting, but it’s still one of the first things I acknowledge whenever I wake up. The bed is empty. It’s just me.

The crackling of the fire makes me realize that I’m not in my own bed. I open my eyes and look around, remembering. Right. Cabin in the woods by myself for Christmas. Only… I’m not exactly by myself as planned. But Gabe isn’t in bed.

I’m going to pretend I’m not disappointed by that realization as I get up and head into the bathroom. I must have slept well last night. There’s evidence that he’s already taken a shower and gone about the morning. I follow through the motions I imagine he took.

Pissing. Brushing my teeth. Getting into the shower and washing. Does he wash his hair first or his body? How thorough is he?

Shaking my head, I push the inappropriate thoughts away. It’s one thing being creepy on a complete stranger that you’ll never face again. Another thing entirely when that not quite a stranger anymore is at most, fifty feet away.

Under the same roof. Snowed in.

At the reminder of the snow, I glance out the window in the bedroom. Yep, still snowing. I can’t see beyond the whiteout of snowfall. Turning my attention to the fireplace, I load in a few more pieces of wood and then head into the living room to do the same.

Turning into the kitchen, I stop in my tracks. Gabe’s there, all right. He’s moving about the space in nothing but underwear and socks with an apron on. They’re not boxer briefs, either. They remind me of skimpy bathing suit bottoms and these are decorated with candy canes.

I stare. I shouldn’t stare, but I stare. His body is lean and toned, tanned, likely from all the time he spends in the sun with soccer. His hair is dark, kind of messy. He’s got strong legs, but they don’t look entirely too thick. Gabe’s body is that of a runner.

I’ve never noticed before…

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