Page 21 of Such a Naughty Girl

‘Does that mean the storm’s over?’Hope surged.

‘Looks like it.’

I went to my jacket pocket and pulled out my phone. Still no signal. Nothing at all.Disappointmentsank in my stomach like a leaden weight.

‘When will the power come back? Or the phone signal?’I asked.

Emmett shrugged. ‘Depends when they can get out to the sticks to deal with the down lines.’

‘If they clear the roads today, maybe I could get home…’

‘Snow is hella deep out there and the wind makes it settle in the gully where the road is. They’ll get through it, but it’ll take a few days.’

I sighed and took another look around the cabin. It’s like Christmas didn’t exist in Emmett’s world.

With a whistle, he called Chunk outside; the door banging behind him.

I dragged on my discarded clothes, raking through Emmett’s drawers until I found some thick woollen socks. Pulling them on, I stuffed my feet into my trainers and threw on my jacket before following them.

The world outside our depraved little cabin stood picture-perfect, sparkling in the morning sun like someone had spilled a thousand packs of glitter.

Snow clung to every branch, the sky above a sea of pink and orange. It stole my breath away.

A solid thunking from my right drew me to analtogethermore delicious sight. Who knew chopping wood could make a man look so darn edible?

The way his thick fingers clenched as he hefted the worn axe. The swipe of his hands as he wiped the gathering sweat on his brow.

Chunk barrelled into my legs, making me laugh.

‘Not a fan of me perving over your master, huh?’

The furry fiend stared at the soggy stick he’d dropped at my feet.

‘Okay,’I laughed.‘I’ll throw it for you.’

Chunk tore through the snow, his fluffy backside bouncing as he halfdisappeared.

‘He’ll do that all day if you keep it up.’ Emmett said, coming over to stand beside me.

‘That might not be so bad. It’s not feeling very festive. At least he’s having fun.’I trailed a finger up over the porch railing, knocking the snow from it in icy chunks.

‘Missing your folks?’Emmett asked, leaning over the rails with his elbows sunk into the snow, making white divots.

‘Yeah. It’s usually much more jolly, you know. Decadent food, lots of music, silly games.’

‘We could do something silly…’Emmett said.

‘You don’t strike me as someone who knows the meaning of silly,’I quipped, smiling at him.

‘I didn’t always live on the edge of society. I’ve had fun.’Emmett’s eyes gleamed.

‘Prove it.’

He glanced out at the pink-coated landscape before moving to the steps and turning to face me. I laughed as he fell backward, landing with a thump on his back in the fluffy snow.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Making a snow angel. Get your ass down here and make one, too.’

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