Page 14 of Driven Wild By The Grizzly

7

Jessica

Because Ethan’s standing in the middle of the living room in a fresh white tank top and blue jeans. His hair is pulled up in a man bun again, and he looks hotter than ever. Heat flares between my thighs, and I swear my knees go weak.

“You got dry?” I say confusedly.

He thumbs over his shoulder. “I took a shower out the back. I’ve got an outdoor shower rigged up.”

“You showered in the storm?”

“Wasn’t gonna get any wetter.” He grins. “I wanted to make sure I was here when you came out.”

My heart flutters and I fall for him a little more. He’s too awesome to be real. So strong and masculine, but so considerate as well. Like some crazy fantasy I dreamed up.

His gaze flickers to my new outfit and away again, like he’s dying to stare at me, but he’s trying not to be obvious about it.

“Hope I’m not stealing someone else’s clothes?” I blurt out, as the green-eyed monster rises up in me. I swear I’ve never felt like this before. Sopossessiveand territorial.

He looks thoughtful. “No, I bought them last week when I was out shopping in Twin Falls.” He shrugs. “Wasn’t sure why at the time. Look like they were made for you, though.”

“Oh,” I say, and there’s a weird little lurch in my chest. Is he saying he bought them because he somehowknewhe was going to meet me? The hairs on my forearms stand up. Everything that’s happened between us so far feels like it’s been stage-managed by something bigger than the two of us, and the thought of that just makes my heart beat faster.

“Here,” he hands me a steaming mug of tea, and gestures at his brown leather sofa. “Take a seat.”

The sofa is as comfy as it looks and I sink into it gratefully. There’s a fireplace on the opposite side of the room, and a bunch of logs are crackling and popping with a soft orange glow. I can see all the care Ethan has taken to make his place into a real home.

“Feeling better?” he asks.

“So much.” I sip the tea. “Wow, this is amazing.”

“It’s herbal. Some stuff I grew out back,” he says carelessly.

Andhe makes his own tea. And makes out like that’s nothing.

“Are you hungry? Got some stew heating up.”

Right on cue, my belly rumbles like a beast.Oof.Not very sexy or ladylike. “Sorry,” I squeak. “I haven’t eaten for a while. Since breakfast actually.”

His eyes turn tender again. “That’s no good. You need to keep your strength up.”

He goes to the kitchen and stirs at something on the stove. Meanwhile, I grab my backpack and open it gingerly. By some miracle, my laptop is still dry inside its waterproof sleeve, and my phone still works. I’ve sure tested the manufacturers’ claims to the max today.

I swipe on my phone screen. My brother will be wondering where the hell I am. And probably freaking out. I stare into space, trying to figure out how to communicate to him that I’m fine right now. I can’t exactly tell him that I’m staying in the cabin of a big muscly mountain man. He’ll probably call the FBI or mountain rescue, or something.

Darn.I hate lying to him, but sometimes it’s the only way to keep Ricky’s twitchy psyche under control. At last, I type out:

Hey, Ricky. Some storm huh? Did you get home ok? Luckily I avoided the worst of it, and I’m gonna stay in Brookville tonight.

Notexactlya lie.

I hit send.

But I get a fail signal. I try again and again, but nada.

“Everything okay?” Ethan is carrying two steaming plates of food.

“Yeah, just my brother. I need to tell him I’m safe.”

---