Page 15 of His One True Wish

I heard a bang, and Billie’s voice carried down the hall. “Sorry! I dropped the poker. Putting it back!”

“All good!” I shouted back.

Billie scared the shit out of me, and I was grateful that she let Cam back in the house. She must have snuck out when I was drawing the bath. That dog was smart enough to open and close the kitchen door without me knowing it.

I wasn’t lying about worrying there was a raccoon inside the cabin. A family of raccoons lived in a hedge along the south field. They were plentiful, sneaky, and clever as hell. They gnawed through a rope tie and got into the barn twice to chew on wires. Cam scared them out last time. I loved animals, but wouldn’t grieve if I never saw another one of those masked black-and-white bandits in my trash.

Well, at least it wasn’t Angel standing on the counter rummaging through the liquor cabinet. I wasn’t proud of leaving her at the rest stop, but I knew damn well that she would call her driver or someone else on her “A” team for a rescue. I just hoped she didn’t come back to talk things out with me.

“No more fucking the wrong woman, buddy,” I said, glancing down at my dick, safely stowed in my pants. I wasn’t someone who usually talked to my dick, but that night I figured it couldn’t hurt. My relationship with Angel was based first on lust and second on lies. What once seemed promising devolved into just a bad decision.

I stopped in front of my dresser mirror and ran a finger through my now-dry hair. I smoothed my beard and pulled down the corners of my flannel. I couldn’t help but smile, remembering the surprised look on Billie’s face seeing me naked.

Sure, I could have gotten dressed faster, but what was the fun in that? The truth was, once I realized she was no longer terrified, I enjoyed messing with her. It was kind of fun to parade around naked and watch her react.

Her dark eyes sparked so bright when she threw that first bottle. She was a goddamn firecracker when cornered. Feisty, hot body, cute as hell, but there was also a hint of kindness in her smile. That was something I hadn’t seen in a while. The women in Florida were beautiful. Hell, Angel was gorgeous, but I hadn’t met a woman without something to hide in a long while. I caught Billie watching me clean the floor, and there was something sweet and transparent about her expression. She looked precious to me, like gold.

Where the was that thought coming from?

I needed to remember that Billie was here because she thought of this place as her home. I didn’t know why Louise or Mason hadn’t told her about me, but that was not my business. Billie might be adorable. She might even be sexy, sweet, and all the things I sensed in the kitchen, but she was undoubtedly upset I was here. She didn’t own the cabin, but I was sure that she felt she belonged here more than me.

I zipped up my vest and patted the front pocket, checking for my keys. A plan formed in my mind. I needed to get back out there before Billie came looking for me. Again, the image of her walking in the door made my dick jump in my pants. “Stay where you belong,” I muttered to myself. “You’ve gotten me in enough trouble this year.”

CHAPTER 6

BILLIE

Gran hired Axl Grey and didn’t tell me or Mom. When was the last time Mom even spoke to Mason? Surely, he would have mentioned something about our family’s tenant. I glanced at my brick of a phone, feeling like an idiot for driving out here without a charger.

“Well, this is something,” I said, exhaling as I sat down at the kitchen table. I dropped my head into my hands. It didn’t matter anyway. Was I really going to text or call Mom or my friends and tell them I was stuck at the Smoke River cabin with a hot stranger and his adorable dog? Mom would freak out. My friends would panic. But this wasn’t the beginning of aDatelineepisode, a winter encounter gone wrong. I wasn’t expecting Axl, but he didn’t give me “murder” vibes. I supposed that was a relief.

I glanced at the couch. Cam the border collie was exhausted. Her black-and-white chest rose and fell in even and steady breaths. Axl was lucky I showed up. That dog should not have been outside in the snow. He acted like it was no big thing she was still outside, but I didn’t believe him.

Axl was Gran’s secret, and he had no idea she’d passed away. I should have told him, but the moment passed, and now it wasawkward. Plus, I didn’t owe this man anything. I rubbed my tired eyes, my body aching with fatigue. I didn’t want any of this. My plan was to get to the cabin, unload the truck, sleep, head home, and do it again.

My eyes darted down the hall. There was only one bedroom in this cozy little cabin. Just thinking about that one big bed made my stomach flutter and my cheeks burn. Axl wasn’t supposed to be sleeping in that bed tonight. I was. I’d been thinking about how good it would feel to slip under those covers for miles.

Frustration surged inside me. I got up and walked into the living room. Our old, red-checkered couch still stood in front of the river-rock fireplace. Cam lifted her head as I approached, her chocolate-brown eyes, watching me like sweet little stalker.

“Cozy couch, isn’t it?” I said, petting her head. I’d fallen asleep on this couch many times growing up. It wouldn’t be the end of the world to snuggle up with a blanket out here tonight. “You’d make room for me, wouldn’t you, girl?” I asked.

She looked at me with big brown eyes that I imagined were saying yes.

In front of the couch, a pink, depression-glass salad bowl sat on top of our surfboard-shaped coffee table. Gran used to keep her knitting there. I peeked inside to see a couple packs of Bicycle playing cards on top of some glossy magazines,Fisherman WeeklyandFlying.

I picked up the fishing one and paged through it. Men in plaid shirts and puffy vests stood knee-deep in rivers, by campfires, and beside big trees.Flyinghad the same hottie outdoorsman vibe, which I supposed matched Axl, though I had yet to see him in clothes. He was some piece of work, parading around that kitchen naked. My cheeks still burned thinking of him full frontal.

I walked to the window, tracing my fingers along the river-rock fireplace. Axl had returned the poker. I touched it with my finger, and it tipped over, clattering onto the stone hearth with a bang.

“Sorry! I dropped the poker! Putting it back!” I shouted down the hall. I held my breath, waiting for a response.

“All good!” Axl shouted.

It was so weird knowing he was back in my old bedroom putting on clothes. Over my shoulder, Cam watched me, tail wagging the whole time. Well, Axl might not be super warm and fuzzy, but at least his dog liked me. That was something, right?

The shutters were closed on the window that faced the southern field. Gran and Mom’s chairs sat in front of it, side by side. There were folded blue blankets draped across the back of each chair. It was a thoughtful touch and made the spot by the window look cozy. I assumed Axl placed the blankets there, which made that squishy warm feeling in my belly spark to life again. Who was this guy, and what was Gran thinking when she rented to him without talking to me or Mom? I wished I could talk to her. Had he been the best applicant or just the hottest?

Stop. I needed to stop thinking words like hot, sexy, gorgeous, and well-hung. Was I really attracted to him? Is that what was going on here? First, I lusted over the hot cop on the way to Denver, and now I couldn’t stop thinking about the ripple of Axl’s abs and that trail of hair that led down his body.

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