Page 19 of Snowy Secrets

Bella's eyes narrow. "Although what?"

I'm being ignored throughout this conversation, but I'll settle with simply looking at her.

"It happens that your arrival at the cabin coincided with the roof in the guest room leaking." Marcus sighs and runs a hand over his hair.

"So," Bella cuts in, her voice beginning to rise once more, "you're saying I don't have a bedroom?"

"There's my bedroom, of course," Marcus responds.

"I'm not sleeping in your bed," snaps Bella angrily. "I can stay in the living area." She nods at the sofa. "That will do." She glances over at me with renewed annoyance. “Unless you’re staying on the couch of course.”

Marcus doesn't say anything for a bit and watches Bella like I do. I can see that he's smitten. Somehow, it doesn't make me jealous. The man is one of the best friends I have ever had.

“I slept in the office last night,” I say, holding my hands up in surrender.

She harrumphs and looks back at Marcus.

"You don't need to sleep on the sofa," he finally says quietly. Bella opens her mouth, but he raises a hand to plead for a minute to finish what he has to say. "Although I am certain you are more than capable of slugging it out a few days in the living room. It isn't about your capabilities, but my own. I'm not about to let any guest of mine stay here when there is a fully functionalbedroom upstairs. You take the bedroom, and I'll use the sofa. God knows, I sleep here after a drink on most nights, anyway."

"What about your clothes?"

"I can get some things from my room and keep them out here.”

Bella gives him a long, hard stare and then, heavens be merciful, finally smiles. I haven't seen this smile in years, in what feels like a lifetime. I missed her. I miss her.

"Thanks," she mutters. "You don't need to pile your clothes here. You can come and get them when you need them."

"Thank you, Bella," Marcus replies with a dip of his head. He finally acknowledges my presence by walking over and slapping my shoulder. "What do you say we finish this tour?"

8

MARCUS

The history between River and Bella is obvious. It doesn't bother me, although the tension in the room right now is enough to make me wish I were anywhere else. But hey, that's not possible, so we'll just have to all agree to coexist. I had invited River out just for the night. We were both supposed to leave this morning, but he…was having a hard time with things. His PTSD was back with a vengeance, and I hadn’t felt right hurrying us back home. Then the snow had started, and we both realized we wouldn’t be going anywhere.

I wasn’t honestly sure how Bella had even managed to get up to the cabin in the growing storm. I had said as much to her after I explained why we were both still in residence, but she had just rolled her eyes at me. I loved that she was so feisty, but it also meant she clearly felt we were imposing on her by staying in the warm cabin to wait out the storm.

"I'll look through the rest of this place myself," says Bella curtly to me.Oof."Please excuse me."

It takes me significant effort to swallow the smile rising to my lips. She's already annoyed. I don't want to infuriate her.

"Sure," I say. "Have at it. Take your time, Bella. I'll wait here." I give her a small smile and nod.

She hesitates for a second, returns the smile briefly, then turns and walks away. I watch her go, the sway of her hips hypnotic, the sunlight turning her hair into a halo. Damn, she's beautiful. Even more so than eight years ago.

"So, you want to talk about it?" I ask the lump of stone beside me.

"No," he replies tersely. "Not today."

"As you wish, man." I laugh, slapping him once more because River is someone I can annoy without worrying about the consequences.

He gives me a heavy scowl and mutters something about my being an old asshole before disappearing. I let him go. He'll be fine. He'll talk about it when he's ready.

From where I'm standing, Bella's silhouette is visible as she examines the snow falling from the windows in the study.

I shake my head, chuckling to myself.Marcus, you old dog, stop drooling. She's way out of your league. Always was, always will be.

Not that I'm looking to start anything. I learned my lesson with my wife—although she kept telling me I had to find love again and that I shouldn't spend the rest of my life alone. She also said if I refused to find someone, she'd return as a ghost and haunt me at night. It's been four years. I'm still waiting for her ghost. I've looked for her everywhere, from the hospice center to my bedroom to the very recesses of my heart. If she’s here, she's a hell of a shy one.

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