Page 12 of Between a Rock and a Hard Cowboy

It wasn’t too far from the main house, but far enough to take the truck rather than walk. Especially since the sun set early this time of year and the weather was unpredictable.

Eva pulled her car up behind his truck. He turned and, leaning against the bumper, waited for her.

She’d insisted on taking her own vehicle and following him so she couldleave whenever she wanted,as she’d said.

Fine with him. He didn’t need to be trapped in close confines with the fiery redhead for any longer than necessary.

They were here to plan the event they were assigned. As he’d suggested and she’d shot down just yesterday. Why she’d changed her mind, he didn’t know but whatever. She was here now.

“So this is the Wilder Lodge?” Eva asked, gazing up at the stone and timber facade of the building.

She pulled a jacket that was much too thin for December closer around her, covering today’s T-shirt selection which read,I’m not a control freak, but you’re doing it wrong.

That sentiment didn’t bode well for their future partnership in the challenge but he nodded anyway in answer to her question about the lodge. “Yup.”

He pushed off the truck and flipped to the key on the ring that would open the front door.

“And what do you do with this monstrosity when it isn’t Christmas and you aren’t having any Yule log festivities?” she asked, staring up.

He glanced up himself and tried to see the building through her eyes.

Stone formed the columns. Thick, old wooden half timbers decorated the front. The second-floor roofline of the Tudor inspired building was supported by dark wood trusses. The original roof showed off weathered slate tile.

It was impressive, he supposed. It was also cold and damp if he didn’t keep the heat turned up. And impossible to keep free from cobwebs. But he loved living there. Loved the solitude—when he didn’t have guests like his new Christmas challenge partner.

And he’d been making improvements, slowly but surely. Turning it into a full-time residence rather than an occasional place for recreation for the males of the family, which was what it was designed for. Hunting. Drinking. Card games. Not much more.

But he’d updated the systems. The new larger hot water heater now never ran cold. And after shopping for a new fridge and microwave, and installing a dishwasher, he had a kitchen that rivaled the one in the big house that Wyatt had just updated.

He turned back to Eva to answer her question. “I live here.”

That got her attention. Her gaze whipped to his. “Thisis where you live?”

“Yup.”

“I thought you lived in a cabin. That’s what everyone calls it. That’s what you call it.” She shot him an accusatory glare.

He shrugged as the thick wooden door swung in. “That’s what Gramps used to call it. But officially on maps and in history books it’s the Wilder Lodge.”

“Of course. Even the Wilder cabin is on maps and in history books. Why am I surprised?” she mumbled.

She walked through the front door and swept the dim space with her gaze.

He flipped on the switch and updated LEDs hidden alongside the ceiling beams cast light throughout the first floor.

Eva turned back to him and he waited for further commentary from her.

“You live here alone?” she asked.

“Yeah. It’s not as big as it looks.” He shrugged.

One red brow shot up.

He continued, “I mean there’s only one bathroom, and two small bedrooms upstairs. The rest is mostly a big open common area.”

Why he felt the need to justify his home to her, he wasn’t sure, but when she looked at him like that—like she was right and he was lacking—he couldn’t help himself.

She was still frowning at him and he guessed why. “I grew up in the big house but after the Army… I wanted a place of my own. So I moved out and into here.”

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