Page 8 of My First Mistake
I’m surprised to find the lights on when I pull up to the cabin. But what a nice touch. It makes the place look warm and welcoming, and I suppose also ensures that any guests don’t trip over or bump into anything if they’re arriving in the dark.
I grab my suitcase from the front seat and then fire off a text to Eva, telling her I’ve arrived and I’ll meet them in the bar after a quick shower and change. There’s a path that leads directly from Lakesfisher Lodge to the main hotel and I have a flashlight, so I have no qualms about finding the place. I get a little red warning error telling me my message didn’t send.
Damn phone signal. I hold my cell up in the air, like that might help, but of course it doesn’t. It will be fine. She’s expecting me around ten andaroundten is when I’ll be there.
I enter the code on the email I was sent and retrieve the key from the little locked box before letting myself in. Immediately, something feels wrong.
Why the hell does this place smell like cologne? Why is there steam coming from one of the bedrooms?
I shriek when the silhouette of a man appears in the bedroom doorway, grabbing my suitcase and holding it in front of me like a shield, like it would do me any good at all, but still, a girl’s gotta use whatever she has to hand.
“Addie?” That voice is so achingly familiar, and also so very rage inducing.
I drop my suitcase with a thunk. “Chase? What the hell are you doing here?”
He holds up his hands in surrender as he steps out of the room and into the light. Damn asshole is wearing only a towel, slung low on his waist. Low enough to see the V that disappears beneath it…My gaze drifts lower.
No, Addie! We do not admire Chase Hunter’s physique, no matter how pleasing to the eye it might be, and we definitely do not look at his man meat. Never.
“I can explain,” he says, walking toward me.
I snarl. If I had my heels on, I’d brandish one like a weapon and tell him to get the hell out. “I’m pretty sure there is no logical explanation in this entire world that would explain you being here, half naked, inmycabin.”
“Brax was worried about you and he asked me to stay.”
Ah! I guess there isoneexplanation. “And you agreed to, why?”
“Because he was worried you were brokenhearted over some douche-canoe and he didn’t want you spending four nights in this secluded cabin on your own. And to be frank, I don’t really like the idea much myself. There’s not even any decent cell signal here. And the Wi-Fi is shocking.”
I snort. “Don’t pretend you did any of this out of the kindness of your heart, Chase. Leaving aside the fact you don’t possess one, you did this because Brax gave you an impossible choice. And you didn’t want my brother to find out what a giant ass-face you truly are.”
He sucks in a breath, hands on his hips as he glares at me. “Like I said, he was worried about you. And your broken heart, apparently.”
“I do not have a broken heart,” I snap. “Far from it. You, though, almost had a broken face. You could have given mesome prior warning that you’d be here. I almost had a heart attack. What if I’d been carrying a gun?”
“You hate guns.”
“Still, if Ididn’tand Ihadbeen packing heat, I could have shot you right in the ass or something.”
I’m sure his lips twitch like he wants to smile, but he doesn’t. “Brax tried to tell you earlier but like I said the cell signal here is awful.”
“So, you just invaded my cabin without even asking? How did you even get in here?” I dangle the cabin key on my finger.
“Eva’s mom explained the new situation to the hotel desk and they gave me an extra key.”
“And then you decided to wander around half naked to jump out and surprise me? And I see you already chose a bedroom. So, you just walked in here and took overmycabin that I paid for with no thought for anyone but yourself?”
He rolls his eyes. “I didn’tchooseany room, Addie. I just took a fucking shower in the first bathroom I found. You can have whatever room you like. I really don’t give a shit.”
Clearly, he didn’t look around when he got here. I fold my arms over my chest and look him dead in the eye. “You’re sure about that?”
He nods. “Yeah.”
Oh, well, at least this next part is going to be so much fun. It might even be worth the horror of having to share a cabin with him for the next four nights. My shock at finding him here is quickly being replaced by sheer delight. It’s probably very wicked of me, but still…he deserves it.
I suppress a snicker. “Shall I show you where you’ll be sleeping, Chase?”
He frowns now, confused and wary. “If you insist.”
