Page 39 of Montana Rain

She nodded. “It can be, yes.”

I lit the burner and set the water on to boil. “Did you have any while you were in Chicago?”

The name of the city brought a little light to her eyes, which told me enough about where her head was. “No. I didn’t have a chance because of the conference.”

“Well, if we’re ever in Chicago at the same time again, I’ll make sure to get you some kick-ass Thai food.”

That earned me a smile, which quickly faded.

The water boiled, and I slid the spaghetti into it before turning to Rayne, where she looked out the window. “Favorite color?”

“Purple.”

“Favorite kind of music.”

She glanced at me. “I don’t have one.”

“I highly doubt that.”

Rayne blinked. “I really don’t listen to music often. More podcasts, the news, things like that.”

I stepped closer, watching her watch me. She didn’t take a step back. “Come on, princess. I can see you driving down the highway, this crazy red hair flying everywhere while you belt something out at the top of your lungs. What is it?”

“I don’t.” Her entire face flushed.

“Your blush tells me otherwise.”

Her gaze hardened, and I was glad. When Rayne was fighting me, she was with me. If she was pissed, at least she was present. “Maybe I’m just done with your bullshit.”

“Good thing you’re stuck with me, then.”

The timer for the garlic bread went off, breaking us apart from where we’d started to drift closer together. She pulled it out and went to put it on the small table while I finished the pasta.

A few more words were exchanged here and there, but Rayne was back to one-word answers and disappearing into her head. I let her fade away, because it was clear she needed it. Not forever, but for now. She hadn’t thought about the reality of being stuck out here in hiding, and it was messing with her head.

I didn’t blame her.

When we finished eating, I took care of the dishes, made sure the generator was stocked and the fire was banked with wood. By the time all that was done, Rayne was on the couch, back under the blanket, completely asleep.

Chapter 17

Cole

It was freezing. The power was still on and the fire was still going, but with the raging storm outside, it wasn’t enough.

Even under the multiple blankets on the bed, I couldn’t get fully warm. The wind cut through every crevice it could find, stealing heat, life, and happiness itself.

Before I slept, I’d made sure Rayne was covered in more blankets. She was buried in at least three of them and was next to the fire, but I still heard her stirring. She wasn’t comfortable, and neither was I.

I looked at the clock on the bedside table. It wasn’t even midnight.

Turning on my back, I stared at the ceiling. This was ridiculous. Neither of us was going to get any kind of good sleep, and this was no longer a situation where principle ruled over practicality.

I stripped back the blankets and went to the living room, striding around the couch and lifting Rayne. Multiple blankets and all. She stirred, clearly awake. “What are you doing?”

“I’m bringing you to bed.”

“Cole—”

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