The soldier sighs, shaking his head, ‘even if we could’ he replies, ‘the track leading back to the highway is going to be impossible to navigate. It’s narrow and full of holes, plus it weaves, it would only take one slight error for us to go over the edge and into a tree.’
Gage takes a step closer to me, grabbing my arms as I start to freak out, I’m trapped up here, we can’t get out! Oh God, I only brought one change of underwear, I didn’t bring any food! What if it snows for weeks? We’ll starve!
‘Hey’ he calls out to me gently, ‘it’s OK, we get this weather sometimes around here, I will ring my brother, he can sort out a snow plough to come and dig us out when the snow stops.’
I whimper softly, going willingly when the strong man tugs me into his chest, arms wrapping around me comfortingly, making me feel safe. I wrap my own arms around his waist, burying my face into his shirt, breathing in the subtle scent of the body wash he used this morning, allowing his strength to calm me.
Stepping back a few moments later, I stare awkwardly at the floor, suddenly embarrassed by my reaction to our situation.
‘You OK?’ he asks me gently, his index finger hooking under my chin, tilting my head up to look at him.
I nod, forcing a small smile, ‘yeah’ I reply, ‘just a little shocked by the storm that’s all, crazy panic attack is over, I promise.’
He nods, still studying me for a few minutes, before he tugs out a cell phone, holding it up as he frowns.
‘What is it?’ I ask, worry clawing at me again.
Gage grimaces, his eyes lifting to me, ‘don’t freak out’ he tells me quickly, ‘but I don’t have any cell service.’
Gasping, I reach into the back pocket of my own jeans, tugging out my old reliable of a cellphone and check the screen to find the words, ‘no service’ emblazoned across the centre.
Meeting Gage’s gaze again, I shake my head mutely.
Sighing, the soldier’s shoulders sag, ‘it looks like the storm has knocked out the cell tower’ he mutters, ‘we’re not going anywhere for a while.’
Callan’s POV
I stare after the intoxicating woman who just ran from my office like her ass was on fire, and what a great ass it is. I run my mind back through our little interaction, the fidget of her body when I bit into the creamy filling of the red velvet cupcake, the way her chest rose and fell as she sucked in a sharp breath. The slight tremble in her hands as she reached up to her face, pushing up her thin frames . .
I blink, suddenly realising that Mackenzie was wearing glasses today, I swear she didn’t have glasses on before when I saw her. Has she always worn glasses? I’m pretty sure she didn’t . . OK I’ve spent most of our interactions trying not to stare at her ass and tits but I’m sure I’d have noticed if she had on glasses . . wouldn’t I?
I let out a groan as I fall into my chair, cramming the rest of the cupcake into my mouth, glasses, she wears f.ucking glasses, like a sexy librarian, can she get any more perfect?
I love women in glasses, sexy frames perched on their noses and f.uck me heels on their feet is my kryptonite. I’ve had a thing for glasses for as long as I can remember, there is just something about them that make a woman look sexy as hell yet vulnerable. It tugs on my protective and primal instincts in a way that nothing else ever does. I love grabbing their hair tightly in my fist as they ride me, surging up inside of them as they look down on me over the top of the frames, hot as f.uck.
I shift in my chair, as my jeans tighten painfully, images of a certain auburn haired woman in nothing but those damn glasses and hot pink stilettos filling my mind.
‘Hey Cal, have you got the . . ‘ Gage’s voice trails off as he spots the open box on my desk. ‘Are they from Sweet Temptations?’ he demands, stalking closer and reaching for a cupcake.
‘Mine’ I growl at him, snapping the lid closed, covering the treats from my best friend.
‘Aww come on dude, don’t be an asshole, let me have one’ the soldier whines, leaning over the desk and trying to open the lid as I hold it closed, dangerously close to squashing the delectable morsels inside.
‘No, get your own’ I snap back, wrapping an arm around the box and tugging it from underneath, holding it to my chest as I swivel around, hugging them protectively.
‘You are such a dick, why are we friends’ my ex roommate huffs in annoyance as the chair squeaks behind me from his heavy frame dropping into it.
Glancing over my shoulder, I check he’s far enough away before slowly turning back, placing the box on the corner of the desk farthest away from him.
‘We’re friends because you couldn’t find anyone else to put up with your p.ussy whipped ass’ I retort to his earlier question.
Gage just grins back at me, not at all annoyed by my comment, ‘hey, as long as it’s Hali’s p.ussy that’s whipping me, I’ll bend over and present my ass any time she wants’ he replies.
I roll my eyes, ugh, both of my best friends have become saps since they found love, it’s sickening. It’s also having an effect on my social life as I haven’t really ventured to any bars or clubs since I became a lone Batchelor. Gage was my wing man, sometimes we even convinced Cale to come, more as a designated driver than because we thought he’d enjoy it, but now it’s just me and it’s not so much fun going out by myself.
The brief flickering thought of me curling up on the couch in my apartment with someone who has familiarly auburn hair races through my mind. The two of us watching some horrible chick flick movie because it makes her happy even if I hate them. My chest tightens slightly at the image, but I shake my head, pushing it away quickly.
‘What are you after?’ I grumble, glancing at the box again, really wanting another cupcake but not wanting to open the box in case my best friend grabs one. I know I told Mackenzie I was going to share, but f.uck it, I don’t want to.
Gage straightens up, ‘I was looking for the Cortavine file’ he sighs, ‘I swear it was on Cale’s desk yesterday. He was going over the blueprints for the hotel, but I can’t find it and he’s gone out for lunch with Tessa, which means he won’t answer his phone until he gets back.’
‘If he comes back’ I add knowingly, ‘hasn’t Tessa got a half day today?’
My best friend swears under his breath at my words, confirming my thoughts, our third musketeer won’t be seeing the office again today, in fact I’ll be surprised if he allows Tessa to see outside of their bedroom before dinner.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.