She smiled at the sight, turned and headed for the room where she’d put her things, and took a hot shower in the spare bathroom. She changed into a faded pair of jeans and a red and black flannel shirt, tying her damp hair up in a messy bun. Then she walked into the kitchen to make breakfast for them both, determined to put her emotions on lockdown as she’d often done as a child.
Yes, her childhood had been fine, but she’d learned to wrap up her feelings and store them in mental boxes with tight lids that wouldn’t, couldn’t open up and spill out all the painful things that could hurt her.
Like Christmas, when all the kids at school listed their many gifts and she knew she’d been fortunate to get the one item she received from her foster family. She’d heard stories from the social workers who spoke in hushed voices about the kids who weren’t as fortunate, who didn’t celebrate Christmas or receive anything for the holiday.
So she’d told herself she didn’t care about the number of items, that it was the thought and the one she’d gotten that mattered. Then she’d boxed up the pain she’d felt listening to the others, the hurt that came when she thought about how her parents weren’t alive to celebrate with, and pushed it all aside.
And now, as she cracked eggs for their omelets, she boxed up her growing feelings for Austin because he could never, would never reciprocate them, and told herself to be grateful for now. For this weekend in the cabin and her time alone with him. Soon enough they’d have to deal with the problems that awaited them back home.
“Good morning!” Austin strode into the kitchen, freshly showered, his hair damp, wearing a pair of jeans that looked sexy on his muscular frame and a dark grape-colored Henley.
He looked good enough to eat.
“Morning!” she said as she scooped the second omelet she’d made with vegetables, cheese, and eggs onto a plate and placed both dishes on the table.
“Wow. You didn’t have to do this.” He glanced at the meal. “But I’m glad you did.”
She handed him a cup of black coffee the way he liked it and settled into the chair beside him. “My pleasure. So what’s on the agenda for today?”
“I thought we’d take a walk. It’s beautiful this time of year. And then I figured we’d come back here and fuck like bunnies until the real world intrudes.” She caught the sinful look in his eyes as he raised his cup and took a long sip before he turned more serious. “I’m supposed to get a call from the PI I hired. He’s due to update me on my ex—and I asked him to pull someone in and get them looking into your former boss. We need to prove he’s sending someone after you. Otherwise this shit will keep going on and I won’t have it.”
Her body went from tingling at the mention of fucking like bunnies… to ice-cold at the reminder of the trouble waiting for her in the real world.
“Most of that sounds like a really good day.” She forced a smile.
He covered her hand with his. “Sorry for the blunt reminder. But we’re going to get ahead of both things. I have faith.”
And she believed in him. “I know.” They finished their meal in silence.
A little while later, they pulled on their outerwear and headed for a walk. The air was crisp and it smelled like fall, dry leaves and grass. Her mood lightened at the feel of the cool air on her cheeks and the fresh scents all around her.
To her surprise, Austin reached out and grabbed her hand, holding on as they hiked through the woods. “So… let’s just get to know each other,” she suggested into the silence. They’d begun on the car ride up but there was more she wanted to know. Little things to learn about him and store away in those mental boxes of hers.
“Okay. Favorite color?” he asked.
“Yellow. Yours?”
“Blue.”
She shook her head and laughed. “You’re such a typical man. Favorite music?”
“Classic rock,” he said.
She eyed him with amusement.
“What?” he asked.
“You’re just predictable to me.”
They stepped over rocks and crunchy leaves. “Your favorite music?”
She bit down on her lower lip thought she didn’t need to think long. “Pop music. Like Taylor Swift and Summer Michelle,” she said of the up-and-coming pop star who’d won the television show Star Power.
He tugged on her hand and she met his gaze. “Ben, who works for Alpha Security, is engaged to Summer. My bet is you’ll be meeting her when her tour comes to New York.”
“Oh my God! That’s amazing!”
He grinned at her enthusiasm.
“Okay, let’s keep going. Favorite drink?” she asked.