The flames reflected in his eyes like glowing embers. As I stepped closer, the aroma of the outdoors surrounded us, fresh and cool. Although he’d been outside, as his fingers encased my hand, his touch wasn’t cold. It was the opposite, as if there was energy within him flowing from him to me. Our connection was a jolt like I had never before experienced. It shot through me, electrifying my skin and sending sparks to my insides.
Pulling my hand away, I stared down at it, wondering if he’d felt the same thing.
What was it?
Maybe it was from the near frostbite.
As I lifted my chin, he began to speak. “Are you sure?”
“Am I sure?”
“Julia, perhaps you should reconsider your gratitude.” He looked around. “You’re in a remote cabin in a blizzard in northern Wisconsin without a way to contact civilization. Does that sound like you were saved?” Small lines formed around his vibrant green eyes as he grinned. “Or are you perhaps captured?”
3
Julia
My mouth felt suddenly dry as color drained from my cheeks. I feigned a laugh. “I believe saved. You see, I would have frozen to death without your help.”
Amusement danced in his gaze along with the reflection of the fire. “Julia, I’m Van. I suppose now that we know one another’s names, taking off our clothes is acceptable.” He tugged on the sleeves of his flannel shirt and pulled it off, tossing it onto the sofa’s cushions. Without the flannel, a light gray thermal shirt remained, nicely stretched across his wide shoulders and chest.
Sitting on the blanket, I said, “I believe I’m down to as few clothes as possible.”
Van shook his head as he picked up his mug of coffee. “I know for a fact that’s not true.”
Technically, he was right. I was still wearing my bra and panties.
I reached for the mug I’d set on the hearth and wrapped my fingers around the warm metal. “How long do you think it will be until we can leave?”
“If that was your car I saw down the road, I think you may need to consider a tow truck after the spring thaw.”
“What?”
“In all honesty, we’ll need some melting to find it. It was mostly buried.” He took a sip of his coffee. “I’m glad I saw it. That’s why I started looking for the driver.”
A deep sigh left my lips. “It’s a rental car. I can’t tell the rental company I lost their car in a snowbank.”
Van scoffed. “You could tell them you ran it off the road, but the good news is you didn’t hit a tree.”
My mind went back to the car. “All of my things are in the trunk. I even left my purse in there.” I tilted my head toward the bed. “All I took with me was my phone.”
He nodded. “That would be why I couldn’t find anything to identify you.” He tilted his chin toward the phone. “That’s not going to do you much good here. Once the snow stops, you may be able to go up the hill and get a signal. I recommend you save whatever battery you have.”
My shoulders slumped as I shook my head. “It figures.”
“And what is that, Julia?”
“I finally decide to do something for myself and look at me.” My lips came together.
The tips of his lips curled upward as his green gaze scanned me. “I’m looking.”
Setting down the coffee mug, I stood again, pulling the quilt tightly around me and took a step toward the small table and kerosene lamp. A million things swirled in my head, not unlike the snow beyond the window. I didn’t know Van. That meant that I could keep quiet or maybe take the opportunity to vent. I decided on somewhere in between. “My whole life has been planned by others, and the one time I decide to take charge of it, I mess that up.” I pulled out one of the chairs from the table and sat. As I did, I ran my hand over the table’s surface. “Do you live here?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.
“No.”
My chin snapped up. “Who does?”
“No one, to my knowledge.”