Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Finally, Tristan straightened up, peering at something behind me. I turned just in time to see two figures trudge past the window. Tristan put his hand on the back of the couch and leaped over it, a move that would’ve been impressive if I hadn’t been so worried. “Are they okay?” I asked as he looked out the window.
“Looks like it. Carter’s got the axe, and he hasn’t used it on Drew, so that’s a good sign.”
I forced myself to take deep, calming breaths as the back door opened and Carter came in. He looked grumpy, but Drew looked like his normal, upbeat self—though a little tired.
Part of me wanted to rush over there and hug them, but I wasn’t sure my knees would support me. Besides, I’d observed over the years that guys didn’t like to be fussed or worried about—perhaps because it reminded them that they, themselves, might have been worried?
Tristan went over and relieved Drew of a large duffel bag he was carrying. Then he hung up their jackets as they peeled off layers with cold fingers. Feeling the need to do something, I went into the kitchen and prepared two cups of coffee.
The guys were on the sofa when I set the mugs down in front of them. Then I gathered every blanket I could find and piled them over them while Tristan made a fire.
“We’re okay,” Drew said.
“You could’ve been hurt,” Tristan scolded.
Carter was silent as he sipped his coffee. I had a feeling he’d chewed Drew out already.
Now it was my turn. “You shouldn’t have gone down there. Not for me.”
Drew smiled. “I wouldn’t have done it for anyone else.” Beside him, Carter rolled his eyes.
“I mean, you shouldn’t have risked your safety for me. Or Carter’s.” Carter met my eyes, and I knew we were in agreement.
“It was nothing.” Drew scoffed. “Can’t have my girl wearing a hoodie on a date.” His girl? I studied Carter and Tristan to see how they’d react to that, but they had bigger fish to fry.
“Yes, you could, especially if the alternative is doing something risky,” Tristan said. Suddenly, I envisioned him chiding an employee of his future corporation the same way.
“You don’t go that far on your own again,” Carter said flatly. “And certainly not without telling someone where you’re going.”
“Yeah, next time you pull a stunt like this, at least give us the chance to talk you out of it,” Tristan said.
“Or knock you out,” Carter muttered.
“Guys, it’s no big deal. I got there, I got back.”
“With help,” Carter pointed out.
Drew nodded and grinned. “And I got what I went for.”
“You did?” I glanced over to the door, but all I could see was the large bag he’d carried stuff in.
“Yep.” Drew started to extract himself from the blankets piled on him, but I pushed him back.
“Just stay there and get warm.” Like the others, I was irritated with him for taking a risk, but I couldn’t help being touched that he’d done it for me.
As I walked over to the door, I wondered what he might’ve found. Surely most of my clothes had been ripped to shreds by the branches by now. Still, there might be something I could wear, even if it was damaged. Frankly, I was pretty desperate and about one step away from attempting to make an outfit out of the curtains.
The duffel bag was heavier than I’d expected, and I carried it back to the living room rather than crouching down among the puddles from the snow the two men had tracked in.
I dragged the beanbag chair in front of the fire, placing the duffel bag on top of it. I sat down on the hearth and undid the strings at the top of the bag.
At first, I couldn’t figure out what I was looking at. There was a rectangular shape in a familiar looking shade of rose gold. As I peeled down the sides of the duffel, I managed to free the small suitcase.
I stared at it in disbelief. “Where’d you find this?” I asked Drew.
“It had fallen in that little hallway off the kitchen. None of your other stuff was there, just that,” he said. “It was all I could reach except for a few things from your bathroom.”
Shaking my head, I stared at the case. “I’d completely forgotten about this.” Most of my clothes and possessions had been brought up in trunks. Those things had been unpacked and stored on shelves and in the dresser in the cabin—and I suspected I’d never see most of them again. But I hadn’t even opened this suitcase, because it wasn’t for my stay at the cabin—it was for after.
“My friend, Kylie, lives in Denver. I was going to spend the weekend with her and her men after my stay ended here,” I explained to the others.