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The only time I took Stephanie on a shoot after her endless badgering for me to bring her with me,
she’d complained the whole time, demanding to go back tocivilisationat the earliest opportunity.
While I wanted to enjoy Graciela’s pleasure for a few minutes, I was still relieved to spot the
familiar treeline that signalled the boundary to the cabin, grateful to see an end to enduring what was quickly turning into a white-out.
Minutes later, I pulled to a stop in front of the compact log structure that comprised my cabin.
I hopped off the sled and helped Graciela off. ‘Wait for me on the porch. I’ll get the dogs squared away and bring in the equipment.’
She shook her head. ‘It’ll be quicker if I give you a hand.’
I nodded, located my camera bag. ‘Okay. Take this up with you. I’ll just be a minute.’
She grabbed the bag, lifting the heavy load without complaint onto one shoulder. Then she grabbed
the blankets and sleeping bag and hurried onto the porch. I grabbed the rest of the equipment and
followed.
The key was tucked into a nook specially created in one of the overhead beams on the porch. I
unlocked the door and held it open for her. A full day with no heating meant the interior was icy-cold but, luckily, the electricity was still working. I turned on a couple of lamps and activated the portable space heaters we’d used in the tent. She set the stuff down next to the fireplace, and I disposed of my own load before waving her towards the wide, comfy sofa. ‘Take a seat. I’ll be back in five minutes.’
She nodded, but didn’t sit down.
When I paused at the door and looked back, she was gazing around the cabin, inspecting the large
open-plan space. It was rustic, far removed from the luxury she was no doubt used to. Nevertheless, as basic as it was, something about having her here in the space I’d made my own appealed to me.
I turned away, berating myself for getting carried away. She’d be gone as soon as the weather
cleared. Besides the pictures on my camera, there’d be just my memory to evidence her brief
presence in my life.
What the fuck is wrong with you?
I shut the door behind me, concentrated on relocating the dogs to their habitat in the heated shed
where they slept. Ensuring they had food and water and that their blankets were dry, I returned to the cabin, grabbing Graciela’s small weekender from the sled on the way.
She’d lowered the zip on the outer snowsuit, but hadn’t taken it off. Which was a blessing, I
supposed. The memory of her insanely beautiful body, smooth skin and the sweet flesh between her
legs was vivid enough without a visual reminder.
I held up her case. ‘I brought your stuff. I’ll get the fire going if you want to change clothes?’
‘I do, thanks,’ she said, her voice a little stiff.
I sighed. Did I even have the right to be disappointed that she was giving me the icy princess
treatment? What did it even matter? I’d come out here specifically to get away from women like her; taken this assignment because I’d believed I’d be alone, working while licking my wounds.
Trust-fund princesses with entitlement issues were supposed to be permanently off my menu.