Page 11 of Braving the Storm

Christ, I must need to get laid worse than I thought, if I can’t go five minutes without imagining what her ass would feel like under my palm.

I cough into my fist to give her a little warning I’m here.

To try and please stop being so fucking tempting for five minutes.

She doesn’t exactly smile, but ducks her head and pours two coffees, before handing me one.

“Thanks.” The word barely makes it past my clenched teeth. Except, that’s when her fingers brush mine. As I take the mug from her, my rough touch grazes hers, and there’s a crackle. A spark feels like it flows from the point of contact, and she must feel it too because those brown eyes jump up to snag on my own.

Her brow furrows, and she quickly steps back, hastily puts distance between us, and leans up against the bench, cradling her own coffee between two hands.

“So…” she says, carefully, before taking a sip. I see the way her nose scrunches and have to hide a smirk in my own cup because I’d wager everything I own this girl has never voluntarily drunk black coffee in her life.

“So.” I echo.

“How do we resolve this? I’ve poked around, and there’s obviously only one bedroom in this place. So, as gracious as it was for you to give me what I’m assuming is your bed, I can’t expect you to do that every single night.”

“Couch is fine.” No, it’s not. It’s fucking uncomfortable and way too small for me, but I don’t want her knowing that.

“Oh my god. You slept on the couch?” She looks horrified.

“Well, where else did you think I slept, darlin’?” As I take another sip, I see her cheeks go pink, again.

Interesting.

“I just thought…” Briar is suddenly very concerned with examining the contents of her mug.

“Go on, I’m all ears. Where’d you think your uncle slept?” Something tells me I already know what her assumption is going to be. Probably half the time, she’d be right. But certainly not last night. I had no intention of finding another bed to sleep in.

Why am I enjoying this so much? Watching her squirm every time the wordunclegets uttered between us. A dangerous thought flickers like a neon bulb. Maybe she liked what she saw in the bathroom before we recognized each other, too.

Nope.

Stôrmand fucking Lane. Straight to hell. You are going to burn for an eternity thinking like that.

The asshole joy-rider devil who lives on my other shoulder pipes up and tells me I’m already going there, so might as well have a little fun while I’m at it.

“Just assumed you had plenty of other options of where you park your truck at night.” She composes herself and juts out her jaw. “Not my place to judge.”

Oh, so Briar Lane has got a bit of fire sparking away beneath that timid exterior after all.

I narrow my eyes. “Well, happy to report, I was parked here all night long.” What do I fucking care what this girl thinks about my life. I’ve been accused of far worse than being a playboy pro bull rider with a different buckle bunny riding my cock every night.

“So, in that case, I should probably find myself somewhere to stay in town until I can book a flight, and then…” She trails off. I don’t miss the way her voice cracks.

Chewing over the events of the past twelve hours or so, it suddenly becomes very clear. I already know this girl came here on a whim. She doesn't appear to have anything with her except for hand luggage and a piece of shit rental car I discovered parked around the back of the cabin.

If I had to throw a dart at it, I bet the bullseye I’d land on wouldbe that she’s run away from something, or someone, back home on the coast.

“No.” The word comes out more forcefully than I intend it to. “I mean, evidently, it’s legally your property, and it would hardly be me doing a very good job of being your uncle shipping you off to some shitty accommodation in town.”

She looks at me with… relief?

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.” No, I’m not sure. In fact, I’m certain it’s a terrible idea, but I can keep myself busy and bury myself in work and whatever pussy I can find come Saturday night.

“Roomies, then, Uncle Stôrmand?” This time, a ghost of a smile lights up her face as she sticks out a hand.