Page 5 of Sleigh Me Baby

Chapter Two

Klaus

Could I have fucked that up any worse? Probably not. Shit. When I heard the bell, I wasn’t expecting to see her standing there looking completely adorable in skin-tight jeans, fur-lined boots and a dark blue University of North Florida hoodie. Her dark brown hair was in a bun at the top of her head and she had on a pair of fuck me glasses that framed her hazel eyes. I couldn’t think straight with all the blood rushing from my brain straight to my dick. Then her friend said they were there for the couple’s romantic cabin weekend and I was even more confused. There’s no way in hell we share a connection that strong and she’s in a relationship with someone else.

I’m seeing her tomorrow. I’ll need to fix this somehow. I need to figure out what it is about her that is making me crazy. I spend the next hour working in the office. In between researching ways to get our name out there, my mind drifts back to Natalie. I wonder what she thinks of the cabin. Does she like it? Does she enjoy spending time in the outdoors or is she more of a city girl?

Deciding I’ve had enough of sitting around, I lock up and flip the sign saying we’ll be out of the office until the next morning. I go in search of Eull, pretty sure I’ll find him outside somewhere.

I set the ax down to stack the split wood and turn to the sound of a clearing throat.

I lean my shoulder against a tree watching him until he’s finished. “You good?” I ask.

“Yeah, just getting some chores done,” he grumbles.

“Good. Looks like we’re booked next week. The weatherman’s still talking about snow and a lot of it. I’m still skeptical, but I would rather be prepared. I’m going to the store to stock up the cabin. You need anything?”

“Yeah, my list is on my fridge. Just grab double, just in case. Thanks. I’m going to do a run-up to all the cabins to make sure the pipes are covered, and everything is set for a major freeze. I’ll make sure the barn is stocked with extra feed and hay. There should be plenty of straw down for the animals.” He tells me.

“Alright. I’ll be back after a while.” I say walking back to my truck.

I drive over to Eull’s cabin and grab his list off of his fridge, then drive to town to the only grocery store that’s open. I load up my cart with my necessities and then Klaus’s list. I can’t help but wonder what groceries the girls have and if we lose power if they’ll make it through. I go back through the grocery store to grab two more loaves of bread, peanut butter, jelly, tuna, crackers, cans of soup, and a few more nonperishables just in case. If they don’t need it, I know the food won’t go to waste. I grab two cases of water then check out.

I go to my cabin first to unload everything and separate everyone’s food. Next, I go to Eull’s place and leave his groceries on the counter, and the cold food in the fridge. He can put it up however he likes it when he gets back. When I’m finished, I drive over to cabin seven.

When I arrive, I see an older model Dodge Durango parked out front. Grabbing the groceries from my truck, I head to the front door and knock. A minute later Natalie opens the door looking adorable wearing red plaid footie pajamas. She looks shocked when she opens the door to find me standing there.

“Klaus? What are you doing here?”

I can’t help but smile. She is too cute.

“Klaus?”

I clear my throat. “Those are fucking cute.”

She looks so confused and looks down at what she’s wearing. “Oh! I forgot I was even wearing them. They’re so comfortable. So, what’s up? Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine. I just got back from the grocery store, and with this storm coming in I wanted to make sure you girls had everything you needed, just in case we lose power.”

Natalie opens the door wider to let me in. “You didn’t have to do that. But that was very sweet of you to think of us. Do you think the storm will be that bad?” She asks following me to the kitchen area where I set the bags down.

“Honestly, I have no idea. The last thing we need is to be stuck out here without power, food, and no way to get what we need.”

Natalie crosses her arms across her chest and bites her lower lip.

I brush my knuckles across her cheek then lay my hand on her shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry. I wasn’t trying to scare you. I just like to be prepared for the worse. If anything, we’ll get a few inches of snow for Christmas.”

She leans over as if to tell me a secret. “I live in Florida, Klaus. A few inches of snow out in the woods is a snowstorm to me.” Then she winks.

I laugh long and hard, something I haven’t done in a while. “Well, Florida girl, I’ll make sure you’re safe if the storm comes.”

She quirks her brow. “Is that right, Georgia boy?”

“I’m all man sweetheart, I haven’t been a boy in over twenty years.”

She gives me a dramatic OK with her hand and a big wink. “Why I’m so sorry. Did I offend you?” She laughs.

“It would take a lot more than that to offend me, and I doubt someone as sweet as you would be able to.”

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