Page 6 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

And enjoy the perfect solitude.

He’d texted Marcus to let him know he’d be taking a few days off, but that his number one priority was Ginty. Which meant—after he stopped playing phone tag with his client and actually had a conversation—he’d be free from messages, calls, and the crowded, slushy streets of New York City.

Through the white-out blur, his cabin appeared, giving him that last boost of energy he needed to get inside. He’d deal with the rest of his groceries in the morning.

A heap of snow blocked the doorway, so he had to set everything down and use his hands to clear it.Fucking hell. But he got to work, imagining that comfortable bed and the warmth of his comforter.

By the time he’d carved out a passageway for himself, he was sweating, and his fingers were numb. He pulled out his key, pushed open the door, and dropped his bag. Since there was no heat—from the vents or the fireplace—he left the groceries right there on the floor. He untied his boots and kicked them off. The blizzard hid the moonlight, but it was a clear shot straight to the bedroom.

As he headed there in the dark, he yanked open the buttons of his jeans and kicked them off. And then, finally, at the foot of his bed, he shrugged out of his coat, peeled off his sweater and long-sleeve shirt, and stepped out of his boxer briefs. Jesus, it was cold. He couldn’t wait to get under that thick, down comforter.

As always, he was glad he’d left the bed neatly made. He liked this place to feel like a refuge with clean sheets and no clutter.

But when he pulled back the covers, something didn’t feel quite right. It didn’t feel like the bed was neatly made. He was beyond exhausted, though. So, whatever it was, he’d deal with it in the morning.

For now, it was lights out.

* * *

The plane jolted, and Lorelei Calloway reached for the armrests.

I hate turbulence.

But wait. This isn’t an airplane. No, she was on a yacht. With choppy seas.

And then, she bounced so hard it startled her awake.

Her eyelids flew open, and she jerked up, but she couldn’t see anything in the darkness.

She took a second to orient herself.

I’m in the cabin.

I’m safe.

And yet… The hairs at the back of her neck went up. She sensed a presence.

Tension plucked her nerves. Her exposed foot was ice cold, so she pulled on the comforter. It didn’t budge, as if a heavy weight was resting on top of it.

Fear ripped down her spine.

Holy shit.

Someone’s in this bed with me.

Her fear was confirmed when she heard an exhalation of pure satisfaction.

She leaped out of bed, feeling for the flashlight she kept on the nightstand. Her hands closed around the cold metal, fingers not cooperating as she tried to flick it on. “Who’s there? Who the hell is here?”

“What the fuck?” a deep, growly voice asked.

Fingers shaking, she finally got the switch to move. The narrow beam of light hit the wall, zigzagged across the bedroom, and landed on her bed.

Oh, my God!

What should have been an empty expanse of sheets and blankets was taken up by a man.There’s a stranger in my bed.

She jerked the light up to his face to find him staring at her. “Get out,” she shrieked. “Get out of my cabin right now.” She grabbed her phone but remembered there was no service thanks to the blizzard.

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