Page 13 of Beck & Coll
“I’m definitely in for the night. Sounds like an order food in, snuggle up with blankets, and prepare to binge-watch some Netflix kinda night to me. If the river over runs its bank, will this cottage be affected?”
“Nah. It was built on a cliff to ensure that it didn’t take on water. If you’re the type who likes to watch rain fall, the covered front porch is a good place to watch.”
She nodded.
I checked a text message that had come through on my phone. “I gotta take care of some business. I’ll come back through here in a couple of hours to check on you.
Collins opened the door of the cottage for me with tired eyes that bugged in surprise at the state I was in.
“Oh, wow. Clearly, the storm has worsened.”
“It worsened about an hour ago, but it’s been steady since then.” I wiped my feet repeatedly on the mat at the door. “Do you mind if I check on the level of the river from the back deck?”
“Weren’t you swimming in the river? Isn’t that why you look like a drowned cat?”
I eyed her intensely before I released a very dry chuckle. “Whatever, Collins. I was helping lead stranded hikers out of Cascada Noir. Some hikers don’t think they need to heedwarnings from the National Weather Service. A person who thinks they have more ability than they actually have can be the worst kind of adventure seeker.”
“I’ll bet,” she agreed with a nod. “Sorry you had to risk your own life to help defiant and arrogant hikers. Come on in.”
I made my way to the back deck and stepped back out into the elements. The river was definitely taking a beating from the pounding rain, but the levels didn’t seem to be rising in a way that concerned me. I went to turn around and bumped directly into Collins. I hadn’t realized that she followed me onto the deck. Her breasts were soft and full as they smashed against me. My hands automatically went to her back, pulling her closer, before I realized what I was doing.
My hands flew off of her back, going up in surrender. “My bad.”
She backed away slowly, looking up at me with wide-eyed innocence coupled with… awareness.
My eyes moved to her chest noticing immediately that her nipples were visibly erect. I took another step away from her, even though every thought in my brain was screaming at me to move closer. “The water levels look good. I’m not worried about the river overflowing the banks.”
“That’s um… That’s good, right?”
“It’s perfect.” I wasn’t sure if I was talking about the state of the river or her face and body.
The two of us walked into the living room area. She had blankets and pillows on the sofa, a travel cup filled with who knew what on the cocktail table along with a bowl of popcorn, and the remote.
“I see you made good on your promise to get cozy and binge watch television tonight,” I teased.
“I did.”
“What are you watching?”
She looked sheepish. “Don’t make fun of me, Beckham, but Christmas movies.”
“Christmas movies? In October?” A thought occurred to me. “Oh, you must be a romantic.”
Her face frowned up. “Nah. I mean, not really.”
“So, what’s with the Christmas movies? Aren’t they all… sappy and romantic?”
“Maybe, but I don’t watch them for that. I watch them because they’re predictable and won’t give me nightmares or scare the hell out of me while I’m out in these woods by myself.”
She had a forlorn look on her face that I didn’t like when she talked about being “out here in the woods” by herself. I didn’t like the look. And I didn’t necessarily like that I didn’t like it. Collins had a life in a whole other part of the country. She wasn’t mine to care about, nor would she ever be. Her happiness really shouldn’t have mattered to me, but for some reason, it did.
“How’s your head?”
“It’s good.”
“Your leg?”
We both looked down at her leg. It was a sexy ass leg that I couldn’t stop myself from imagining having thrown over my shoulder. Truth be told, I just wanted it in my hands… under my control.
