Page 196 of One More Kiss

Chapter7

CJ

“You what?”I asked. My eyes went so wide they felt like they’d pop out.

“I need to stay here. I can’t get to my son or to town, or anywhere else right now.”

A pang shot in my chest. “Your son? Is he okay? I heard you talking to him.”

“Yeah, he’s a resourceful kid. Well, young man. But he’s still my son.”

I let him inside and walked to the living room and sat. “So, I’m stuck here, too then?” I sat with my head down for a moment, then anger rose up in me. “Wait, you were about to send me out into that,” I said, waving my finger at the door. “I could’ve been smushed by that tree or washed down the mountain. Thanks a lot.”

“Ma’am, I had no idea—”

“Stop calling me that. If we’re gonna be roomies, you may as well call me CJ.”

“Okay, CJ. Like I was trying to say, I had no idea things would progress this fast. I honestly thought I was trying to get you to safety. I wouldn’t have rode here to begin with if I didn’t think it was safe.”

“Well, that makes sense.” I looked him over. “You’re soaking wet.” He wasn’t the only one.

“Oh, I have some shirts, maybe a pair of long-johns in the truck.” He headed out and I adjusted on the couch.

That specimen…in long-johns. And ladies thought grey sweats were eye candy. They clearly never saw a grown man in long underwear.

I heard him back on the porch then he knocked. “Come in.” It was his cabin, why on earth was he knocking now?

The door opened and he came in and started toward the half bath on the first floor. “I didn’t want to barge in. Technically, the place is mine, but it’s yours for the weekend.”

He disappeared behind the door. That was a nice admission. He still grinded my gears.

He could grind on me.

Wait. No CJ, you stop that. He was gritty and obnoxious. Too bad my lady bits kept missing that memo.

He emerged from the bathroom and walked to the folding doors near the back door, opened them, then stepped inside. He sure did have long-johns. And a very perky round ass. I craned my neck but couldn’t see much then heard a few clicks and water. Must be the laundry room.

I heard the lid shut so I turned to look toward the TV that wasn’t on.

“It’s okay to look.”

“What? I wasn’t looking at you, I was just seeing what you were doing.”

“Threw those clothes in the wash. Nothing like trying to get that wet mildew smell out of jeans.” He walked to the chair then pointed at it. “Mind if I sit?”

I motioned for him to sit. At least he had some manners I suppose.

“Well, I can try to be quiet, and I’ll sleep down here on the sofa. You said something about work. And I can eat what was left here.”

“Oh, I saw that stuff. I wasn’t sure if that was complimentary or what.”

“Last person left it. I was planning to come back sometime with the cooler to clear it out and didn’t get to it. Speaking of, I have a few things in the truck. I had just come back from town. So much for taking supplies home.”

“I bought a few things, but I was considering the steaks.” His clear blue eyes felt like they were cutting through me. His deep gaze was unsettling in the best way possible. “Anyway, I need to get back to work.”

I grabbed my laptop and flipped the top. I was typing away when the TV came on. I looked up, then looked over at him. He had the remote in his hand and was looking at the TV mounted over the wood-burning stove. I cleared my throat while I stared at him.

“Oh, sorry. But I wanted to see if the news had any updates on the roads or the weather.”

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