Page 38 of The Naughty Or Nice Clause

The dark wood walls and stone fireplace were exactly what she considered a cabin should be. There was a couch with some cushions and a blanket, which looked inviting, but it was just as cold as outside. Mason was quick to find and light some candles, clearly having been here many times before. He placed them around the room while Lyla rubbed her arms, trying to warm herself as she stared out the windows to make sure there was no sign of the wolves. Ice crystals painted the glass, and the snow piled high on the windowsills obscured her view to the gate.

“Sit on the couch and catch your breath. I’ll get a fire started,” he said, noticing she was still by the door. Thankfully, the candles provided the light they needed to see each other clearly.

She was too cold to argue. The snow had already soaked through her jacket, so she stripped it off, and Jones was more than eager to jump out of her arms and settle on the couch.

“What were you thinking, running off into the woods? You could have been killed!” Mason added logs to the fire he had started. He was dripping blood everywhere, and the sight of it was freaking her out.

“I wasn’t going to let Jones become their dinner – nor was I going to let him freeze to death.”

He stared at her as she rushed into the kitchen and began to go through the cabinets like a mad woman. At least it was warming her up and using up the rest of her adrenaline.

“How did you find me? I could barely see my hand in front of my face out there.” She found the first aid kit beneath the sink. However, her relief was short-lived: inside was only a nearly empty bottle of disinfectant and a single bandage. Luckily, there was a small bit of tape left on a roll to secure the bandage. It would have to do. She brought the box to Mason, standing by the fire. He took a step towards her. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her, but then he stared down at her snow-covered boots.

“I followed your footprints,” he informed her.

“Makes sense. Can you please sit down, because the blood is making me queasy,” she said, forcing him to sit on the couch. Perching on the table in front of him, she opened the box.

“I didn’t think you were the queasy type,” he said, lifting his sleeve and exposing a row of small puncture wounds and two larger ones.

“I – was in an accident with my mum when I was a kid. Her blood was everywhere,” she found herself admitting, and her chest swelled with grief. She hadn’t thought about the day of the accident for the longest time. The details she had trained herself to forget.

“I’m sorry. I knew you lost your mum, but I didn’t realise it was an accident,” he said while she let some cotton wool absorb the disinfectant.

“This is going to hurt,” she warned, applying it to his wounds. He hissed in pain. “Told you so.” She cleaned away the blood. “Do you have shots here? I don’t want you getting rabies.”

“The wolves protect us from outsiders; they attacked me for protecting you. Their bite isn’t dangerous. Don’t run off again. I thought I’d have a heart attack when Kevin told me you’d gone into the forest.” There was no anger in his voice, only concern.

“I didn’t run off for the hell of it,” she pointed out, wrapping the bandage around his arm and securing it with some tape. “Kevin was bringing in wood for the fire, and he left the door open. I was going after Jones; he would have frozen if I had left him out there all night.”

“I could have helped you look.”

She looked at Mason, realising how close they were.How have I never noticed the light ring of blue in his eyes?

“You were too busy being angry with me for cleaning your father’s office,” she said, realising that she was shivering from the shock now there was nothing to distract her.

“I’m sorry for lashing out at you; you were trying to do something nice. Dad had his own chaotic way of dealing with everything. Seeing everything so organised… He never would have done such a thing, and seeing it…” He paused, raking his hands through his hair. “Seeing it hurt more than I expected it to. I realised he would never come back to make it a mess again.”

Emotion caught in her throat. She knew the exact feeling. It was why her mum’s art studio was untouched in her house.

“It hurts to know they aren’t coming back, but I think he would be honoured to pass on the space to you. It was what he wanted most– for you to take his place,” she said, breathing into her numb hands. She tried to still her body, but the shaking was getting worse. She clutched her hands and glanced down at them. “I’m sorry about the ring. I’ll look for it.”

“It doesn’t matter; what matters is that you’re safe. We’ll have to get you a new one,” he said with a slow smile.

A new one? Why go to the trouble?She didn’t want to lose another, but there were only so many days left.

“Peace?” she offered, extending her hand.

“Peace.” He took her hand, running his thumb along hers. The pleasant sensation caused her to drop his hand.

He cleared his throat, scratching the back of his neck as an awkward tension filled the air between them.

“I should say thank you for organising the office. I’m sure Mum will be happy. She still has to work in there – I’m sure it will make her life easier. She couldn’t have brought herself to do it.” Concern creased Mason’s brow as he watched her shake. “You need to take off your clothes.”

She frowned at him. “Really? Now is not the time!”

He leaned forward with a smile, his hands on either side of her thighs, and she felt more nervous now than she had been staring at the horde of wolves.

“I’m flattered, but you’ll freeze if you don’t get out of those wet clothes,” he said. “There should be some clothes in the bedroom. Though I don’t know when anyone was here last.”

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