Page 42 of A Very Merry Mistake

Jake walks over, sets his hand on my shoulder, and squeezes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

I place my hand over my heart, needing to calm down.

“You added more wood?”

I turn and look up at him over my shoulder. “Yes.”

“Good girl,” he says with a smirk. And he’s got those damn glasses on.

He makes my internal temperature rise.

“Coffee?”

“I’d love some,” I tell him, turning off my phone and closing my eyes as he goes to the kitchen.

Once the grounds have steeped and we both have cups in our hands, Jake joins me on the couch. Tinsel curls up on his lap. We sit in silence until our cups are empty, then he excuses himself. Tinsel hisses; she’s pissed that he disturbed her, and I understand the sentiment.

Maybe she and I do have a lot in common.

I lean back on the cushions. I must’ve drifted off because Jake’s words wake me.

“I need to chop some more wood. We’re getting low,” he tells me, beanie already on his head as he slides on his coat and boots.

“Outside?”

He nods with a half-grin. “You can come with me if you’d like.”

I turn and look at Tinsel, who’s now stretched out on the rug in front of the fireplace. She looks warm and comfortable. I look back at Jake, knowing that each time I’ve told him yes, I’ve had an experience. That’s been the case from the first time we met.

“Okay, I’m coming. Give me a few minutes to get dressed,” I say, going to his room and wheeling my suitcase to the middle of the floor. I open it with a thud and grab a thick sweater, jeans, and socks. Then I look at my shoe choices and decide running shoes are the best option.

I throw my hair into a low ponytail and slide on my beanie with the fuzzy ball on the end.

When I meet back up with him, he’s standing with a smirk and his arms crossed over his chest.

“You opted out of your boots today?” He snickers.

My mouth falls open. “Are you poking fun?”

“I just don’t understand why anyone would wear anything with a heel like that, knowing there will be ice. Makes no sense.”

I playfully purse my lips. “Do you have any idea how much they cost?”

“No, but you should probably give them away.”

“They were three grand!”

His eyes go wide. “Please tell me you’re jokin’, and you did not pay that much.”

“I didn’t. They were a gift, but still very expensive.”

He laughs as he reaches for the door. “Sounds like somebody got swindled. I’m in the wrong business.”

He leads me outside to the shop across the driveway from his house. It’s cold outside, but the sun is shining, so it’s not bad. Frost covers the ground, and with every step we take, there’s a crunch under our feet from the ice and gravel. Jake swings open the double wooden doors and allows me to enter.

I look around in awe at the hyper-organized man cave. Neon signs are hung on the wall, and gardening tools are neatly stacked on one side of the room. There is also a motorcycle with a cloth draped over the top.

“I’d turn on the lights, but ya know.” He moves to an area of camping gear and pulls out a spare lantern. Within a few clicks, the flame slowly comes on before catching the wick. “Kerosene.”

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