Winter Peril

by Pinder, Victoria

  He stared at her for one moment while he squeezed her arm. “I’m not used to honest women. You make me unsure how to act in front of you.”

  “Honesty is important.” She smiled. “It’s okay to talk to those you trust. It goes hand in hand with trust.”

  “I’m not open.” He stepped back and left without another word.

  No kidding. As she clutched her stomach, she smiled. A small victory. It had taken her a few days, but the man had opened up a little. If she was stuck here, at a minimum of a month, with him, then it couldn’t just be sex. Gabriel deserved more. She deserved more.

  Her lips tingled from the last kiss days ago, and she wrapped her arms around herself. If he comforted her as he continued to, then she’d be in danger of falling in love with him.

  A smile grew on her face, and Erica refused to care. No one saw her. She could dream.

  Then a shadow danced on the wall again. She froze and suddenly stared toward it. She looked toward the kitchen. Work kept her head straight. She went over and washed the dishes in the sink, though left Gabriel a plate on the table to eat later.

  A crack sounded in the air.

  With her hands in the water, she froze.

  She could sense a cold, hateful stare boring into her back.

  She turned her head to the side and glanced around. She couldn’t figure out why it seemed someone watched her. The house was empty except for the two of them, right? Was it an animal? Erica swallowed, but stood straight. Gabriel had left, and the energy in the room was much colder now.

  Whatever this was, it wasn’t the sweetheart of a man she was stuck with. Erica sucked in her breath. She shouldn’t be afraid of shadows.

  “Go away,” Erica shouted, though she knew she wasn’t talking to anyone. Her neck tingled.

  Gabriel wasn’t the culprit. The man warmed her. His every glance at her turned her body temperature higher and higher.

  Her thoughts of him now helped, and her throat grew less constricted. Good. The coldness left, and she could move her hands without goose bumps. She ran her hands down her shirt and jeans. Then she straightened out her clothes and errant thoughts.

  A whoosh of something rushed past her.

  Her ears rang, and she plopped the last dish in the strainer with more force than necessary.

  A squish reverberated in the air.

  What? She flinched.

  Then she blinked.

  The sink faucet was on, and the water flowed. Was that water she heard? She turned the water off and held her breath and tried to be quiet. What happened? Her hands went clammy, though she clenched her hands in case she had to fight.

  No noise followed.

  It must have been the sink.

  She unclenched her hands and swallowed hard. Nothing stirred. Finally, she cleaned and dried the plate and placed it back in the cabinet.

  Adrenaline spiked through her body, and she wasn’t the least bit tired now. She ran to her room to get a sweater. She hadn’t investigated the library yet, and that had been this morning’s plan. She’d go now.

  Hopefully, Gabriel would return to her soon. A hug from him would help alleviate the illusionary noises in her head.

  Chapter 12

  Erica bundled on her sweater and checked that her socks were folded around her ankles just as she had as a girl with long socks. The routine didn’t calm the adrenaline in her veins. The goose bumps stayed on her arms and legs, as the heavy sound of the storm pounded at her the already buried window. She sighed. How many storms were there going to be this winter? She crossed her arms, but nothing stopped the chill in the air.

  Gabriel mentioned the outside walls were secure and new, so she’d trust him. No windows were cracked, and the living quarters still had power despite the wall of snow outside. The fire in the library was warm and the best place to curl up in this house. He must know what he was doing to always keep that fireplace going.

  To stop her anxiety, she needed to move. So she closed her door behind her and headed back to the library. Once inside, she stopped to stare at the fireplace. The embers were warm and inviting, which was sexy in its way. If they did lose power, Gabriel would have to stop working and wrap his arms around her to keep her warm. Her face crackled with a hearty laugh. Her daydreams were so vivid here.

  A man who took care of things would be nice to keep around. She hadn’t had that since her dad left, if she even had that then.

  Her father had left the greatest family a man might ever ask for.

  Her mother deserved the best care in the world, and Erica had to find that for her. She’d, somehow, find her sister, Kimberly too. For too long, Erica walked around, angry that Kimberly had left. But now she realized how stupid that had made her. Their mother would be alone, and the chip on Erica’s shoulder for her sister leaving now felt stupid.

  Tears threatened to fall down her face, so Erica forced herself to shrug. She could make it right.

  Perhaps she’d even score a sexy boyfriend here.

  The chill in the air rattled a window, and her heart soared. They’d live. Everything in the room was solid. She glanced around at every bookcase, full of heavy books near the walls.

  Was there nail polish?

  If she lifted any shelf, she’d be exhausted and possibly hurt herself.

  Her initial inspection of the walls hadn’t revealed any nail polish, but then, Gabriel’s wife had written in that diary that she’d moved a shelf. Erica stared hard at the wood bookshelves that were taller than her. Those cases must be heavy, and Erica didn’t possess upper-body strength. From the creepy portrait, she guessed Tiffany had been dainty. Erica tapped her neck. Had Gabriel rearranged the library after she died and missed the marker? Did he not know? Erica sighed. She had no other explanation. She gulped and stared at a shelf. She’d lever herself on the one near the other door first and use her legs and backside.

  She shifted her jaw and decided on her first shelf. The lobby near the outside door meant, logically, that a closet or other door would be nearer the larger room. If she had to guess where a secret room might be, it would be logical between the lobby and here.

  Sweat formed on her back. Erica shifted and used her back muscles. She braced her feet on the wall, but the shelf hardly moved. One would think she didn’t have years at the gym under her belt. Sweat glistened on her entire body and her back muscles stretched. Finally, the bookshelf scraped forward. She ignored the throb in her shoulder, and with all her might, she continued.

  Her legs were wobbly, but she stood back up and checked. The wall revealed nothing but darkness. She exhaled and inhaled again. Her exertion didn’t move the shelf far enough to see much.

  There had to be an easier way.

  She rubbed her neck. Then she tilted her head to the side and decided to remove a few books. A laugh almost escaped her lips. The wife must have had the brother knee-deep in the affair to move the shelf. Erica wrinkled her nose. And who had sex on bookshelves?

  Erica needed to banish that thought immediately.

  If she vilified Tiffany, she’d miss Gabriel’s emotions. There must have been something good about the woman. Erica needed to read more tonight, and she’d keep an open mind.

  Erica frowned as her mind went blank. Then she shrugged. The books made everything heavy, and perhaps Gabriel had added to his book collection in the year. She ran her hand through her hair and decided to remove a stack of books from the shelf to make it lighter.

  With the books piled on the floor, she tried again. This time, as she pushed with her back muscles, she moved the shelf with less muscle contractions. Good. When it was far enough, she stopped. With a wipe of her brow, she brushed her clothes, and knelt to examine the wall.

  Nothing. No marks anywhere.

  Her nose wrinkled. She supposed it was possible that this wasn’t the place, but the diary read like everything had happened in the library. Perhaps she miscalculated.

  After she returned the books to the shelves, she tapped on the walls.
The echoes sounded sturdy and heavy, with no weak spots, but then, she’d expected that. A secret wasn’t easy to find, or else it wouldn’t be much of a secret.

  Her brow furrowed. She rubbed her chin and decided where to go next. Gabriel mentioned he’d work late tonight. She’d investigate a little more. For all she knew he read the diary and knew about the affairs, but since he didn’t talk she wasn’t sure. If she discovered anything, she’d show him and perhaps then he’d talk to her.

  Corners would be the most logical, in her deduction. She headed to the next corner and knelt to examine the wall behind the bookshelf.

  She peered into the blackness, but didn’t find much. Most nail polishes, even colorful ones, didn’t shine in the dark. And the dainty little miss in the portrait didn’t strike Erica as the glow-in-the-dark type.

  No, Tiffany had the frilly mean-girl stare.

  Erica bit her lip and decided to move books again. Gabriel had been reading the day she had barged into the house half-frozen. His broad shoulders straightened the second she came in, and he’d transformed into her dark angel. To cool off her thoughts, she collected bundles of books for the floor. Then she’d attempt to move the shelf.

  This time, the routine went fast.

  First, she tried the shelf on her left, and then repeated the same procedure but in a tighter space.

  With her back muscles, she pushed the shelf far enough back. Nothing. She let out a deep breath and knelt, then stared harder. Again, she discovered nothing.

  Perhaps this wasn’t the place Gabriel and his wife had lived at that time? The diary wouldn’t have survived a move, though.

  Erica sucked on her bottom lip and shuffled to fix the room fast. Today she’d be done with the basic search.

  She let out a heavy sigh, then gazed at the next shelf. With her jaw clenched, she unloaded the books and stepped against the wall to push the shelf.

  A noise clattered in the other room and stopped her short.

  “Erica, are you up?”

  She clenched her fists at her sides. Wasn’t he working? She didn’t want him to catch her. She hadn’t found anything. Cold sweat grew on her neck, and she almost didn’t stare at the door, like that would stop him.

  Her heartbeat was unsteady but fast. She needed to clean up, and fast. First, she scrambled to push back the shelf and right everything. Then she glanced down. She almost missed the spot of red polish on the wall.

  Her stomach became upset instantly. The heaviness came from her conscience. This was the place with the secret room. His wife had had an affair. She closed her eyes and wished she’d been wrong, but now was not the time. If she told him, then he’d know she read the diary and ransacked his house. In a flash, she threw everything back. She used her back and moved the shelf. Then she threw the books on the shelf. The screech of the door alerted her Gabriel was here. Just in time, she landed on her knees at the bookshelf.

  He stepped inside. At the open door, he asked, “What are you doing?”

  “Looking for a book.” Her voice cracked at the lie. The truth stayed on her tongue, but wouldn’t be said. She needed to see the secret room herself before she told him anything. She bit her lip and hoped her face wasn’t bright red. “Any recommendations?”

  He walked to her, and her eyes and face were on level with his massive cock underneath his jeans. With her hands, she covered her mouth. The blush she might have had before flushed down her body again.

  He squeezed her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  Her body trembled. And she knocked over a few books. She stared down and fixed the mess. She quietly told him, “You won’t believe me when I tell you that before you, I never fantasized about men.”

  He picked up a few books she had dropped and re-shelved them with her. “You’re beautiful, Erica. I’m sure you never had to go far to find a man.”

  “Hot men don’t hang out in the cancer ward.” Her eyes met his intense stare, and she licked her lips. “My celibacy lasted for two years. I found work more important to help my mom. Now . . . since being here . . . with you . . . I’ve dreamed about you. You taste better than the richest chocolate, and I liked what happened between us the other day.”

  Gabriel leaned down to help her stand. She gazed at his strong, muscular frame. Then she stood beside him.

  Silence clung in the air. Her face heated. What if he didn’t want her? She gulped and waited.

  He tilted his head and gazed into her eyes. Then he stepped closer and ended the silence. “What’s your fantasy now? We’re both awake, and you can’t fake sleeping. You’d make too much noise.”

  “True.” She tilted her head and laughed. “Two things. First, I am curious about you and would like an hour tomorrow to talk.”

  She swallowed. The truth lay between them, though she stood silent next to him. She fidgeted with her hands and waited for him to say something.

  He didn’t say a word. Finally, she stepped back. And he stepped into a shadow.

  No. This wasn’t the end. She took a step to follow him. He stopped the second he understood she wouldn’t stop. His shoulders dropped. “Talking. I don’t do that well anymore.”

  Instead of an answer, she pressed her hand on his and offered a tentative smile. His gaze met hers, then she whispered, “I won’t press for anything that’s too difficult, but I do need company, not just you occasionally checking on me.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Okay. I’ll get everything done before dinner tomorrow.”

  A smile formed on her lips. She stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, and he smiled at her. Her entire body hummed in excitement.

  “When your smile glows at me like that, Snowflake, it’s inviting,” he whispered in her ear, and pulled her closer into his body. “I’m so thankful I left the door open.”

  “So am I.” She followed him. He took a seat, then she settled onto his lap. She liked that nickname, and how it came out of his mouth.

  “Are you okay?” His eyebrows went up.

  She nodded. “What did you call me?”

  He smiled. “Snowflake. Hope you don’t mind.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re an impossibly hard-to-find woman out there. You’re beautiful, yet still a sweetheart.”

  The word sent a thump in her chest. She shook her head and kissed his cheek. Then she rested with him, and he fixed her hair. Comfortably, they settled on the couch to watch the fire. The wind howled outside, but it made the fire brighter somehow. With her head on his chest, she could hear his heartbeat, and she had the sensation of being full. “I’ve only known pretty men who can’t do much. You’re making me blush thinking how I settled for so little, always taking care of things. I wish I knew you sooner.”

  “You jitter all the time.” He laughed as he ran his hand down her back. “Half the time, I think I scare you.”

  “It’s not you. It’s the house. And I don’t scare easy, though I’ve never been locked inside with no way out. Here, it’s like there is a ghost inside the walls, which sounds silly to say out loud.” She snuggled closer and shifted to give him better access to her leg. “You might not believe it, but I run seven restaurants and two bakeries, and intended to go nationwide. You knocked my ego down a notch with your opinion of my cooking.”

  “All to care for your mom. Erica, you’re impressive.” His laugh echoed out of his chest. “You’re much better than me in the kitchen, and a good woman. I liked getting under your skin.”

  She closed her eyes. “I like being here with you.”

  He kissed her forehead. “And you’re tired, Snowflake. I’ll let you get your sleep.”

  “I look tired?” Her body hummed for him now, but her leg muscles had a slight spasm.

  He rested his head on hers. “You’re pale and clammy. I can’t have you getting sick on me.”

  Her back muscles quivered from her activity tonight. With no argument, she let out a soft sigh and hugged him. “You are my angel. Don’t change.”

  “Angel?” He
helped her stand. Then she glanced to the floor to give him space. He kept his voice low. “Having a woman say that is humbling. I’ll not let you down. I’ll help you with whatever I can. Now let’s get you to sleep.”

  Slowly they left the cocoon of closeness, and she tugged on his arm. “Stay with me tonight.”

  He rubbed his chin. “I don’t sleep much, ever.”

  She shook her head. “Then stay until I fall asleep.”

  He kissed her forehead. “I can do that, Snowflake.”

  Good. She’d not let him go. Every time they spent together, she saw more details about Gabriel. His brown eyes had red-ember streaks that mixed with gold, and his gaze was smoldering hot. The rest of his muscular frame made him a picture-perfect movie hero and angel, and she’d not let him disappear on her.

  Chapter 13

  Erica’s limbs shook her awake. Shadows seem to play on the dark walls. She sat up in bed, alone. Gabriel had left again. Her breath hitched in her throat. With her hands clenched, she stared around her dark room.

  No one was here.

  But every cell on her skin stayed alert to wait for an attack. She massaged her neck.

  Nothing happened.

  Eventually she lay back down and tried to sleep. But her body stayed up, and she twisted in her bed. More shadows seemed to dance on the wall. The wind swept past the windows and rattled the glass. Her gaze landed on the frosted white window. Another storm howled outside. Winters never ended here, and she missed the hot sun of the Florida beach.

  Shadows didn’t dance on the walls, and her eyes needed to be checked. To calm down, her thoughts turned to Gabriel and his quiet honesty. Those wide shoulders of his were made to wrap around her and hold her, all night, every night, as he had earlier. Slowly her body relaxed and her mind pictured his dark, smoldering eyes. The memories comforted her.

  In bed, he’d set her on fire. Tonight, though, was different. He wasn’t here, and her clammy hands never warmed. She swallowed, closed her eyes tight, and tugged the blankets up higher.

  With a huff, she thought of Gabriel again. His muscular arms and backside had his jeans molded to his well-formed body. He worked so hard that his body was a machine.