Snowed In & Set Up

by Whitley Cox

“We’ll finish all of that, don’t worry.”

  He let out a heavy sigh. Thank God. At least he still had a job. At least Reggie hadn’t fallen completely off his rocker.

  “And then we’re done. You can have the company or I’ll sell it, or dismantle it. But once the current contracts are done, once we figure out this engine bullshit, then we’re done. Rita and I just bought a sailboat, and we’re going to sail around the world.”

  “Do you even know how to sail?” Fuck, filter! “What I mean is, Reggie, are you sure about all of this?”

  “One hundred percent. I’m in love. Best feeling ever. I have my millions, Rita has hers. I’m done working. I’m sixty-three years old. I have no children and nothing but a lifetime of work and incredibly successful and world-changing inventions to show for it. I want more. I want the exhilaration of waking up next to the woman I love every day. I want to be able to wake up and ask her, ‘What do you want to do today, honey?’ And for her to say, ‘Whatever the fuck we want, dear. We’re retired and rich.’ And then we make love, drink kombucha on the bow of our boat, then go scuba diving and spearfishing for our supper.”

  Jeez, the man painted one hell of a picture, that was for sure.

  “I want you to find love too, Sheldon. We’ll finish the project, and then if you want the company, it’s yours. But we’ll be making enough from Smythe and Audi that you’ll be set for some time. The check will be millions.”

  Austin had to grab the phone with both hands. Millions.

  “I think you should take off for a bit. See the world. Travel. Fuck. Experience. Spend some of your millions on frivolous things. I wish I had at your age. Now I’m sixty-three and having to play catch-up.”

  Austin swallowed. Travel. Fuck. Experience. Millions.

  “Anyway, Sheldon, I just wanted to wish you a Happy Christmas and tell you the good news. I’ve been trying to call you for a couple of days now. You getting laid, too?”

  Austin made a garbled noise in his throat. “Yeah. Good news.”

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake, congratulate me! I’m married.”

  Fuck.

  “Right. Uh, sorry. Congratulations, Reggie. Rita is a lucky woman, and I can’t wait to meet her.”

  “That’s better.” Reggie laughed loud and carefree. “Maybe next time you say it, it will sound like you actually mean it.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Think about that glitch with the wiring, and when we meet in a few days, hopefully we can hammer out the problems and wrap this puppy up. We set sail for the Baja on Valentine’s Day!” He chuckled again, and then the sound of a woman’s voice followed by what could only be described as a seductive growl filled the receiver. “I’ve got to go. The wife is needy . . . if you know what I mean? Happy New Year, Shelly. Cheerio.” Then, without waiting for a fare-thee-well from Austin, Reggie hung up, the final sound on the other end being the high-pitched girly squeal of a woman before the line went dead.

  Austin tossed his phone on to his bed, staring at it wide-eyed, his head continuing to shake. Married. Millions. Travel. Fuck. Experience. The words continued to rattle around and around and around in his head. Millions. Travel. Experience. Fuck. Married.

  He ran his hands through his hair, then caught his reflection in the mirror. He was smiling. Grinning. From ear to goddamn ear, he was happy.

  He had to tell Hunter the good news!

  “What the heck?” Rowan said with a yawn as he wandered into the kitchen, Juney right behind him.

  Will looked up from where he stood at the counter. He was busy whisking eggs in a bowl while bacon sizzled on the griddle next to him. “May have taken a couple of days, but I got the hint. Sorry, guys. Breakfast and cleanup are on me today. Just sit back and enjoy.”

  Amber, who was also in the kitchen, was busy cutting up some strawberries. She grinned over at Rowan and Juney before giving them a wink and putting her head back down.

  “I like a little Tabasco in my scrambled eggs,” Rowan said, wandering over to pour himself some coffee. “And maybe some jalapeno jack grated on top.”

  “Yes, Chef!” Will said with a big smile.

  “What’d you do, fuck the cantankerous freeloader’s brains out until he’s now no more than a happy helper?” Rowan asked, wrapping an arm around Juney as she sidled up next to him at the bar, thanking him for her coffee.

  Amber laughed. “Yep, pretty much.”

  “All night long,” Will added with a smug smile.

  A scuff-scuff sound from down the hallway drew everyone’s eyes, and Hunter, with a messy bun and pillow creases on her cheeks, schlepped forward, wiping sleep from her eyes and yawning wide.

  “Well, this is a lovely sight,” she said dryly. “Giving back to the little people, are we, Dr. Colson?”

  Will snorted. “I’m pretty sure you make more than I do, Miss Kingsley, so I’m not sure who you’re referring to as little people.” He placed a cup of coffee on the bar, and she sat in front of it. “So, you and Boy Wonder going off to paradise? What did he say?”

  Hunter’s face pinched tight, and she looked down into her coffee. “He said no. Said work was too important. And I get that. I respect that. Doesn’t mean it still didn’t hurt.”

  Juney reached over and rubbed her back.

  Hunter looked at Rowan and then Will, blinking several times. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. “I’m still going to go, though. I emailed my general manager this morning, told her my plan, and when I get back to the city, I’m going to get the ball rolling. You said it yourself, Will, it’s okay to travel alone. You find people who are like-minded, and you travel with them. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll find my match abroad.” She attempted a smile, but the struggle to turn up the corners of her mouth appeared to be too much, and her eyes still held shadows of pain.

  “Hunter?”

  All heads swiveled to look down the hallway to where the sound was coming from.

  “Hunter?”

  “In here,” she called.

  Just then, like a cyclone of plaid pajama pants and enormous smiles, Austin came careening down the hallway. “Hunter!” he hollered, even though he really didn’t need to. She was only a few feet in front of him. “Hunter, there you are!”

  “I’m here. What’s wrong?” she asked calmly. Rowan couldn’t blame her for not feeding off of Austin’s excitement and smiling. The man had kept her waiting all week, then when everyone thought he’d finally come to his senses, he’d hauled off and broken her heart again.

  Austin shook his head. “Nothing! Nothing is wrong. Everything is right! For once, finally, everything is right.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “I’m coming with you. To Cambodia. To Thailand. To Bali. I’m coming. I want to come. I can come. Can I come?”

  Finally, a smile. Hunter’s eyes lit up as she took a step off the barstool and stood in front of Austin. “What do you mean? Last night you said you couldn’t, you said work was too demanding and you didn’t want to abandon your boss. What’s changed in the last few hours?”

  “Everything!” he said, his chest rising and falling as if he’d just sprinted down the hallway. Maybe he had. “My boss . . . Reggie, I just talked to him on the phone. He’s retiring. After we wrap up this project, we’re done. He got married to his childhood love over Christmas, and they bought a boat. He’s either selling the company, or he said I could buy it off of him. But either way, I can come with you. I want to come with you. I want to travel, explore and see the world. . . with you. Travel. Experience. Fuck. Millions.” He was gasping for air now. The rest of them stared at him, and Rowan wondered if he was having a stroke or possibly drunk.

  Hunter opened her mouth to say something, but the flash of the television on the wall above the hearth had all eyes pivoting from the drama in the kitchen to the cozy sunken living room.

  “Hello!” came Daisy’s voice over the surround sound. “Anyone there?”

  Slowly, everyone made their way into the living
room. Amber and Will settled on the couch, Juney and Rowan in the love seat, and Hunter and Austin stood next to each other behind the couch. Daisy’s beautiful face appeared up onto the screen a second later, big smile and bright eyes flashing wide and happy. Cat-eye sunglasses were pushed up into her strawberry-blonde hair, and a turquoise bikini peeked out from beneath a white beach wrap. She looked tanned, content and gorgeous.

  “Hi, guys!”

  Everyone murmured, unsure if they should respond. Was she live?

  “I’m live, and there’s a camera on the top of the television, so I can see everyone. How was your Christmas?”

  Juney’s head bobbed. “Great!”

  Rowan smiled next to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulder. “I’d say it’s been one of my best Christmases ever.”

  “Mine too,” Amber added.

  “Hands down,” Will agreed, pulling Amber closer to him and planting a big kiss on her temple. She nestled in more tightly to his embrace.

  “Hunter? Austin?” Daisy asked, one faint blonde eyebrow drawing up in equal parts curiosity and maybe even a little motherly concern.

  Will, Juney, Rowan and Amber all craned their necks around to look at the other two. Waiting. Hunter hadn’t given Austin an answer yet. She hadn’t forgiven him or welcomed him to join her on her adventure again. And if she didn’t, the only person to blame would be Austin. He’d toyed with her emotions enough this week. If she was ready to call it quits, she had every right.

  Hunter took a step to her right and laced her fingers with Austin’s. The look he gave her could have set the house on fire. Scorching hot. Lust, passion, conviction. It was all there. This boy was a goner. He’d never say “no” to Hunter again.

  “Wonderful Christmas,” Hunter said with a smile. “Austin and I are going to the Arkells concert, and then we’re taking off to go and backpack Southeast Asia.”

  Austin pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “And that’s only the start of it,” he said when they came up for air. “Hunter’s made me curious about everything, and I can’t wait to explore. We’re going to see the world!”

  Well, holy hell, where’d this bit of bravado come from? Rowan shook his head and chuckled to himself. Mr. Mensa finally found some cojones and was ready to be worthy of little Hunter. Good.

  Daisy’s eyes scanned each couple again, and she hummed methodically. “This is very interesting. I’m happy for everyone, of course, but, well . . . hmmm.” She waved a piece of paper in front of the screen, then pulled it away and waggled her eyebrows up and down salaciously. “Are you at all curious to see if you found your match?”

  Austin shook his head. “No, thanks. I know I did.”

  Hunter beamed at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Me too.”

  Will agreed with a big grin. “Me too.”

  “I know I did,” said Amber.

  “Me too,” said Juney.

  Rowan nodded. He didn’t need a piece of paper or some fancy algorithm to tell him Juney was his perfect match. He felt it in his heart, knew it in his very bones that she was the woman for him.

  Daisy continued to smile. “Well, good. As long as you’re all happy, that’s what matters. And now for some bad news. I’m afraid with the snowstorm and the fact that a couple of big trees have fallen down across the highway, the shuttle is unable to come and get you guys today. The weather is just projected to get worse for another few days, and they’re not sure they can get the trees cleared until at least the first. Are you guys okay sticking it out a few more days? There should still be enough food. The freezer in the garage is loaded with food, and besides maybe milk for your coffee, you should be all right.”

  Will pulled Amber into his lap. He grabbed her ponytail and tugged until her neck was exposed to him, and he leaned in and nipped her. “Oh, I think we’ll be quite all right, Daisy. Plenty to do.”

  Rowan hauled Juney into his lap as well, until she was straddling him. She draped her arms over his shoulders, her fingers twirling around the hair at the nape of his neck. He glanced around his lady love to the woman on the screen. “Loads to do, Daise. Don’t you worry about us.”

  Juney giggled as his hand made its way up her torso and he squeezed her breast. “Rowan’s right, Daisy, we’re all good here.”

  “Yup!” Hunter laughed. “Ring in the new year in a log cabin, someone to kiss at midnight. New friends. Sounds perfect to me. Nothing to worry about. Enjoy your time in the Caribbean with Riley.”

  Rowan let go of Juney’s waist for a moment and reached for the remote from the table behind the couch. “I think we’re all pretty content with the bad news. In fact, it’s not bad news at all. But if you don’t mind, Daise, I think we’re going to say Merry Christmas, have a Happy New Year, and goodbye. We all have some celebrating to do.”

  Daisy chuckled. “All right, guys. Happy New Year.”

  “Happy New Year,” they cheered.

  “Turn the television off, Rowan,” Austin said. As he glanced up, he noticed the piece of mistletoe hanging above him. Then he smiled, dipped Hunter low and finally made a move.

  Epilogue

  One year later. . .

  “Wow!” Amber said, the whirr of the boat motor finally dying down as it pulled up alongside the dock.

  “I’ll say,” Juney hummed.

  “This is so cool!” Rowan exclaimed as he jumped off the boat, his sandals making a big, heavy clomping sound on the wooden dock.

  “To be a millionaire . . . ” Juney said wistfully glancing out into the endless sparkling turquoise water. “Though knowing millionaires with their own tropical island in the Caribbean is pretty fantastic as well.”

  “I thought it’d be bigger,” Will said, helping Amber up on to the dock, her red hair flying in a frenzy across her face. With an irritated sigh, she quickly gathered it into her hand and spun it into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. A few rogue wisps escaped, but for the most part, the fire had been contained.

  “Aren’t you glad I didn’t say the same thing when we first met?” She chuckled, pushing her sunglasses off her face onto the top of her head.

  “Nothing is bigger, baby,” Will said with a growl, tugging her into his side and planting a big kiss to the top of her head. “I’m a freakin’ mandingo.”

  Amber snorted a laugh. He was such a goof.

  “Hey, guys!” Hunter said with a big grin, her blonde hair in a beautiful, loose French braid over her shoulder. Her peachy-pink maxi dress trailed behind her like a jet stream. “Welcome to paradise. A far cry from the snowstorm we experienced a year ago, wouldn’t you say?”

  Austin was right behind her, pushing a big luggage trolley. He greeted everyone warmly, then helped Rowan and Will load the suitcases onto the cart.

  “Much better,” Juney agreed. “Though . . . ” She rubbed her belly, a small bump beneath her black tank top, “I can’t say I’ll be enjoying this heat much. I might spend ninety percent of my time in the water.” She made a sickly face. “Or barfing.”

  “What are you now, like four months?” Hunter asked.

  “Almost five,” she said. “But I already feel like a house.”

  “A beautiful, sexy house,” Rowan said, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. “A house I’d like to live in every day for the rest of my life.”

  A peaceful smile coasted across her face, only adding to her already beautiful pregnant lady glow. “Thank you guys for having us here. Ever since the wedding last month, it’s been go-go-go. We’ve been booked solid at the restaurant, doing Christmas parties and other weddings. It’s nice to get away and enjoy some time together and with friends.”

  “You’re welcome,” Hunter beamed. “We’re happy you guys could make it.”

  They all fell in line and followed their hosts down the dock toward a small cluster of buildings painted in bright yellows and aqua blues with white shutters and wraparound porches. There were at least three cabins, what looked like a big tool shed, and anot
her more open-concept building with a pitched roof and columns but no walls. Inside was a big long table and what looked to be a grill, fridge, and counter.

  The men took off toward the cabins, Austin pointing out which couple was in which building as Will and Rowan tipped icy cold beers back and wiped sweat from their brows.

  “I can’t believe you and Austin own an island,” Amber said, taking a beer from Hunter. She was in awe of the beauty, the tranquility. Initially she’d grumbled at the idea of spending Christmas in the tropics, away from her tree, from the snow, from the whimsy. But as the sun overhead kissed her skin and the scent of warm sand, salt air and fresh fruit coasted past her, she couldn’t deny the sudden feeling of contentment. She and Juney followed Hunter away from the outbuilding and out onto the beach in the shade of a few swaying palms. Half a dozen lounge chairs sat in the sand, and they each took one.

  “And in Belize, no less,” Juney added. “It’s absolute paradise.”

  Hunter let out a contented sigh as she kicked off her flip-flops and buried her crimson-painted toes in the warm sand. “I know, me either. But to be fair, you can buy an island here for less than a high-rise back home.”

  Juney shook her head and rubbed her belly. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Hard to believe it’s only been a year,” Hunter said. “And now you and Rowan are married and expecting a baby. Will and Amber are engaged. And Austin and I own an island and are getting married in three days.”

  “A wonderful, whirlwind year,” Amber said.

  Hunter nodded. “Absolutely.”

  “You have enough space to accommodate everyone?” Amber’s head swiveled around to see if she could see any more cabins. Though, if push came to shove, she and Will could always go wander off down the beach and just sleep on a blanket under the stars. Ever since their impromptu snow-shoeing tryst, she had quite the insatiable hunger for outdoor sex. They’d done it all over Seattle: in parks, on hikes, on the beach. Hell, they’d even done it at a Seahawks game.

  “We have four cabins that sleep five to six each, and then there’s another island about twenty minutes away by boat that has a bunch of cabins we’ve rented for the week. James and Emma Shaw own an island not too far from here. They’re from Canada, and we’ve met them in Belize City a couple of times and on the plane to and from. They rent out their bungalows year-round when they’re not using them and said we could have them for the week.”