A Winter’s Tale

by Carrie Elks

  No shit. She noticed he hadn’t mentioned the one she’d actually applied for though. Clearly that ship had sailed. ‘I guess I’ll get back into the search after Christmas.’ And maybe learn how not to panic as soon as she was asked a question. Yeah, that would be good, too.

  ‘Maybe you should see if you can get something back home,’ Drake suggested. ‘The movie industry in London is pretty healthy. Have you ever thought about going back there?’

  Was he trying to get rid of her? Her interview technique must really have sucked. ‘I want to stay here,’ she told him. ‘Or in Hollywood anyway. If I can.’

  ‘Don’t you miss your family, though, living out here?’ Drake asked.

  ‘Yes, but none of them are living in London any more,’ Kitty told him. ‘One of my sisters lives in Maryland, and another is in Scotland.’ And even Cesca wasn’t spending that much time in London. ‘We talk on Skype and email, so me living over here doesn’t make that much difference.’

  ‘Can you pour me another glass of wine, Kitty?’ Annie called out from her chair across the room.

  Oh sod it. Kitty poured herself another glass as well. After a day with the Kleins she needed it. If Drake wanted to judge her with his hyper-white smile and perma-tanned glow, then let him.

  ‘Why was Everett so cagey about that script the other day?’ she asked Drake, after passing Annie her glass. ‘He got really worked up about it.’

  ‘This project is important to him, it’s something he’s been working on for months. If anything goes wrong now I think he’ll have a fit. He sees it as his magnum opus.’

  She raised her eyes to meet Drake’s. ‘A vanity project?’

  ‘No, not at all. It’s an important movie, one that has a real story to tell.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I really shouldn’t say any more. It’s very delicate and you know how angry he got when you came in the library.’

  Kitty decided to take advantage of the thaw that had melted the atmosphere between them. ‘Are you sure you can’t tell me any more about it?’ She was desperate to know. Who wouldn’t be? It wasn’t often that a film student got to see a huge production being planned first-hand.

  Not that she was seeing it. In Everett’s mind she was only the nanny, not a want-to-be intern.

  ‘I really can’t say anything about it at the moment.’ Drake looked almost regretful. ‘I would if I could. All I can say is that it’s big. That’s why Everett insisted I join him here.’

  ‘What made you arrive in a helicopter? Would a plane not do?’ She frowned, remembering the cacophony as the two of them landed in the meadow. Then she started to recall exactly what Drake and Everett’s arrival had interrupted, and a blush stole its way across her face.

  Did she really have to wait until the morning to see Adam? Part of her wanted to run down there now, to see exactly what he wanted to talk to her about.

  Drake laughed. ‘It was the fastest way to get from the airport. What were you doing down in the cabin anyway?’ He countered her question with another one.

  For a moment she wondered if he could read her mind. ‘I had to look after the puppy,’ she squeaked, panicking. ‘He’s a present for Jonas and we’re hiding him down there until Christmas morning. It was the only place I could think of. Luckily Adam agreed to help out.’

  ‘You should stay away from that man,’ Drake warned, making a face as soon as she mentioned Adam’s name. ‘He’s crazy, and vicious as hell. Not somebody you want to be dealing with.’

  Kitty’s breath caught in her throat. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Everett did everything he could this summer, after his brother got back from that clusterfuck in Colombia. Then Adam threw it back in his face, practically ripping the pool house apart. He even managed to give Everett a black eye. He’s an animal.’

  ‘Why did he hit his brother?’ Her mouth was dry. Part of her wanted to know more, to learn about the person Adam was, but the information she was getting made her want to shiver.

  Drake shrugged. ‘They said it was a reaction to what happened in Colombia, that’s why the LAPD was so lenient with him. But I heard the arguments between him and Everett, and there was no excuse for the way he treated his brother.’

  Kitty took another mouthful of wine, still trying without success to equate the Adam he was describing to the man she’d spent time with that afternoon. Nothing about him seemed as dangerous as Drake was suggesting.

  ‘Life does strange things to people,’ she said.

  ‘Well it definitely messed him up. If you need company when you go down there, I’d be happy to help. To give you some protection from him, I mean.’

  Kitty spluttered, spraying red wine across the surface of the workshop. After the conversation she’d had with Adam that afternoon, the only sort of protection she needed definitely didn’t come in the form of a valley boy.

  Though she hated to admit it, Drake’s description of Adam had only heightened her interest in the dark, possibly violent, yet gorgeous man who lived in a cabin in the woods. One thing was for sure, when she went down tomorrow, there was no way she was taking Drake with her.

  Even if she had to sneak out of the house without anybody noticing.

  18

  My love is as a fever, longing still

  – Sonnet 147

  Kitty watched the early morning sunshine creeping across her carpet. It was only six o’clock when she stumbled out of bed, her messy hair framing her face like an off-centre helmet. She stood under the lukewarm shower for a long ten minutes; her eyes squeezed shut as water poured down her face.

  The house still hadn’t stirred when she walked into the kitchen. The usual aroma of coffee was absent, so she poured heaped scoops of ground beans into the filter, filling up the reservoir and turning it on. Flicking the switch on the old radio that Annie kept plugged in near the stove, she curled up into the easy chair, cupping her hands around her warm mug.

  Taking a sip of coffee, she wondered when she should head down to the cabin. Adam had been insistent she come, but hadn’t said a time. Was it too early? she wondered. Would he still be out on that morning run? Even worse, would she wake him up, making him answer the door with his hair still mussed and his eyes all heavy?

  Or what if he’d changed his mind altogether and asked her to turn around and go back to the house?

  One thing was for sure; she’d drive herself crazy if she sat here too much longer.

  Grabbing a large Tupperware box, she filled it with vegan dog food, trying not to wrinkle her nose as the thick, dried granules landed in the transparent plastic tub. It had a smell she couldn’t quite place – leafy, earthy, and more than a little pungent – and it was hard to imagine anybody could find that appetising.

  Even a puppy. The poor thing.

  Wrapped warmly in her thick winter coat and scarf, she followed her usual path through the trees. She’d learned the way by heart – turning left at the half-dead pine, then right at the three fallen logs – her legs following the path without her really having to think about it. The same route Jonas had taken her on their first few days here, when the snow was new and sparkling, and she hadn’t realised what lay on the other side of those trees.

  Or who lay there.

  Coming to the clearing at the top of the hill, she stopped for a moment, staring into the valley below. The lake was still, the winter sun reflecting in its mirror-like surface, the cloudless December sky lending it a blue tint. Last night before she’d gone to bed Annie had said something about another storm brewing, but the stillness of the air belied that thought. The sky was too clear, the air too static. There was no sign of a blizzard to be seen.

  Set back from the lake, Adam’s cabin stood proud within the clearing of the meadow. A plume of grey-blue smoke curled up from his chimney, the only sign of life in a scene otherwise dominated by nature.

  Was he waiting for her? Kitty’s breath sped up as she stared at the lodge, her heart banging against her chest. She wasn’t sure when she started walking
again, leaving a trail of footprints behind her, but before she’d begun to clear her thoughts, she’d already covered half the distance between herself and the building.

  That’s when she spotted him standing silently in the open doorway, his eyes trained on her as she walked. His scrutiny lent her an air of self-consciousness, making her stumble a couple of times before she reached his steps. Unlike the last time she was here, the wooden slats that enclosed the porch and held the roof up were decorated with boughs of pine and holly. Laced between the greenery were twinkling lights, lending a grotto-like air to a cabin which had previously been so plain.

  It looked like something from a fairy tale.

  There was a lump in her throat when she spoke. ‘You decorated.’ She recognised the lights from the box she’d brought down two days ago. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought he’d do anything with them.

  Adam leaned against the doorway. Though the air was freezing, he was only wearing jeans and a thin black sweater, the wool doing nothing to hide the definition of his chest. His hair was still wet, brushed back from his face, his beard recently trimmed. She could almost smell the pine scent of his cologne – an aroma that already had the ability to make her weak at the knees. ‘The box was in the way. I figured I better do something with it before the puppy decided to eat it for breakfast.’

  Kitty was still overcome by the wild, primitive wonder of the scene. ‘It’s beautiful.’

  His eyes didn’t leave her face. ‘Yes it is.’

  All those fears and doubts that had been her companion since leaving the big house seemed to evaporate into the winter air. The way he was staring at her with dark, hungry eyes was enough to melt her inside.

  ‘I wasn’t sure you’d be back from your run.’

  ‘I was out before six.’ The smile he flashed her was brief. ‘I don’t sleep a whole lot. I’ve already got the logs in for the day, too.’

  She reached the top of the steps. Adam hadn’t moved, his large body still blocking the door. Kitty came to a halt a few feet from the entrance, her rapid pulse making her breathless.

  ‘I’m glad you’re here.’ Her voice was soft.

  ‘So am I.’ For the first time he took a step towards her, sending every cell in her body into high alert. A shiver worked its way down her spine, leaving a trail of goose bumps behind it. Adam reached out and took the dog food from her hands.

  ‘It’s for the dog.’ She was aware of how stupid she sounded. ‘It’s vegan. Organic, as well. Apparently he’ll love it.’ She looked over in the corner, where the puppy was curled up in his makeshift bed. He looked out for the count.

  Adam didn’t reply. Placing the box on the rustic bench just inside the front door, he reached out again, this time wrapping his hands around Kitty’s waist.

  It was as if a spotlight had been trained on the two of them, flooding the outside world with darkness. They were actors on a stage, with an audience of two, and every movement was a gesture meant for their private performance. She felt his hands tighten around her through the layer of her coat, as he lifted her easily into his house. Disappointment flooded her chest when he released his hold.

  That sensation was short-lived, as he tugged at the zipper of her jacket and slipped it off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor in a heap. Then his fingers were on her neck, unbuttoning her sweater, warming her skin as he pushed down inside.

  She looked up, connecting with his hot stare. His face was flushed, his lips swollen, a mirror of her own arousal. He lifted her sweater over her head, revealing her cotton tank and bra, his hands sliding the straps from her shoulders until they were bare.

  ‘I thought you wanted to talk to me.’ She tried to inhale, her mouth dry. Fearing he might take that as a rejection, she quickly added, ‘Not that it matters right now.’

  Adam dipped his head, pressing his face into the curve between her neck and shoulder. She felt his lips move against her aroused skin, his voice little more than a whisper, its volume muffled by her body.

  ‘We’ll talk later.’

  He hadn’t meant to pounce on her the moment she’d walked into the house. He’d filled the coffee pot and whisked some eggs, intending to have everything on the table for her arrival. He’d spent most of the night thinking about her, about the questions he wanted to ask, the apologies he wanted to say. But then he’d spied her from the kitchen window, emerging from the forest and onto the hill. With her silhouette illuminated by the burgeoning sun, she’d looked like something otherworldly. The need to touch her had flickered back to life until it was an inferno burning inside his belly.

  Adam had lingered in the doorway as she’d walked down the hill, his fingers grasping the wood in an effort not to run to her. What had Martin told him? That he could choose a middle ground, it didn’t have to be all or nothing. He could just be her friend.

  She didn’t feel like a friend right now, though, as he brushed his lips up her neck, feeling her shiver at his kisses. Then he reached the corner of her mouth – could feel the warmth of her breath against his lips, and he paused for a moment, his eyes meeting hers to check it was OK.

  He was half afraid she’d change her mind and walk away. Even more afraid that she wouldn’t. His mouth was aching with the need to kiss her, to taste her, to consume her.

  He didn’t want to be her friend.

  He wanted to be her lover. Fuck blowing hot and cold, the heat was all he needed.

  ‘Is this OK?’ He wasn’t sure why he was asking now.

  She blinked at him, her lips parting slightly as he continued to stare. She swallowed, as though she was tasting the moment as much as he was. ‘Yes.’ She nodded. ‘It’s more than OK.’

  Slowly, torturously, he slid his mouth to hers. At first it was little more than the softest feather of lips against lips, as he reached up to cup her jaw, angling her face to his. Then he deepened the kiss, his need to taste her overwhelming every other sense. She moulded her body against his, soft chest against his hard planes, warm thighs against his. Christ, she was delicious.

  It only took a moment of them kissing for him to get hard, his dick throbbing in the confines of his jeans. Her lips were so soft, her mouth wet and warm as he slid his tongue inside her.

  Adam moved his hands down, sliding them from her chest to her waist. Her skin was warm, smooth, and so very tantalising, but nothing compared to the heat flooding through his body.

  She’d said yes. To him. He wanted to shout it out to the world. In this godforsaken corner of a snow-covered mountain, a beautiful, funny girl who he’d spent the past week consumed by, had walked over to give herself to him.

  It felt like little short of a miracle.

  ‘Can I take you to the bedroom?’ As hormone-ridden as they were, having her against the wall of his cabin wasn’t what he had in mind. She had a body to savour, not rush. If he was going to make it good for her, a knee-trembling quickie wasn’t going to cut it.

  ‘Is it far?’

  He let his head fall back as he laughed. ‘No, baby, not far at all.’ He lifted her up until her legs circled his hips. Their relative heights made her face level with his. Kitty cupped his jaw, angling her head until their brows touched.

  ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this. I swear I only came down for breakfast.’ She didn’t look too unhappy about it, though. Her smile lit up her face.

  Adam flexed his muscles. ‘I think you’ll find I’m doing all of the work here. You’re just coming along for the ride.’

  Her laugh blinded him. ‘I mean this. Going to bed with you. It’s hardly even morning. I’m honestly not the sort of girl who throws herself at strangers.’

  ‘We’re not strangers.’ They were anything but. Right then he felt connected to her on every level. It was as though his heart was in tune with his brain for once. ‘But if you’re having second thoughts, we can stop now. No hard feelings.’

  ‘Don’t you dare stop.’

  That settled it. They made it to the bedroom. Adam lai
d her gently on his bed, standing back to admire her for a moment. Her hair fanned out across the patchwork quilt, her skin soft in the morning light. Her top half was bare save for the half-open bra she was wearing. From the waist down, on the other hand, she needed some work.

  Adam bent down and pulled off her boots, then tugged at the woollen socks keeping her feet warm. Her toenails were painted a vivid orange, shiny and bright. Something about that made him want to kiss them, so he did. One by one he pressed his lips to her toes, holding them hard when she tried to pull them away. She started to giggle at the sensation.

  ‘Can I take my jeans off?’ she asked him.

  ‘That’s my job.’ He didn’t want to be hurried. Adam planned on savouring every moment of that morning, burning each touch and sensation into his memory. He wasn’t sure what would happen after today. For now, he just wanted to live in the moment.