They said their goodbyes and Joel retreated to the back of the house with the dogs. Becca looked at the sky. The sun was setting and pink and purple ribbons of color crisscrossed the sky above the huge trees in the clearing. She loaded Mona into the backseat and turned to Jack. “I hate to ask, but could you drive to the motel, so I can follow you? It’s getting dark and I don’t want to get lost. You know where the H12 is, right?”
He gave her a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me look. “Yes.”
“Oh yeah. I guess you do. Sorry.” She was such an idiot. Ask a favor and remind the guy about his cheating not-exactly wife. Very smooth. Turning, she got into the car and slowly backed up, so he could turn his truck around. She looked over the seat at Mona. “I hope you had a good time because we’ve got a long drive ahead of us.”
Jack obviously was driving extra slowly for her benefit. As they wound their way back into town, Becca clutched the steering wheel, trying to focus on the tail lights ahead of her. Thank goodness there were no other cars. Driving with the layer of snow that was still on the roads was scary.
At last they reached the motel parking lot. Jack was standing outside his truck with his arms crossed, the lights of the parking lot casting shadows that hid half of his face. She got out and stood in front of him. “Thanks for letting me follow you. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s getting icy out there. I’m guessing you don’t have studs, do you?”
“What?”
“Studded tires. Your car was sliding all over the place.”
Becca flexed her fingers, trying to remove the stiffness. “At least I didn’t hit anything or spin this time. I should go get my stuff.” After the drive into town, Becca’s stomach was a little queasy. Now she knew what the term “white-knuckle ride” really meant. At least she didn’t throw up, but she still was a little shaky.
He reached out and grabbed her forearm. “You can stay at my place tonight. It’s not safe for you to drive down the hill to the city on those tires.”
“Are you sure?” She looked into his eyes. “And Mona too?”
Jack gestured toward her car. “Yes, Mona too. Frank is pretty mellow about other dogs.”
“He’s pretty mellow about everything. I’ll be right back.”
As she collected her belongings from the H12, Becca tried not to dwell on how horrifying she looked. Her hair was stringy and limp and she probably stunk at this point. The couple at the front desk were very understanding and thanked her for staying, even though she hadn’t. Jack had to have a shower at his place anyway. It would be such a relief to no longer be embarrassed to be seen in public.
She walked back to the parking lot and stood alongside Jack’s truck. He rolled down the window. “So are you good to go?”
“Yes. They were really nice about my disappearance. Where do you live?”
“Not far. Just follow me again.”
“Okay. Please go slowly.”
Becca followed the brown truck as Jack drove down the main street of Alpine Grove. He turned down a side street and pulled into the parking lot of a utilitarian-looking brick apartment building. Most of Alpine Grove consisted of cute little older cottages. This building had the uniquely unattractive boxy style of multi-unit dwellings built in the late sixties.
She pulled into a space alongside the truck. Jack got out and clipped a leash on Frank, who seemed thrilled to be back home. Becca leashed up Mona and walked her over to Frank. “Okay Mona, meet Frank.” The two dogs wagged happily at one another, did a little sniff dance and seemed to call it good. Both dogs looked up expectantly at the humans.
“Home sweet home,” Jack said, “I’m pretty sure Frank thinks it’s dinner time. Come on. My place is on the second floor.”
Becca got her things out of the car and followed him inside and up the stairs. Given the grotesque pattern, the hall carpet looked to be original to the building. She hoped Jack wasn’t paying much for this place.
He stopped at a door, unlocked it, and dropped Frank’s leash, so the dog could rush into the apartment. Jack beckoned to her, ceremoniously ushering her in. “After you.”
Becca walked into the room and looked around. The studio apartment was almost completely empty. Nothing on the walls. No rugs. No knickknacks. The only furniture was a full-sized mattress lying on the floor in front of the window, a dresser with a stack of books on it, and a huge blue recliner sitting in front of a TV that sat on a wooden table. She smiled weakly at Jack. “Um, it’s nice.”
“No it’s not. But it works for the time being.”
Mona busied herself sniffing at the three pieces of furniture around the room before settling in on the mattress. Becca hurriedly bent to grab her collar and pulled the dog off the mattress. “No Mona, why don’t you sleep on the floor over here.” Mona looked offended, but complied.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Frank stomps all over it all the time.” Jack pointed at a door. “That’s the bathroom. Do you want to shower first?”
Becca clapped her hands together. “Oh, yes. Please!”
“Go for it. Towels are in the cabinet. I’ll feed the dogs and order us a pizza.”
Gathering up her suitcase, she said, “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” as she rushed off to the bathroom.
After enjoying a hot, glorious shower, Becca returned to the room fully dressed, scrubbed, and combed.
Mona and Frank were asleep on the mattress and Jack was sitting in the La-Z-Boy reading a book. He glanced up at her. “You look better.”
“I feel better.” She did a small pirouette, so her floppy skirt spun out around her. “I’m not sure I have ever had a more wonderful shower.”
He stood up and grabbed a pile of clothes off the dresser. “I called in the pizza. If they show up, the check’s on the TV.”
Becca settled into the chair, sinking down into the deep cushions. The La-Z-Boy was unspeakably ugly but incredibly cozy. There was a reason people bought these things. She picked up the book and read the back cover. Flipping to the first pages, it seemed to be a new John Grisham novel that she actually hadn’t read. Cool.
She jerked awake at the sound of Jack opening the bathroom door. Maybe she was a little tired after the stressful drive. He was rubbing a towel on his wet hair and droplets of water fell on his t-shirt. Seeing Jack wearing different clothes was startling. His shoulders and arms were extremely muscular and the faded Levis were a heck of a lot sexier than the heavy work pants he’d been wearing before. It was difficult not to stare. Jack cleaned up nicely. Really nicely.
Walking into the room, he grinned. “Not a big fan of Grisham?”
Becca held up the paperback. “The book is good, but I was drawn into the sucking vortex of this chair. It gives the word recliner new meaning.”
“It’s really comfortable. I refused to give it up.”
“Give it up?”
“I told you about this.” He waved in exasperation. “The divorce? Everything else is still in the house. I told Annie she could have it all.”
“Oh. I didn’t know. That was—uh—generous of you. ”
Jack flopped down on the mattress next to Frank and Mona. The dogs both stood up to check out their new bedmate. He pushed their noses away. “Hi guys. Move over. We have to share.” The dogs turned around a few times and resettled themselves near the foot of the mattress. Jack sat up and leaned his back against the wall. “Some things are more important than, well, things.”
“I suppose that’s true.” She looked around the barren studio apartment again. Monasteries had more decoration than this place. “But why don’t you get new furniture?”
“I’m not sure if I’m going to move back to Colorado or not.”
Becca tried to sit up straighter in the chair, which was no easy feat. “I thought you loved it here. Your job and the great trees and everything.”
“I do. But there are some reasons to leave too.”
The doorbell buzzed and both dogs launched off the mattress, barking furiously in their
quest to ward off the evil interloper. Jack got up, grabbed the check off the TV, and collected the pizza. The dogs followed him into the kitchen area with their noses in the air, sniffing excitedly.
He put a slice of pizza on a plate and carried it back to Becca.
Taking it from him, she said, “Thank you. I think I’m trapped in this chair. Getting out might be tricky. It won’t let me leave.”
Jack shoved dogs out of the way and settled back on the mattress. “Go lie down, Frank. You too, Mona.” The dogs looked distressed, but didn’t move. Jack said more firmly, “I mean it, Frank. Go!” The dog apparently knew that tone of voice and curled up at the corner of the mattress. Mona glanced over at the large dog and followed suit.
Having inhaled her piece of pizza, Becca leaned over the arm of the chair, trying to lever herself out and not drop her plate on the floor. At last, she extracted herself from the chair’s gaping maw, but it was not the most lady-like maneuver. She stood up and straightened her blouse. Jack was smiling as he ate his pizza, obviously amused by her struggles. She flipped a lock of hair out of her face. “Well, that was quite an adventure.”
With as much dignity as she could muster, Becca strolled to the kitchen and collected another piece of pizza. Leaning on the counter, she chewed thoughtfully and gazed around the empty space. Her own apartment was filled with personal items. All the colors, textures, fabrics, and furniture made her happy when she walked in. This place was just bleak. Who lived like this?
The lack of furniture made Joel Ross’s cabin, shack, or whatever he called it seem palatial by comparison. No wonder Jack said he liked it. Of course, even though the apartment might be stark and depressing, the hot running water and electricity did make up for quite a bit.
Becca didn’t want to face the body-sucking recliner again, so she dropped down beside Jack on the mattress with her back against the wall. Mona tried to inch in closer to check out the pizza and Becca shooed her away. “You had your dinner.”
Jack put his plate aside and closed his eyes, leaning his head back on the wall. He had his elbows on his knees with his arms crossed at the wrists. He said in a tired voice, “I think the weather should be okay for your drive back tomorrow.”
“I’ve got to go out to the house I’m supposed to appraise first. You said Edgewater Road is near the lake, right?”
He opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her. “You’re going out there?”
“I have to at least look at the house. Tomorrow is Sunday and I can’t get all the legal documents I was hoping to get from the various offices I was going to go to on Wednesday. Maybe I can get them to fax the stuff I need to me at work on Monday if I ask really nicely. At a minimum, I have to go see the house and take pictures.”
“Do you have any idea where it is?”
“I have a map.” Okay, it was a really confusing map, but it was a map.
Jack crossed his arms across his chest. “Is this the same map you used before?”
“Yes. It’s the only one I have.”
“I was afraid of that.” He sighed. “What if I take you out there? In my truck, which has four-wheel drive and studded tires.”
She gripped his arm. “Would you? I mean, you probably have things to do now that you’re all clean and back to your normal life.”
“Not tomorrow. But Frank has to go with us. He hates being left behind.”
“What about Mona?”
“It’s an extended cab. I’ll clear out some of the junk behind the front seat and they can ride there. But you do realize you’re going to end up covered in dog hair, right?”
Becca leaned her head on his shoulder. It was strong and hard, and yet comforting somehow. “I don’t care. That would be wonderful.” She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. “I’m always saying thank you to you. It’s getting a little embarrassing.”
He put his hand over hers on his arm. “You just aren’t prepared for winter. If you ever come back to Alpine Grove again, you might consider getting some snow tires put on your car first.”
“It’s not even winter yet. What is wrong with this place? Winter is supposed to begin in December.” Becca laced her fingers in his. “By the way, I brushed my teeth.”
“That’s nice.” He closed his eyes, leaning his head back on the wall again. “I’m glad you feel better.”
“I’m clean now and there is just this one mattress here.” She tugged on his hand, causing him to turn his head to look at her. “You can’t really expect to kiss me like you did before and think I’m not going to notice, Jack.”
He pulled his hand away. “That’s not a good idea.”
“Why not?” Becca looked down at herself. She was not horrifying or stinky anymore. In fact, when she looked in the mirror, she thought she was looking downright pretty, with normal clothes that actually fit. Well, all things considered. It had been a long day, after all.
Jack looked down at his hands as he rubbed his ring finger with his thumb. “Well for one thing, I’m married.”
“For what? Ten more days? So what? Given what you told me about your soon-to-be-ex wife, I don’t think she’s pining for her long-lost forester.” Becca paused at the expression on his face. He looked so miserable. “I’m sorry. That was nasty. I shouldn’t have said that. But I guess I should ask—are you still pining for her?”
“I shouldn’t be, since I’m the one who filed for divorce.” He looked away from Becca at the nearly empty room. “I don’t know. Maybe. It doesn’t matter. You don’t live here and you’re leaving tomorrow. I’ll never see you again. My life is complicated enough. And it sounds like yours is too.”
“I think you have embraced enough simplicity here, don’t you?” Becca waved at the desolate space around them. “Are you punishing yourself? Or do you think I’m such a nut job or so repulsive that you’re just plain not interested?” She leaned closer to his face, looked into his eyes, then glanced at his lips. “Because I think I’ve made it clear that I am interested.”
His gaze softened. “That’s not it. You’re definitely not repulsive. It’s just that I don’t want to get involved with anyone right now. Maybe that seems strange to you.” He leaned away from her, but took her hand again, looking down at it. “You know that time between when you file for divorce and it’s final? The state calls it a “cooling off period.” I just don’t want to deal with anything else until that’s all behind me. It’s one reason I haven’t moved back to Colorado, even though a bunch of my friends there said I should.”
Becca just sat and looked at his face for a moment. There really wasn’t anything else left to say. She’d already thrown herself at him once and that certainly hadn’t worked out well. “I guess that makes sense. Even though being rejected is unpleasant and a little humiliating, I’ve spent enough time with you to know that you’re not a one-night-stand kind of guy. It’s kind of honorable, I suppose.” She leaned her head on his shoulder again. “But I can’t say I’m not disappointed. And if you say ‘it’s not you; it’s me’ I may have to hit you again.”
He chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind. Isn’t it called Stockholm syndrome when someone becomes attracted to the person who held them captive?”
“I already have a disorder. The last thing I need is a syndrome.” She raised her head to look at him. “You weren’t exactly holding me captive.”
“Maybe there’s some other name for being stuck in a cabin. But you’ll forget about me. I’ll just become a bit player in a story you tell your family while you’re eating those incredible mashed potatoes you were dreaming about. The year 1995 will go down in history as the year Becca missed Thanksgiving.”
She squeezed his arm again. “I think you were more than a bit player.”
“I’m sure everyone will laugh about it—all the time you spent trapped in a snowstorm with the boring forester who fed you trees.”
Becca gave him a wide-eyed look of mock sincerity. “Some parts are edible, you know.”
He laughe
d and shoved her shoulder gently. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”
“Nope. Never. And for the record, I don’t think you’re boring.”
He moved to get up. “I want another slice of pizza. Do you?”
“Sure.” Becca wanted way more than pizza, but if she couldn’t have what she really wanted, fattening food would just have to do.
Later, after a slightly awkward conversation about sleeping arrangements, Becca went to the bathroom and changed into her nightgown. She crawled under the covers next to Jack, who had finally agreed that after so many nights of sleeping on the sofa, a mattress would be easier on his back. He had his arm behind his head, flexing a really nice bicep muscle. It probably felt as good as it looked. Perhaps lifting chain saws all the time was the next best thing to body-building.
She needed to plaster a do-not-touch sign on Jack. No matter how tired she was, sleeping next to him was not going to be relaxing. Seeing the expression on his face, Becca yanked the covers up to her chin and said, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to jump you.”
He rolled over onto his side to face her and grinned. “It’s flattering that you wanted to though.”
“Maybe it’s just the syndrome talking, but you know every horrible thing about me. And what I look like with no makeup and incredibly bad hair because I haven’t showered for way, way too long. And yet you don’t seem to hate me.”
“True. I don’t hate you. But I was not exactly looking my best either. When my beard gets too long, I start to look a little like Charles Manson.”
Becca giggled and relaxed her hold on the sheet. “It wasn’t that bad, but it does look better now that you’ve trimmed it. I’m glad you didn’t say that back at the cabin. I was already having creepy dreams related to being stuck in the middle of a snowstorm with a guy named Jack. If I’d found redrum written on the door, I probably would have run screaming out into the forest.”
“Nope. The only thing on the door was cardboard from a box of Twinkies.”
Becca put her hand under the pillow. “You could just consider shaving, you know.”
Snow Furries (An Alpine Grove Romantic Comedy Book 4) Page 14