Melanie walked over to her bag and pulled out the silver lantern, a thrill of excitement coursing over her at seeing how perfect this went with the space. Cori was going to be so excited when she filled her in on all these details. She placed a lantern on the altar and then stepped back, trying to decide if she should use a chunky white candle or pink inside.
Cole’s deep voice startled her and she turned around to look at him, still standing next to the window. She couldn’t see his eyes, shadowed by his hat. “You’re going to have to hurry up. I don’t like the look of the sky. And the wind is picking up.”
Melanie glanced out the window, soft flakes of snow falling. “I’m sure it’s fine. But I’ll be fast.” She spent the next few minutes measuring the distance between the pews to make sure there would be enough room for the buckets of flowers as well as Cori and Cole when he walked her down the aisle. Then she measured the width of the windows to double-check that the custom-made rose wreaths would hang nicely.
“Okay, we’re done,” Cole said, his deep voice in the silent room jarring.
Melanie looked up, and he’d already started collecting her lanterns. “Wait, just one more—”
“No. We’re never going to make it back if we don’t go now,” he said, shoving a lantern into her bag.
“Be careful,” Melanie said rushing over to grab it from him. “These silver lanterns were special order. If one breaks, there won’t be enough time to order another one.” She proceeded to gather her belongings. The wind was whistling and every now and then one of the windows would rattle. Cole was busy closing up the shutters on the windows and Melanie was very aware at how dark it was getting. “It looks pretty gloomy out there,” she said.
His mouth was pulled into a grim line. “I think we’re in for a major storm. Blizzard maybe.”
“What?”
He nodded. “I should have trusted my instincts. We never should have walked up here. Pull up your collar; bundle up as best you can. When we get out there, stay close to me because visibility might get bad. If we can walk fast, we’ll make it down to the main house in time. I hope.”
“You hope?”
“Stop talking; let’s move,” he said and whipped open the door.
A blast of wind tore through the chapel and they both looked at each other before stepping out. “We’ll be lucky if we don’t get caught in a damn storm. Time to haul ass, sweetheart.”
…
Cole cursed softly under his breath as they stood on the top steps of the porch. He glanced over at Melanie, who already looked as though she was going to blow away. There was definitely a blizzard coming. He’d lived here too many winters to not know the signs. The sky had darkened prematurely for this hour of the day, the winds were almost violent, and the snow was coming down harder. He had about five seconds to make the call of whether or not they were going to make it back to the ranch. He looked Melanie up and down. There was no way she’d make it back.
“I thought you said we needed to hurry. Standing here isn’t going to get us home faster,” she said, hopping from one foot to the other in those useless boots.
He sighed roughly. “We’re not going home. No way will you be able to.”
She stopped hopping. “Me? I can assure you—”
“No, you can’t.”
“This is about me being short again, isn’t it?”
He opened his mouth, about to say something, and then shut it. “Follow me.”
“Where are we going?”
“I have a small cabin not that far from here. But listen, this storm is picking up fast. You need to cut all the chitchat if we’re going to make it there. No needless rambling, no questions, no wandering off.”
“Where would I wander? I’m not a child.”
“Because if you get lost, it will be next to impossible for me to find you.”
She nodded. He noted that she was already shivering and they’d only been outside for a minute. “Come on,” he called out, going down the steps. He looked over his shoulder to make sure she was following before he took the trail that was already covered with snow. He glanced over his shoulder every minute or so to make sure she was behind him. He could barely concentrate on the fact that his little sister had just put him in the awkward position of being a babysitter to her friend. He couldn’t deliberate on that because the wind kept slapping snow onto his face. He glanced over at Melanie, who was visibly shaking, but not complaining. He paused for a moment and then stopped. She looked up. Somehow, even though it was dark and gray, her green eyes were vivid.
“Why are we stopping?”
“I’ll take your bag,” he said, already pulling the strap over her shoulder. He eyed the shiny purse warily.
“Thanks. I can handle the purse.”
He gave her a nod and then kept walking. On a normal day the cabin would be a fifteen-minute walk from the chapel. Right now, it would probably take them another thirty minutes if they were lucky. They walked in silence for a few minutes.
“You do know where we’re going, right?”
He stopped abruptly, and then she walked into his back. He sighed and turned around and frowned when he saw how badly she was shaking. That stupid jacket she was wearing wasn’t for winter. They needed to hurry up.
“Of course. Remember I said no chitchat? It slows us down.” He grabbed her hand , not bothering to question why a sudden jolt of something other than cold washed through him at the feel of her small hand in his. Or that she didn’t attempt to pull it out. “If we move quickly, we should get to the cabin in less than twenty minutes,” he said. The damn wind roared in his ears and he was preoccupied by the thought that she’d get frostbite with her fashionable, stupid attire.
“Cole!”
Now what? She was tugging on his arm. He didn’t want to stop, so he just slowed down and nodded, indicating he’d heard.
“A thought just occurred to me.”
He kept walking, ignoring the tugging.
“Are there any wild animals out here?”
God. “What are you talking about?”
“Wild animals! You know, the kind that might attack us? Your sister told me about a coyote…”
“Honey, we’re the only ones stupid enough to be out here right now.” His sister and her crazy stories. He tugged on Melanie’s hand, hopefully indicating how important it was to keep moving and stop thinking about nonsense. Wind tore at them, sending a mix of snow and ice that made it impossible to walk straight. He knew the cabin would enter his sight line soon, but he also knew that if he didn’t focus, they could easily miss it. Blizzards could send even the finest outdoorsman in the wrong direction. He wasn’t about to let Melanie in on the fact that he was getting a little worried. He knew this area like the back of his hand, but now that it was almost pitch-black, and the snow had reduced visibility screwing up was a very real possibility.
“You do know where we’re going, don’t you?” she called out. He didn’t stop walking to answer her.
“Of course.” He hoped to God he was right.
After a few more minutes of walking he glanced over at Melanie. Her head was bent, the chatter long gone, and she kept pace, which he knew was difficult with the storm. He almost swore out loud with relief when he caught site of the smattering of pines he knew led to his cabin. Just a few more dozen yards or so and they’d be inside.
“Almost there,” he yelled over the roaring wind. He wasn’t about to analyze why the sight of her, small and shivering, affected him. It had nothing to do with the fact that Melanie was gorgeous. Or that he suspected she deliberately tried to get him riled up with her chitchat. Or the cute way she looked at him when she thought he had no idea that she was purposely baiting him. Or the fact that he had detected something else. A vulnerable side to her when her voice had caught that last time he’d ordered her to get on the horse. No, he wasn’t reacting to any of that.
He cursed as his foot almost caught on a fallen branch. Idiot. Stop thinking of Hot Mel and f
ind the damn cabin.
“Cole!”
Melanie’s hand slipped from his and before he could grab onto her, she was nose-diving into the snow. Shit. The branch. He dropped the bag and crouched down beside her. “Melanie, are you okay?” The only thing he could hear above the wind was the sound of her cursing. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“It’s not your fault,” she grumbled, trying to wipe snow off her face.
He reached out to brush some of the snow off her hair. “No, it is. I should have warned you about that branch.”
She glared at him as he helped her stand. “Oh, you saw it?”
He grimaced, nodding. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She held up her chin. “Aren’t you experienced outdoorsmen supposed to shout out a warning or something?”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” He noticed she was favoring one leg. “Did you hurt yourself?”
“Nope.”
“Are you sure you can make it the rest of the way? I can carry you.”
“No, you can’t. No need for that. I’m perfectly fine.”
He was going to have to get over his guilt and make it up to her later. Right now they needed to get to the cabin. “Okay, well we’ve got to move now. Why don’t you just follow behind me? We’ll get there faster and at least if there’s something dangerous, I’ll be able to find it first. Let me know if you change your mind and need help.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m used to hiking.” He frowned as she reached down to pick up her purse, teetering slightly.
He knew there was only one way to redemption for him. He held out his hand. “I’ll carry the purse.”
Chapter Five
It seemed like hours since Cole had said they were almost there, but finally they were standing in front of a tiny log cabin. Melanie clenched her teeth, trying not to look like she was ready to collapse. Her ankle was throbbing, and her face was burning from the icy wind. Seconds later Cole swung open the door and waited for her to go inside. She walked in as quickly as she could, trying not to wince with each step. He shut the door immediately and she stood still, the space almost completely encased in darkness. It was obviously a place very familiar to Cole as he moved stealthily through the cold room without any lights.
“I’ll have a fire going in less than five minutes. This place is small, so it’ll heat up really fast,” he called out, his voice gruff.
Melanie nodded, even though he probably didn’t see her. She rubbed her hands together and leaned against the wall, favoring her uninjured side. The only good thing about being half-frozen and having a throbbing ankle was that she couldn’t dwell on the fact that she’d fallen flat on her face in the snow in front of Cole.
“What’s that noise?” he asked from across the room and the flick of a match igniting caught her attention. “Is that your teeth chattering?”
“I guess it is,” she said, forcing her jaw to stop moving. She rubbed her arms together.
“Take off your boots and walk toward the fire,” he said harshly. He was in front of a stone hearth, light slowly infiltrating the space. Melanie walked forward, wincing as her stiff feet ached with each step and her ankle throbbed in a slow, pulsing rhythm. He threw on another log and then stoked the fire with a poker. He glanced over at her when she approached and he quickly stood to look at her. He was frowning as he stared at her face. “You look horrible.”
“Thank you.”
“I mean you look cold,” he said brusquely and she knew she must have imagined the hint of tenderness she heard. His hands went to the front of her coat and he unbuttoned it deftly while she stood there, mesmerized by the concern on his face. She reminded herself it wasn’t personal, that he was the type of man who’d be concerned for someone else’s well-being. Even hers.
“Here. Move closer to the fire,” he said his hand on the small of her back. The warmth from the growing blaze eased some of the chill on her face. “Is your leg bothering you?”
“It’s, um, kind of hurting, but I’m sure once I sit down it’ll be fine.”
He was moving around the small cabin and she turned, curious now to take in the space.
“What is this place?”
He paused, before lighting a lantern and then walking over to her. “A cabin I built a few years ago.” The lantern glowed, the light filtering through as he placed it on a small coffee table. The cabin was rustic. It was one room, except for the washroom, which she guessed was the room close to the front door. There was a pitched ceiling with a massive window that probably had a spectacular view of the mountains during the day. The hearth was made of stones and went from floor to ceiling. There was a neatly made bed with a plaid quilt in one corner, with a rustic nightstand beside it. A kitchenette took up another wall and that was it.
“It’s, um…” She struggled to find something polite to say. “Cozy.”
“It’s not meant for entertaining. It’s just a place I wanted for myself,” he said, with a hint of smile in his voice.
She tried to balance on her good leg and ignore the pain. “Well, it’s very secluded.”
He was a private man. She understood that. His sister was the complete opposite. Cori loved company and parties and being surrounded by people.
“Built it after Sarah died,” he said pulling something down from the kitchen cupboard.
“Oh,” she said softly, wrapping her arms around herself. What could she say to that? She hated thinking back to that day. His family and Sarah’s family had been devastated. She watched him silently, remembering the palpable anguish she’d seen at his wife’s funeral. He was handsome, proud, and larger than life, and to see a man like that so broken had shaken her. She knew then that he was nothing like the men she knew in her life. Tough as steel on the outside, but Cole knew how to love.
He opened a cupboard and pulled out a bottle. “I’ve got whiskey. One glass. Sorry, not used to guests up here. Drink this,” he said, walking over to her. She accepted the glass, her fingers brushing against his and every cold inch of her body ignited.
“Thank you,” she whispered, feeling oddly protected, important. She took a long sip and then licked her lips. His jaw clenched and his eyes darted from hers to her lips. She passed the glass to him and he finished it off.
“I’ve got a change of clothes up here. I can give you the shirt and I’ll take the jeans,” he called out, walking toward the nightstand.
“Oh great,” she said, acting like it was no biggie. Where was that whiskey? He didn’t actually think she was going to parade around in one of his shirts. He wasn’t paying her any attention as he pulled out some clothes from the nightstand and walked over to her. “You can change in the washroom. Then come out here and hang your clothes by the fire.”
She stood there, knowing she looked obtuse. He shoved the navy T-shirt at her. She accepted it numbly. “Um, it’s okay, my clothes aren’t wet,” she said lying.
He looked her up and down, and when his eyes connected with hers, there was a gleam in them that made her mouth dry. “Your clothes are plastered to your body, obviously drenched. No time for arguing. I want to change, too. You’ll never get warm if you stay in those clothes. Here, take the lantern with you.” He nudged his chin in the direction of the washroom.
“Right,” she mumbled, taking the handle of the lantern and limping toward the washroom. She was now going to be spending the night in this remote cabin with Cole. In her chicken fantasies where she was safe in her own little apartment, this would have been fabulous. But now, in this small space, it was slightly more than unnerving. What if he didn’t talk all night and she just chattered on endlessly because she was nervous? She frowned, thinking of the last person that had told her she talked too much. She couldn’t think of that, him, now.
She placed the lantern on the ground, lighting up the small washroom. She peeled her soaked clothes from her body, shivering madly in the cold washroom and quickly put on the T-shirt. Cole being much taller made the shirt seem like an oversize
nighty. She lifted her leg and looked down, wincing as she touched the swollen ankle. She was going to have to ice it or something. After a few more moments of adjusting she bundled her clothes and opened the door a creak, poking her head out.
She almost dropped the lantern and the clothes when she spotted Cole at the other end of the room. He was wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung jeans. Every well-defined muscle in his fit body was highlighted to perfection. And he was tanned. He shouldn’t be tanned—it was February for crying out loud. She quickly shut the door and tried to compose herself and then looked in the mirror to make sure she didn’t have drool running down her face.
Control yourself. He’s a man. Just like any other man. He’s your friend’s brother. He doesn’t even like you. The only thing he’d ever noticed about her was that she was short. She’d stood in front of him in revealing clothes and he’d said she was short. Perfect. That last thought did it. She squared her shoulders, picked up the lantern again, and stuffed her clothes under her arm and opened the door.
“If you’re hungry, I’ve got some beef jerky,” he said turning around to face her.
Don’t look below his chin. Don’t look below his chin. Don’t look…too late. She cursed herself. Perfectly perfect. He could be the poster boy for the hottest cowboy in the country. Too bad he’d taken off the Stetson or it would have been an even better look. She slowly crossed the room, trying not to look like an idiot.
“Why are you scowling at me? You don’t like jerky? It’s organic. My beef,” he said handing her a piece.
“I’m sure it’s great,” she said, accepting the piece. She’d heard all about their ranch. Cori was always going on and on about Cole’s philosophy, the one that he and his wife had shared. She bit off a piece, surprised the salty morsel almost melted in her mouth, not leathery at all.
The Rancher's Second Chance Page 5