Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
We drove past the gate that led to Josh’s place. Just a bit more until we got to my place. Haven was right; the ditches were flooded, and water was moving onto the road.
“Do you think my car will be okay?” she asked.
“I’ll call a tow truck as soon as we get to my place.”
Her arms involuntarily wrapped around her body as she started to shiver. I reached over and turned the heater up to max.
“Better?”
She shivered. “I’ll be better soon.”
My driveway came into sight, and I silently sent up a prayer. If she didn’t get warm soon, she would catch a chill. Even though Grams says that’s all made up. “You can’t catch a cold from being wet.” She would always say.
I pulled in, hit the opener for the gate, and drove down the drive. When my house came into view, Haven said, “A log cabin? You built a log cabin?”
I smiled. I knew I was beyond blessed with having my own land, my own custom home, and all before I turned twenty-two. The one thing I never did was take any of it for granted. My smile faded as I realized Sophia, Josh’s girlfriend and Haven’s business partner, had never told Haven what my house looked like. Not that I expected her to, but a part of me was disappointed Haven hadn’t snooped and asked. She used to always be in my business.
That was before the barn incident, though.
Pushing those thoughts away as well, I replied, “Yeah, I’ve always liked them.”
She peered through the windshield and squinted. “It’s hard to tell with all this rain, but it almost looks historic.”
There went my smile again. “That is exactly what I was going for. I’d show you the front, but I assume you want to get dry and warm as soon as possible.”
She rubbed her hands together before blowing into them. “You would assume correctly.”
I pulled into the garage, turned off the truck, and shut the garage door. Haven was getting her items and quickly caught up to me at the door to the house. I unlocked the door and turned off the alarm.
Flipping my lights on, I heard Haven from behind me.
“Wow! And we’re only in the mudroom.”
Laughing, I reached into a cabinet and got a towel for Haven.
“I’m getting your wood floors soaking wet.”
I walked into the laundry and grabbed a robe.
“You can change out of your clothes in here and put them in the dryer. I’ll show you to the guest bedroom, and if you want to take a hot shower, I can give you something of mine to wear.”
She looked at me and narrowed her eyes. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
I blinked a few times. “Do you honestly think I would leave you on the side of the road in a storm, Haven?”
She shrugged, and I didn’t want to admit how much that hurt.
“What are you wanting in return?”
This time, my mouth dropped open. “I don’t want anything.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry to be a pain in the ass.”
“You’re not. But get out of those clothes before you catch a cold.”
She saluted. “Yes, sir. Right away, sir!”
Rolling my eyes, I exited the laundry and shut the door.
“This laundry room is like a dream! Mine isn’t even a quarter of this size in my apartment.”
I walked into the living room and turned on the lights. They all flickered right before a loud crack of thunder.
Haven let out a small scream and I couldn’t help but chuckle. That’s what she gets for assuming I wanted something in return for helping her.
“That was close,” I said as I moved into the kitchen to turn a few more lights on. As the storm approached closer, it was getting darker outside. Given how dark it was, it was hard to believe it was nearly three in the afternoon.
“Um, I put my clothes in the dryer.”
Turning to see Haven in nothing but my robe, I cleared my throat. “Right. I’ll show you to the guest bedroom, and after you get warmed up and changed into something, I’ll give you a tour. If you want one.”
When I glanced back to see if Haven was following me, I noticed she was looking everywhere as she followed me through the living room and to a set of stairs.
“Down here is the guest suite. It has a full-size bathroom and a walk-out to the patio. I doubt you’ll want to go out there, though,” I said when I reached the bottom of the steps. “To the right is the guest room.”
“And to the left?” she asked.
“The family room and bar area. I know it’s a strange set up with the kitchen and main living room up stairs, but I wanted the view for up there and a patio for down here.”
We walked into the guest bedroom, and she took a deep breath. “Nate, this is stunning.”