Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 73(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 73(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
He shrugs. “It’s the family business. I run the farm with my brother, dad, and sister.”
“And Mrs. Parsons is?”
Rainier smiles again. “She was my second-grade teacher. Why, were you jealous?”
“Maybe a little. But then again,” I twist my lips. “You offered to come over tonight, so I guess I am the one with a date.”
Rainier lights up. “So that’s a yes?”
“I figure if old ladies in town trust you with their eggnog, I can trust you with my cookies.” With all my reservations kicked to the side, I decide things can’t get any worse, and I smile his way. “So yeah, if you wanna be my assistant baker tonight, be my guest, Rainier.”
He chuckles, a deep belly laugh. “Then let’s get something for dinner too. I love cookies, but they aren’t going to fill up a big mountain man like me.”
“That... that sounds good to me.”
“Come on, let’s finish your shopping list and figure out what we want for dinner.”
Seeing him walk past me, seeing his tight ass, I’m overwhelmed with anticipation. Hunger. Not for whatever dinner we’re going to make, but for him.
I never expected to feel such intense desire for a man, but I’ve never met a man like Rainier either.
3
RAINIER
She came to the grocery store in a taxi, so she needs a ride back to her place, which I gladly provide. She says she rented a cabin up in the mountains for the week, and that we can go up there together. Sugar is from out of town, but I’m afraid to poke at her for too much information.
I stumbled upon her crying, and whatever provoked such a response must have been traumatizing for her. I’m worried about what it is, and what brought her here. I want to know but I also don’t want to hurt her.
We picked up a rotisserie chicken and some easy sides because she wants to focus on making her cookies. Focus is an odd word for baking, but I don’t want to question her. Maybe she has her own rituals.
My truck makes it up the mountains and toward the address she gave. It’s a cozy little cabin, even if it’s marketed toward tourists.
She’s nervous as all hell as we pull up the drive. It’s a bit sudden, me coming up here with her, but I took my shot, expecting to be denied. If she’s on board, even if a bit anxious, I may as well go with it, optimistic to see where all of this is leading.
“Inviting some random guy up to my remote cabin in the mountains,” she says as she climbs out of my truck with her bags in hand. “I’m just begging to be murdered and never seen again, aren’t I? Or maybe you just want to have your way with me?” She shoots me a glare that is surprisingly seductive.
Something about her doesn’t want to screw around and I have to say I kinda like it.
“I’ll have you know I’m a gentleman,” I announce. “I won’t have my way with a woman unless that’s what that woman wants. I’m not going to do anything that you’re not going to like, Sugar.”
I smirk whenever I say her name. It’s like I can’t decide if I’m flirting with her, calling her a pet name, or just saying her name. It’s probably both, and she’s turning out as sweet as her name suggests.
We head into the cabin, and I get our food warming up as she puts away her limited groceries. With our sides in the oven, I recline against the counter, watching her start her cookie preparations. I’ve watched my mother do this countless times, but the way Sugar does it is very methodical in comparison. I crack open a beer. “So, what brings you up here into the mountains?”
Her being alone is what makes it kind of weird. If she rented the cabin with her family or her boyfriend, it’d be normal, but you really don’t see a lot of single women renting out cabins for Christmas all by themselves.
She freezes, staring into her bowl of cookie dough. I see the tears roll down her face.
“Woah, sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry. I was just making conversation.”
She shakes her head, grabbing a paper towel to wipe the tears away. “It’s okay, it’s not your fault. None of this is your fault.”
I take another beer out of the fridge and toss it to her, and she catches it easily. I like a girl with some reflexes. “Take the edge off.”
“Is drinking and baking a good idea though?”
“Fuck if I know. The only thing prohibited while drinking is driving, so we’re free to do whatever else we want with some booze at our side. And I do mean anything.” I raise my eyebrows suggestively, and she can’t help but giggle.