Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
"Oh. Right."
I yanked open the door, winter's icy fingers slapping my face. "Also, wouldn't want to mess up your expensive manicure." I slammed the door, his warm laughter following me into the bitter cold.
The wind howled around me as I trudged to the shed and made several trips with armloads of firewood. Sweat gathered under my layers despite the cold, and I grumbled about handsome, soulless green-eyed billionaires determined to ruin my town. But even I had to admit my heart wasn't in it anymore. Sure, he wanted to build his resort that would change everything, but he wasn't quite the devil I'd imagined these past months.
"Wow, that's a lot of wood."
"That's what she said," I quipped automatically—a running joke with Torey that probably sailed over Mr. Corporate's head.
Lee's half-hearted smile made it easier to remember he was the enemy. "Where should I put them?"
"There's a big rack over there." I pointed across the mudroom.
"Wow, that is a big rack," he said, stacking the first few pieces.
"That's what he said.” I darted back outside for another load, enough to last through tomorrow, though I prayed the storm would end before then. When I returned, Lee had organized the wood and took my final bundle. "Thanks."
"Thank you." He grabbed the basket beside the rack and followed me inside. "Mock me all you want, but the last time I started a fire was as a ten-year-old in Eagle Scouts."
The urge to mock him mercilessly rose, but something held me back. "Around here, it's a necessity when winter storms hit. Sometimes spring storms too."
He blinked, surprise flickering across his features before settling into seriousness. "We're stuck here together until the storm ends, Nix. I know you hate me, but since you're too kind to kick me out, how about we try to get along?"
He had a point, and judging by the endless snow, we'd be here a while. "Fine, but I have conditions."
"I'm listening." His expression shifted to what I assumed was his boardroom face, though a hint of a smirk played at his lips.
"No shop talk."
"My shop or yours?" One eyebrow arched, challenging.
"Yours, obviously. Though I doubt you want to hear about running a sustainable bakery."
"I have questions," he said cryptically. "Next rule?"
"No funny business." My body betrayed me, protesting the rule even as I made it. Ridiculous—beautiful billionaires like Lee Lancaster didn't go for curvy redheads with big mouths and strong opinions.
"I'll keep that in mind. Anything else?"
Yes. "No—well, maybe let's keep the talking minimal. You're nice to look at, more so when I forget what you do for a living."
His face split into a devastating grin that I was certain got him everything he wanted, in and out of the boardroom. "So you think I'm nice to look at?"
"Did I say nice? Weird, because I could've sworn I said not-horrible to look at."
Ha. Take that, oh beautiful one.
Chapter 6
Lee
Nice to look at.
Her words echoed in my mind, sending a rush of satisfaction through me.
A genuine compliment, which meant she didn't completely hate my guts—or rather my face. And my body. I caught her gaze flicking to my chest and abs while she taught me how to start a fire, her eyes kindling with a heat I recognized instantly. The way her tongue slicked across her lips as if she wanted to taste me nearly caused an embarrassing situation until I reminded myself about the no funny business rule.
I hadn't actually agreed, just said I'd work on it because the truth was stark—if I was stuck here with Nix for more than twenty-four hours, that rule wouldn't last. She was feisty and gorgeous, and her curves made my hands itch, more so because she didn't hide them. She highlighted them as a woman like her should. But for now, I needed to focus on the matter at hand.
"So you grew up here?"
"Yep." She piled several more blankets into my arms, adding pillows to the stack at my feet inside her closet. "In this house, in fact."
My brows dipped. "Are your parents?"
"No," she flashed a wistful smile, gathering her own pile before nodding for me to follow. "They retired to Belize because Dad said the winters were bad for his old bones, but they own a bar down there which is the opposite of retirement. They love it and with Ryan off serving our country, they left me the house."
"You never left?"
Thunder crackled outside as she rolled her eyes. "I went off for college like most people, studying culinary arts and business. I had dreams of running a restaurant."
"What happened?" The warmth of the fire matched my growing curiosity about this woman, and it wasn't all based on her looks.
She shifted closer to the flames, shadows dancing across her face. "Working in an actual restaurant cured me of that dream. It's definitely an adrenaline rush but it's also chaotic and loud and messy. Basically food shouldn't be that stressful, in my opinion."