Authors: Lara Valentine
Tags: #Romance
He flicked a glance her way, before returning his eyes to the road.
“Sure did. And she’s just like Abby described her. Stubborn as a mule. We’ll be there in about half an hour.”
She grimaced at Abby’s description. Abby had always been the serene, biddable sister.
There was some static and then the voice continued.
“—can’t make it back. Too many downed limbs, and the water is rising. Take Noelle to the cabin for the night. By tomorrow, the water will have receded.”
Her rescuer was quiet for a minute before answering.
“Will do. Stay safe at the house.”
He turned to her briefly. “We’re heading to the cabin. We can’t make it back, even in the Rover. You’re not going to get hysterical on me, are you?”
Noelle bristled with indignation. “Of course not. You seem to have the situation under control. I’m not a woman given to hysterics, even if you didn’t. I’d just take control of things.”
His rich, deep laugh filled the cab of the SUV and made her heart speed up. He sounded sexy as hell. Did his looks match his voice?
“No need for that, Noelle. I’m completely in control. At all times.”
He didn’t say much as he navigated the roads. Noelle shuddered as she saw all the downed limbs and high water. There was no way her Honda would have made it this far. Now that she had time to look out the window, she wondered just how she had gotten as far as she had. He pulled off on a side road, and the headlights illuminated a small log house. Noelle could only hope the power wasn’t out in this wind. She was dying for a hot shower or bath.
“Can you make a run for it? I’ll go first and unlock the door, and you follow. As you said, we’re already wet. We can get warm and dry when we’re inside.”
His voice was already making her warm. “You bet. I’ll be right behind you.”
She waited until he had opened the front door of the cabin, before running as fast as she could. She was dripping water by the time she stood in the dark, cool house. It was small, but clean and comfortable with a homey, country-style kitchen and living room combination.
“Um, does anyone live here?”
He started flicking on lights. “No one lives here. This is a cabin we use when we’re working on the ranch and the weather turns on us. Like tonight.”
So we’re alone.
He turned to face her, and it was then she got her first good look. Her knees almost gave way. Dear Lord in heaven, even dripping wet, the man standing before her was gorgeous. He was dressed in a button-down Western-style shirt and faded jeans that molded a physique so perfect, Noelle could only stare. His face was tan and his jaw strong and square. His hair was dark and clung to his well-shaped head, but was curling at the ends. It made her want to plunge her hands into those locks and run her fingers through them. And those eyes…the clearest, lightest blue she had ever seen, almost the blue of a cloudless summer sky. She swallowed hard as she stared at the handsomest man she had ever seen. Her heart sped up, and she started to sweat, despite being chilled to the bone. She felt like she’d been hit by lightning.
Luckily, he was oblivious to her state. He gave her an encouraging smile and pointed to a small hallway off the living room. “There’s a bathroom through there. Why don’t you get a hot shower and I’ll start some dinner. You must be hungry. It won’t be anything fancy, but it will be hot.”
He certainly was a polite rescuer, in addition to being God’s gift to women.
“I’m starved, actually. And you must be cold, too.”
“I’ll get dry out here. I’ll be fine. I’ll find something for you to put on after your shower. I’m sure we have some shirts or something. They’ll be too big, but dry.”
She needed no further urging and retreated to the bathroom quickly, stripping off her wet clothes and stepping under the steaming, hot spray. Using the shampoo and soap, she scrubbed herself from top to bottom, luxuriating in the warmth. She wanted to linger, but her hunger won, and she stepped out, dried herself off, and reached for a stack of clothes he had left on the vanity. She was uncomfortably aroused for a moment thinking he had been in the room while she bathed, but the shower curtain was completely opaque. Was he similarly undressed on the other side of the door? She watched a drop of water slide down his wide chest and flat abs in her mind’s eye. Her nipples peaked, and her pussy clenched at the erotic image.
Stop this, right now!
She pulled on the clothes and giggled at her reflection. The boxers were baggy, and the shirt was so long it almost reached her knees, but she was clean, warm, and dry for the first time in quite a while.
Way to impress the sexy, hot guy.
She combed the snarls out of her hair and made a face in the mirror. She looked like a drowned Irish Setter with her long, red hair. She was completely devoid of makeup, and her wardrobe left something to be desired, but it couldn’t be helped. She wasn’t here to have a romantic interlude with the hottest cowboy she had ever clapped eyes on. She was here to help her sister.
Keep reminding yourself of that.
* * * *
Cameron Hunter stood in the kitchen opening a can of beef stew and contemplating his lovely companion for the night when the subject of his thoughts joined him. She was wearing the shirt he had left and he couldn’t stop the rush of lust that ran through him as she stood there looking shy, and sexy as all get-out. There was just something about a beautiful woman wearing a man’s shirt. His shirt. He had to steel himself not to throw her over his shoulder and head straight to the bedroom.
She was tiny, probably not much more than five feet tall. Her gorgeous, long red hair was tousled and starting to curl as it dried. It framed her heart-shaped face with its creamy skin, flushed cheeks, and the most unusual amber eyes he had ever seen. She was tugging on the hem of the shirt, obviously trying to cover as much of her shapely legs as she could. He grinned as he took in her mouthwatering curves and generous breasts. He hated stick-thin women, and this one would feel like heaven as he pressed her to the bed with his body.
She was also obviously stubborn as hell and didn’t obey worth a damn. She’d been advised to stop for the night, and didn’t. Then he’d told her he would help her out of the car, and she’d ignored him. She definitely needed her bottom warmed up and to be taught a lesson about listening to reason.
Despite her earlier bravado, she was looking pretty damn nervous. Her eyes were huge, and she was chewing on her bottom lip. His open perusal of her had made her uncomfortable, and he averted his gaze quickly. He was a Dom, for fuck’s sake, and one look at this woman had his cock standing at attention and his breathing heavy. It hadn’t been that long since he’d had a woman, had it? He took a few deep breaths to get control of his wayward hormones.
“I hope you like beef stew. I put some biscuits in the oven to go with it.”
She gave him a shy smile, and he noticed how pink and full her lips were.
“Please let me help, um…You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”
Just being close to this woman was scrambling his brains. “Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Cameron Hunter. Please, call me Cam.”
“Hunter? You’re related to Brody, Abby’s fiancé? We’re going to be family. That’s great. Now how can I help? You’ve already gone above and beyond the call of duty tonight with rescuing me.”
“After Abby told me you insisted on driving in the storm, I figured you’d need all the help you could get. I’m only sorry I didn’t come for you earlier, but I only found out after dinner. If you want to help, you can set the table, if you like.”
Cam nodded toward a cabinet, and Noelle pulled out bowls and flatware.
“We don’t have any wine to help you warm up, but there are some beers in the refrigerator. So, do you like beef stew? You aren’t one of those vegans, are you?”
She laughed, the sound almost musical. She seemed like a nice person, in addition to being one of the most beautiful women he had met in a very long time. Some women would have bitched and complained about getting wet, the food, the accommodations, but Noelle had been nothing but sweet and polite.
“Hardly. I’m a meat-and-potatoes girl, and a beer sounds great. Can I get you one, too?”
Cam nodded and stirred the beef stew, struggling to make conversation. He wasn’t a talkative man by nature, so small talk didn’t come easily to him. He wasn’t shy. He just didn’t say something unless he had something to say. He never understood those people who were always on their cell phones. Just what were they jabbering about all the time anyway? Noelle saved him from finding a topic.
“So is my sister driving you crazy with all this wedding stuff? Are she and Brody disgustingly in love and all kissy-kissy with each other? Don’t be afraid to make her sleep in your barn. I assume you have a barn?”
Cam smiled. She was funny as well as beautiful and polite.
“A couple, actually. The wedding stuff hasn’t been too bad. Brody isn’t a kissy-kissy type, but Abby is very affectionate. He seems to enjoy it.”
Cam had been a little envious that Brody had a woman who loved and cared about him that much. It had been a very long time since Cam had a special woman in his life. The older he got, the more he wanted to settle down with one woman he could make the center of his world. Someone who would submit in the bedroom and challenge him everywhere else.
“Well, I hope they like the rings I designed for them. A wedding ring is so personal, and they just told me to do anything I liked. It was kind of nerve-racking. I don’t want them to be disappointed.”
Noelle brushed past him as she set the bowls and silverware on the table. Her skin was warm, and her tantalizing scent teased his nostrils.
“I’m sure they’ll love what you’ve done. I’d love to see it.”
“They’re locked away in my luggage. Speaking of luggage, will they be safe in my car all night? I suppose I’m asking a little late in the process. I was so happy to see you, I didn’t even think to grab them.”
“You had other things on your mind. They’ll be fine. The road is private. No one should be on it unless they’re headed to the ranch, and no one would be headed to the ranch on a night like this.”
“Except me.”
“Except you. But I can’t say Abby didn’t warn us about you. She said you’re a full-speed-ahead type of person.
Fearless
, I believe is the word she used.”
He turned off the stove and pulled open the oven. “I think this stew is heated up. The biscuits are ready to come out of the oven. I’m starved, and you must be, too. Let’s get you fed and in bed.”
He could have bitten off his tongue as he watched the heat flood Noelle’s face. He tried to smooth it over and pretend he didn’t notice.
“You must be exhausted. You can take the bedroom, and I’ll sleep out here. The couch folds out.”
Noelle shook her head. “You should take the bed. You rescued me, after all.”
She didn’t know him very well, but she would need to learn he didn’t say or do things he didn’t mean. He also found himself wanting to coddle and protect, and dominate this tiny woman. His Dom instincts were in overdrive—the protective, the disciplinary, and the sexual. There was something about this woman that brought them to the fore. He knew she wasn’t normally this easygoing. Abby’s tales of Noelle’s stubbornness and her gorgeous red hair spoke of a woman who needed a strong man to love and care for her. He wondered if she had such a man in her life. He doubted it since she had no problem picking up her life and coming to Montana to help her sister.
He’d been alone a long time, and he was honest enough with himself to admit she was the first woman in years who interested him on more than just a sexual level. He wanted to get to know her better. A lot better. Luckily, she was staying for several weeks to help with the wedding. Was she submissive, too? Could he be that lucky?
“No, you’ll take the bedroom. I’ll be fine.” She opened her mouth, but he held up his hand. “No arguments. I insist.”
He used his best Dom voice, and she quickly acquiesced.
Interesting.
“Well, thank you. You certainly are a gentleman. I’m not sure I remember spending time with a man as chivalrous as you are.”
“Perhaps you’re spending time with the wrong kind of men. Here in Montana, we take care of our women. Now let’s eat and you can tell me all about you and Abby growing up.”
Cam smiled inwardly. He had time to get to know this woman, and he was going to enjoy every single second of it. She didn’t know it yet, but he was a man in pursuit of a beautiful woman. Something he hadn’t been in a very long time.
* * * *
Noelle wriggled her toes in front of the roaring fire. She was toasty warm, full from dinner, and a little sleepy from the beer. They were relaxing in front of the fireplace. She had told Cam about her childhood, her book club friends, and her jewelry design business. Cam had told her he loved the outdoors, had thought about being a doctor instead of a rancher, and relaxed by watching sports and reading. He wasn’t just gorgeous, he was smart and nice, too. An irresistible combination.
He was also, obviously, older than Brody. When his hair had dried, she had seen the strands of silver running through it, and his eyes had some crinkles around them when he smiled. She wondered how much older than Brody’s twenty-five he was. He appeared to be about thirty-five or maybe forty. She knew some men went gray early. She was almost thirty herself and hadn’t yet seen a gray hair, but it didn’t mean they weren’t around the corner.