Uncontrollable Bachelor (Bachelor Tower Series), стр. 33
Shannon turned and the serious look on her face quickly faded. “It’s not a good sign if you already know you need me.”
I need you more than you’ll ever know.
It wasn’t how I wanted to spend the rest of the afternoon, but at least I didn’t need to worry about her wandering off. She sat in the chair and pointed out every place I missed. When the task was complete, I tossed the rag in the trash. “We won’t need that ever again.”
“Why? Do you only do a once-a-decade cleaning?”
“I’d say no, but I haven’t forgotten what it looked like a few days ago. You could almost convince me we’re at a different place.”
She looked around and chuckled. “Give me one trip into town and then I know you won’t recognize this place.”
I pulled her into my arms. “No way. Once your feet touch civilization again, I might not ever get you back up here.”
Shannon grinned. “Oh, I’m sure you could convince me.”
I leaned over and kissed her neck. “We still have a few hours of light left. What do you say we take another walk to the waterfall?”
“I think that’s a good idea.” Then she smiled and added, “I’ll bring the soap. I think you have more dust on you than the rafters did.”
I shook my head and dust flew from my hair. She sneezed. “I’ll get the towels.”
“And maybe a bottle of wine, too?” she asked.
“And a blanket?” I added.
She smiled. “Do you think it’s safe for us to sleep out there under the stars like we used to?”
“Safe? Yes. But I hate to think of that beautiful ass of yours covered in mosquito bites.” I wasn’t worried about Carlton’s men watching us. They all knew better. But until Babboo was out of the picture, I didn’t want her out at night. Not where I couldn’t see what was coming.
Shannon gave her side a scratch and said, “You know, I think you’re right. Besides, it’d be a shame to let this clean cabin go to waste.”
“If I have my way, those sheets won’t be clean for long,” I teased.
She crossed her arms and said, “I think you like giving me all this work.”
“If you mean by juicing those sheets every night, you bet your sweet ass I do. And I don’t hear you complaining about it either,” I winked.
She blushed, which was a rarity. “Trust me, I wouldn’t mind washing them twice a day if I needed to.”
Challenge accepted.
Chapter 15
Shannon
The last few days were amazing. Jace and I went on one hike after another. I wasn’t looking over my shoulder any longer. These woods were so vast, there was no way Prince Babboo could find me here. And since my cell phone had no service, it wasn’t like anyone else could, either.
I knew my father must be going crazy with worry not hearing from me. When I told him I was going away for a few weeks, I never thought that I’d be totally off the grid. But this type of seclusion was growing on me. Of course, it wasn’t winter yet. That would most likely change my mind.
Jace entered the cabin and asked, “What is that smell?”
I smiled and said, “You know all those apples we picked yesterday?” He nodded. “Well, I decided to try my hand at a homemade apple dumpling. But don’t expect anything fancy. I’m not a baker and I didn’t have much to work with.”
“If it tastes half as good as it smells, I’m going to want seconds.”
I laughed. “Well, I guessed at what goes in them, but at least it will be something different to eat.”
“Is that a hint for me to go fishing again? It’s not my fault you talked the entire time and the fish wouldn’t bite,” he teased.
I threw an oven mitt at him. “Don’t blame me. I had to talk to stop you from singing. You’d think in all these years you’d have learned how to hold a tune.”
He chuckled. “Don’t tempt me to sing you our song again.”
I covered my ears and pretended to plead. “Please, no.” Then I removed my hands and walked over to him. “You know I’m only joking. I’d listen to you sing me love songs any time.”
He raised a brow and said, “You said I sounded like a moose in heat.”
I snickered and recalled how cute he looked when I said that. “You can’t be perfect at everything, Jace.”
“Then I guess I’ll keep my day job,” he said, trying to look disappointed. I knew better.
“That or don’t sing during hunting season.”
He gave me a playful slap on the ass. I feigned a scandalized expression and said, “No dessert before dinner.”
Smoke billowed from my pan. “Speaking of which,” I said, rushing to the stove, “it might not be as good as it looked a few minutes ago.” I lifted the cover and black smoke began to fill the cabin. “Oh, shit!”
Jace came over and grabbed the cast iron pan from me and rushed to the door. I waved a towel in an attempt to clear the air, but in the process, I dropped it on the hot wood stove, and that started to smoke as well. It didn’t take long for the towel to catch fire. I grabbed it, rushed outside, and threw it on the ground.
Jace took one look and stamped out the flames. Then asked, “Any more?”
I peered inside and shook my head. “Nope. That’s about all the damage I’m doing tonight.”
There was still smoke in the cabin, but not as much. I looked at the inedible apple dumpling and burst into tears. Once I started crying, I couldn’t seem to stop.
Jace pulled me into his arms and tried to console me. It wasn’t the first dinner I’d burned in my life, but it was an entirely new level of bad, and my already fraught emotions were getting the better of me.
“Oh Jace, I’m…a…hot mess,” I sobbed.
“Because you can’t cook?”