Chapter 4

My head pounded. Everything felt fuzzy, like a bad dream. The last thing I remember is falling. And then a man’s face, pulling me back. 

Now I was here, in this strange, warm room. And I was wearing clothes that were way too big for me not to mention that the owner of the clothes thought it was a good idea to be the one to undress me and Clothe Me in his clothes.

This was not how I planned my Christmas holidays. Not at all. I was supposed to be getting married to my seemingly perfect fiance.

But instead l was stuck in a small cabin with a stranger.

A hot stranger.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and a chest that filled out his shirt perfectly. His jawline was sharp, and his eyes were ocean blue and l could get lost in them.

I could feel a pull towards him, a magnetic force that made me want to get closer, to feel the strength in his arms and the heat of his skin.

l'm pretty sure I would find myself wet if I had to check.

"Come out." he said walking away and taking the little curious boy who couldn't stop staring at me and it was honestly awkward because I don't like kids.

I swung my legs off the bed. I was wobbly, but steady enough. I walked out of the room, through the doorway.

The main room was warm and smelled amazing. The fire was roaring, and Luca was standing near the stove and the little boy looked at me and smiled instantly. He looked sweet and innocent.

I guess it's because he is like a Mini me of his father because I don't necessarily find kids cute I just find them annoying and exhausting but he is an exception.

He put a big bowl of thick stew down on the small wooden table. "Come eat."

I walked to the table. I tried to look strong, not like a defeated woman who had just been pulled out of a freezing cold.

"Luca," I started. My voice was rough, but I tried to make it sound sharp. "I asked you what you want for this rescue."

I know everything has a price especially in my world so I want to know what this kind gesture will cost me even though there's nothing I can't buy with Daddy's money.

He finally turned around and he looked annoyed.

"I want you to stop being rude," he said, very simply. "It’s the Christmas season. I don't charge people for not letting them die in a ditch. Sit down and eat before you get a fever again."

I stood there, feeling stupid inside his giant borrowed clothes. He didn't blink. He just waited. It was clear he was not going to fight with me.

I sat down. I picked up the wooden spoon. The stew was thick with potatoes and meat. I didn't realize how truly hungry I was until the first spoonful hit my tongue. It was heaven.

I ate fast, not looking up. I felt the kid's eyes on me the whole time.

When I finished, I put the empty bowl down. "Thank you," I finally managed to say. 

I know that had he left me there then I would have freezed to death and I don't know where I got the stupid idea to even leave the car so I'm very thankful to him.

He nodded once. "Your clothes are damp. They are drying by the stove. They won't be ready until tomorrow. The road is closed, Ava. The storm is worse than it was this afternoon. You are stuck here for a while."

My stomach dropped, but it wasn’t from the food. Stuck. Here. With him. That was not good because I just wanted to jump on his bones and I'm not sure that's a good thing because I just got my heart broken and not to mention that there's a little kid here who can't stop staring at me.

"I have to get out," I said, standing up. " I just need to get to my lodge and everything will be okay."

I imagine this trip as a f**k you to Gary and I thought I would be watching the snow with a cup of hot chocolate on my hands sitting in a very beautiful fancy lodge but it was the opposite.

" Even if you had a car, you couldn't drive five feet. You nearly died walking. You are not leaving."

His voice was firm. And I hate that for some reason I am drawn to dominant men because all I wanted to do was agree with him even though l couldn't.

This cabin looks small enough even for one person and three of us, no, I could never torture myself like that I just have to get in touch with the lodge and then everything will be okay.

"I need my phone," I demanded.

Luca pointed to a corner. My phone was dead. Frozen solid.

"No signal anyway, spoiled princess," Luca muttered softly under his breath. I could tell he meant to say the last bit to himself, but I heard him.

"I am not a spoiled princess!" I snapped. The anger flared up inside of me, hot and fast. This was all their fault, Simone and Gary. This awful, cold cabin.

I looked at Luca. He looked like he felt sorry for me. That made me even angrier.

One thing I cannot tolerate is people looking at me with pity and feeling sorry for me.

"I will pay you for the food and the room," I said.

Luca looked at his son, who had stopped drawing to watch us.

"We are not a hotel, Ava," Luca said quietly. "We are just people. You stay. You heal. When the storm lifts, you leave. That's the deal."

He was too good. Too simple. Too kind. I hate attachments which is why I tend to keep away from people but it seems like I'm going to the stuck with this little family for a couple of hours and maybe days which is scary.