Page 19 of First Bride to Fall
Even if it wasn’t entirely true. But maybe a night at his cabin would be the start of something amazing. Stuck together in a cabin—that was a romance novel trope, wasn’t it? And she loved romance novels. Nell devoured them by the dozens.
She grinned brightly. “This place is great! I’m sure it’s even more awesome inside.”
“It is.” He hopped out of the SUV and then went around to her door. “Now,” he said, helping her down from the vehicle and onto his gravel driveway. “Let’s get you inside and out of this rain.”
Chapter Six
Grant inserted his key in the lock and pressed open the dingy front door. “After you.”
“Thanks,” she said, holding onto her purse strap with one hand and hopping over the threshold. He switched on some lights and steadied her elbow, leading her into the cabin. It was not nearly as bad as it had appeared from the outside. It was bare-bones furnished, though, and she didn’t spot a TV. But maybe it had all he needed for his fishing getaways.
They reached the small living area with a hooked rug, a ratty sofa with a coffee table, a threadbare armchair, and not a whole lot else. Oh yeah—there was a small table in a teeny kitchen and another room that was the bedroom, judging by the foot of a bed she saw through the open doorway. Everything was knotty pine, including the low ceiling and walls.
“It’s chilly in here,” she said, bracing herself against the back of the sofa.
“Won’t be for long.” Grant shut the front door and walked to a stack of logs beside a woodstove. “We’ve got this.”
He frowned down at her boot, and she saw she’d left a trail of mud tracks behind her on the hardwood floor. “Oops!” she said, and he glanced behind him, seeing he’d left tracks, too.
“Looks like a three-footed something lumbered in here.”
She giggled at the face he made, imitating a Sasquatch with his fingers held in front of his mouth like fangs. “Horrifying!” she said, and then she laughed again. She glanced toward the kitchen. “Got some paper towels or maybe a rag?”
“Don’t you dare.” His dark eyes twinkled. “I’ll clean it up.” He studied her saturated clothing. “We should probably both get changed first,” he said. “The hot water works. You want a shower?”
A hot shower sounded like heaven. Her whole body ached from the long hike, her fall, and her trials in the rain, but her ankle was seriously throbbing.
He noted her gaze on her boot. “We’ll cover the athletic tape in plastic, and you can try to keep it out of the water. It’s a small walk-in shower. You should be fine.”
That all sounded great, but what would she wear after that? Her clothes were totaled. “Don’t suppose you’ve got a washer and a dryer?”
He shook his head. “Not up here.” He read her worried look. “But I do keep some spare clothing around. We can probably find something that works.”
He strolled into the bedroom and rummaged through the dresser, returning with a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt. He had a pair of boxers folded on top. They had colorful fishing lures on them. Grant shifted on his feet. “Um. Not sure if you need…?”
“Thanks!” Her face burned hot as she took the stack. “Er. Maybe?”
“I mostly sleep in those. If you prefer briefs—”
“No, no.” She wanted to melt through the floor. She’d not expected one of their first civil in-person conversations to be about his underwear. “These are great.”
“Why don’t you give me your jacket?” he said. “I’ll hang it here by the fire to dry.”
She nodded and backed into the bathroom, setting the fresh clothing on the sink rim. The bathroom was tiny, so not a lot of extra space. Not even a closet. She could barely fit in it.
She unzipped her jacket, and it dripped on the floor as she handed it over.
Nooo.It still had the price tag attached. The price sticker part was so wet, it was hard to read it. So maybe he wouldn’t know she’d gotten it at a rock-bottom price? And only yesterday?
He held up her jacket, admiring its fuchsia feather collar. “Designer, huh?”
Nell grinned tightly. “Yeah.”
“Nice.” He nodded behind her. “Fresh towels and body wash under the sink. Shampoo, too. A few new toothbrushes and such if you’re interested. Help yourself.” He started to shut the door, but she pushed it back open.
“Let me grab my purse. I’ve got a brush and…stuff in there.” Like her phone, so she could privately text her sisters. Come to think about it, she had more than one use for those boxers. She giggled at her sly idea. There’d be no doubting her dating prowess after that.
She’d partly shut the door when he shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “Nell.”
