Page 2 of Resorting to Love
Dark eyebrows rise over twinkling blue eyes. Daring me? Seeing how far I’ll go to stop him?
“Fine. By all means…” I sweep an arm toward the door while stepping back. “Go check the sign. Prove me right, and maybe get yourself thrown out of the resort in the process. A double win for me.”
Still smiling, he opens the cabin door, then steps out, as if strolling in public with only a pillow for cover is as normal as the sun rising. Or the moon. Definitely a more appropriate comparison at the moment.
All I can do is stand and gape. At his man-perfect ass. At his metaphorical balls as he crosses the porch, seemingly without a care in the world.
“You’re right, honey, the sign does say the Forestview cabin,” he calls from halfway down the steps. Calls, as in projects his voice. Well above the volume of a normal speaking voice. Andhoney? That’s just gasoline on the fire. The huge grin on his face says he knows it, and he loves it. Cocky, tormenting bastard.
Two can play this game.
“What was that?” I cup my hand to my ear while leaning through the opening. “I couldn’t hear you frominsidemy cabin.” I give him my cheekiest, joke’s-on-you smirk, then shut the door, locking him outside.
There’s a window near the door, and that’s where I stand to watch him react. Only, he doesn’t. There’s no freaking out, no rushing to the door and banging his fists against the green-painted wood. Just more smiling and laughing as he casually crosses the porch, then parks his naked ass on a rocking chair. Unbelievable.
Sultry July air rushes into the air-conditioned cabin when I open the window. “Maybe you should sit on the pillow instead,” I say through the screen. “If you think I’ll feel guilty enough to pick slivers out of your ass, you’re sorely mistaken. Emphasis on sorely.”
His husky laugh rings in the peaceful silence as he slings one arm over the back of the chair, angling to look at me. “That’d be a strange first date, but with you in charge of the tweezers, I’m sure it’d be sexy as hell.”
“There’s not going to be any kind of first date. I don’t date strange men I find in my cabin, especially when they’re cocky, annoying, and won’t admit to being wrong.”
“I admitted it. As for the other things… How am I supposed to be anythingotherthan cocky when a beautiful woman barges into what I believe is my cabin, then eye-fucks my naked body?”
A sharp hiss exits my lips. “I did not eye-fuck you.”
“You most certainly did, sweetheart. And I’m not complaining. Just providing counterpoints to your statement.”
Thank God I’m semi-obscured by the mesh screen, because my face is on fire. I might actually be blushing. Angry blushing, but still. “Even if I did enjoy a moment of visual appreciation, you’re still annoying and a stranger. There are no counterpoints to those.”
He rises from the chair and moves to the window. Facing me through the screen puts his naked backside on view for anyone who might walk by, and he obviously has no fucks to give about it. “I think you’re annoyed with yourself because you’re attracted to me.”
“Pfft.You wish.” Not the adamant denial I should give, but it’s all I’ve got, because he’s right. My back is arched, pushing my boobs forward for his perusal, and I swear I had nothing to do with it. Clearly, I need to get laid this week, and my body thinks he’s an excellent candidate to fill the opening.Allthe openings.
“And we both know I’m not a stranger,” he says, his self-assured smile firmly in place. “You were a stranger to me, but I’m not to you.”
“Okay, now I’m adding ‘crazy egomaniac’ to the list of reasons I wouldn’t date you. I just drove ten hours from Canada. I got my passport to make this trip. I’ve never been to Virginia before, or anywhere else in the States. Unless you’ve been a patient in the emergency department where I’m a nurse, I’m positive we’ve never met.”
“But you know who I am. Everyone does. It’s no big deal. I’m used to it.”
“Well, get unused to it, buddy, because I’ve never seen your face before. You were a total stranger to me when I walked into this cabin. Whatever delusions of grandeur you suffer from, you can count me out of the audience.”
He tips his head to the side, surveying me for several seconds, as if he’s waiting for me to blurt out some retraction. “You really don’t know who I am?”
“Not a clue. You’re just some naked guy standing on my porch, staring through my window.”
“I’m Eli Wood.”
I shrug. “Never heard of you.”
“Seriously?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” I ask, drilling him with my well-practiced, don’t-fuck-with-me expression. The one I use with difficult patients in the emergency department. “Whoever you are, how about you put on some clothes and clear out of my cabin? It’s been a hell of a long day. I’d like to unpack, freshen up, and attempt to unwind.”
“I have a better idea.”
“Oh, I bet you do.” I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest, an action that draws his gaze to my cleavage. “Not interested. But I’m sure someone asfamousas you won’t have any trouble finding a lonely woman to participate in yourbetter idea,” I say, adding air quotes in the appropriate places.
He must be the most laid-back guy in the world, because he responds to my snark with another deep laugh that makes his abs dance. His complete ease is so foreign to me, it makes me twitchy.
