Hot Whisper (3 page)

Don’t even go there
, Jesse sternly reminded himself as he walked around to the front of the truck. Claire was depending on him for shelter and safety, and to take advantage of her vulnerable state would be wrong. Luckily his log cabin was big enough that if he put her in the guest wing, she could wait out this storm in complete privacy, and if by some miracle the airport cleared airplanes for takeoff, he could get her home for the holidays and he would be bound for the beach.

After climbing into his truck, Jesse handed Claire the socks. “Here—they’re clean and will keep your feet warm.”

“Thank you.” She accepted them with a shy smile. “Look, I know this is a huge inconvenience for you,” she said as she slipped her other shoe off and tugged on his socks.“I just hope there’s some way I can repay you.”

About a dozen different ways immediately popped into Jesse’s mind, but he kept them to himself. “Can you cook?” he asked as he carefully pulled out onto the main road. Snow was coming down hard.

“Not . . . so much.” Her smile faded. “My mother is an interior designer and my father is a lawyer for a big Atlanta law firm. When Patty, our housekeeper, didn’t cook, we had takeout,” she explained sadly, but then brightened. “But I like the whole
idea
of cooking.” She raised her hands in expression. “And I watch the Food Network. I’d be happy to assist you. I’ll just need some supervision.”

“Close supervision?” He meant it as a joke, but a sudden vision of them preparing a meal together seemed intimate and sensual. When Jesse glanced her way, she wrinkled her cute nose at him.

“Um,
yeah
.” She smiled, but the slight tremble let him know that she was still nervous, and who could blame her?

“Well, I like to cook, so you’re in luck. But, hey,” he said in his best reassuring tone, and his earlier thoughts of intimidating her flew out the window.“I know I have dark circles under my eyes, I’m unshaven, and my hair is a mess, but I’m a decent guy and won’t let any harm come to you. My cabin is clean and warm and I just got finished grocery shopping with all of the other crazy people fighting for the last loaf of bread.” He shook his head and then chuckled. “I got caught up in the moment and bought stuff I normally don’t even look at, but I felt compelled to fill my cart.You’d think we were going to be snowed in for the winter instead of for a few days.”

“A few days?” Her face fell.

Jesse could have bitten his tongue. “At least, I’m afraid.”

She looked down at her folded hands. “I’m not getting home for Christmas, am I?”

“Possibly.” Jesse slowed down to turn onto the road leading up to his home and then looked over at her.“But, Claire, I’ll be honest. It’s not likely.”

“If I didn’t have this stupid fear of flying, I’d already be home.”

“So that’s why you were on the train?”

She nodded glumly. “I’ve never been away from my family on Christmas Day.” She brushed at a tear but then swallowed hard. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Believe me, I understand.”

She gave him a trembling smile. “Well, you know what they say?”

“I have a feeling you’re going to tell me.”

“When life gives you lemons,” she said, and then lifted her chin, “add vodka.”

“Now you’re talking!” Jesse laughed so hard at her unexpected comment that he lost his concentration and fishtailed on the slick road.

“Whoa!” Claire’s eyes widened, but then she laughed.“That was fun. Do it again!”

“Really?” He shot her a glance to be sure.

“Yes!” she shouted, looking so cute all bundled up in his big coat.

“Hang on, girl!”

“Okay!”

Jesse gave the truck some gas and then jerked the steering wheel, sending them into a donut. While clinging to the armrest, Claire braced her other hand against the ceiling and squealed with delight.When he sent them sliding the opposite direction, she shrieked but then laughed harder, making Jesse laugh right along with her. He hadn’t done anything this spontaneous in a long time and it felt amazing.

When he came to a stop, Claire leaned back against the headrest with her hands to her chest and then turned to him with a smile. “That was crazy fun.”

“Yeah, it was.” She had a warm smile and pretty eyes that drew him in.

“I have a snowmobile, and I could take you on a wild ride if you’re interested.”

“You know what? Why the hell not?” She shot him a grin that made him laugh again . . . something he normally didn’t do this time of year.

“Your attitude keeps getting better and better,” he told her, and then thought with surprise,
So does mine
. This morning he’d been ready to bite the head off anyone who came near him, and now he was laughing. Amazing. At first glance, Claire Collins might appear to have big-city sophistication, to be the type of woman he would never approach . . . and yet he felt drawn to her in more ways than one.

“So, what do you do for a living?”

“I’m a hairstylist at Sweet Indulgence Salon and Day Spa.”

He glanced her way. “Sounds fancy.”

“It is. I was at a conference in Denver for hair extensions.”

“Okay, what are hair extensions?”

“Human hair that is weaved into your own.It can be very damaging, and this company has a new process that’s state-of-the-art.”

He raised his eyebrows, then pointed to his head. “Wait, someone
else’s
real hair? People really do that?”

“Yep.”

He looked at her beautiful auburn hair with a frown.

“It’s mine,” she assured him with a chuckle.“Wow, it’s really coming down. How can you even see?”

“I know the area like the back of my hand. But the good news is that we’re almost to my cabin.”

She nodded and looked out the window at the tall pine trees dripping with freshly fallen snow. “It’s beautiful here.”

“That it is.” But before long it would be pitch-black . . . much different from in the city. Instead of sirens and honking horns, Claire would be hearing the sounds of nature.

As if reading his mind, Claire turned and said, “I’m thinking I’m in for quite a Christmas adventure.”

Jesse arched one eyebrow in agreement. “Yes, my little Southern city slicker, I believe you’re right.” Just as he pulled into the clearing where his cabin stood, three deer scampered across his front yard.

Claire’s eyes rounded and she put a hand up to her chest and stared out the window. “Oh, look!”

“That’s common. There’s a lake out back. I see deer all the time.” Among other animals that he would warn her about later, but if she was this freaked-out about deer, he had his work cut out for him.

“No . . . I mean,
that’s
your so-called log cabin?” She turned and looked at him. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“
W
hat do you mean?” Jesse asked as he killed the engine.

“Um, Jesse, this isn’t a log cabin.”

“Well, technically, it’s a log and timber hybrid with stone accents.”

Claire shook her head. “No, I mean, cabins are little.” She made a small square with her fingers. “This is a . . . a lodge.”

Jesse shrugged. “It was my family home and my mother loved to entertain, especially—,” he began, but paused. “Anyway, she wanted plenty of guest rooms. My parents were both artists and designed it from the ground up. It’s more than I need, but I’ll never sell it.”

Claire looked out of the window through the swirling snow. “Wow, it’s magnificent, Jesse. I don’t blame you one bit. With the pine trees and the mountains . . . wow, it looks like a scene inside a snow globe.” She turned to look at him.“So your parents don’t live here anymore?”

A shadow passed over his face as he removed the keys from the ignition. “No.”

Claire wanted to ask more, but he abruptly turned and opened his door. A moment later he was at her side. “Oh . . .” She looked down at her sock feet and winced.

“We’ve established that I can carry you,” he reminded her with a wry smile. “Just link your arms around my neck and hold on, okay?”

“But—”

“Claire, just promise not to wiggle and we’ll be fine.”

After a brief hesitation she said, “Okay, I promise.”

“Good. Now, just relax. I’ll come back later for the packages and supplies.”

Claire felt a bit shy about linking her arms around him, but after she nodded, he scooped her up and lifted her from the truck. He trudged through the deepening snow and, as promised, carried her with apparent ease up wide steps to a wraparound porch.The entryway was a beautiful arch of multicolored stone surrounding wooden double doors.

“Can you lean over and let us in?” Jesse asked.

“Sure.” Claire nodded and held her hand out.

“What?”

“I’ll need the key.”

“It’s unlocked.”

She raised her eyebrows. “You’re joking!”

“The crime rate up here is . . . well,
low
unless you count raccoons stealing garbage and deer eating acorns.”

“No, that doesn’t count.” Claire laughed but then thought about the alarm system on her apartment in the city and shook her head in wonder. “It must be nice not to have that worry.”

“Yeah, well, there’s a downside. Pizza isn’t delivered either.”

“Oh, well, that sure has to suck!”

“Yeah, but it has made me a pretty good cook.” He chuckled and looked down at her.

“Yeah, sometimes it sucks. I guess you can’t imagine living without fast food.”

“Sometimes I need me some Starbucks.”

Jesse grinned. “Like about now?”

“Um . . . yeah.”

“Sorry about your bad luck.”

“I seem to be having a string of it.” After she opened the door, Jesse eased Claire to her feet and flicked on overhead lights. “Wow!”
Perhaps my luck is changing.
She padded in her stocking feet across the gleaming hardwood floor into a massive great room. A floor-to-ceiling fieldstone fireplace was the focal point, and although the room was large, leather furniture accented with plump pillows in jewel tones made the space feel warm and inviting. Many of the furnishings seemed to spring from nature, including a glass-topped tree trunk that served as a coffee table, and a wine rack made of antlers, giving the room a rustic charm that managed to maintain a touch of elegance.

Claire turned around to face Jesse, who remained standing on the braided rug in the foyer. “Your so-called cabin is breathtaking. I can’t wait to see the rest of it.” She thought the lack of Christmas decorations was a bit sad, but she kept her questions to herself.

“Make yourself at home while I bring in the supplies. My bedroom is on the first floor, but you can choose any of the guest rooms upstairs. Oh, and help yourself to anything in the fridge.The kitchen is to your left. Grab a beer if you want one. Don’t be shy.”

“Thanks. I might grab one in a bit,” Claire replied calmly, but after Jesse headed out the door, she hung his parka on a nearby coatrack and then made a beeline for the kitchen. Okay, it might not be happy hour yet, but she was stranded with a complete stranger in the middle of Colorado with little more than the clothes on her back. . . .Yeah, she could use a little liquid courage. She flicked a switch that turned on recessed lighting, but before snagging a beer, she had to pause to admire the gourmet kitchen. “Oh . . . my,” she said breathily. Stainless-steel appliances gleamed against the walls, while a granite center island surrounded by tall stools seemed to invite her to sit down. Cherry cabinets added elegance to the sleek look, but the slate gray tile floor brought a touch of the rustic feel back into the room. It was gorgeous.

“Hey, are you okay?”

Claire turned at the sound of Jesse’s deep voice and felt a little embarrassed that she stood in the middle of the room with her hands crossed on her chest.“Oh, yes, I was just admiring your kitchen. It makes me want to learn to cook.”

“Up here, you have to. The only takeout comes from the freezer.”

“It’s always good to have a backup plan,” Claire agreed.

“That’s my motto. How about you?”

Claire looked down at her sock feet and then back at him. “What’s your guess?”

“I’m guessing . . . no.” Jesse grinned as he set several bags of groceries onto the center island.

“Then you must be a good guesser.”

“Mmm, not so much, actually. I didn’t have you pegged at all.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“Not really.” He took his hat off, revealing thick, jet-black, wavy hair that he probably took for granted and any woman she knew would die for.When he reached up and ran his fingers through it, Claire had the sudden urge to walk over to him and do the same thing.You know, as a professional, she tried to tell herself. “Well, I have plenty of supplies to work with and we’ve got nothing but time on our hands.”

“Ah . . . so you really are a backup-plan kinda guy?”

“I try to be prepared.”

“Well, where’s the fun in that?”

He looked at her as if not knowing whether to take her seriously or not. She often got that same look from her parents.

“Can I help you put things away?”

“Sure,” he replied, and started unpacking the bags.

Claire noticed with approval that they were reusable mesh but had to giggle when she pulled out a whole pineapple. “What? Were you thinking of having a luau?”

He grinned. “I told you I got caught up in the moment. It was chaos in the grocery store. I swear people were grabbing random things off the shelves, and I jumped right into the fray. I actually like to cook, but I’m a typical buy-only-what-you-need kind of guy. The pineapple was a rare impulse purchase. Maybe I was lamenting the loss of my tropical vacation.” He placed ground beef, an onion, peppers, and a packet of chili spices on the counter. “See, the ingredients for chili. No more, no less.” He looked at Claire with male satisfaction. “What? Why are you grinning?”