watched as the lone cashier locked up the place then went to a truck and carefully pulled out of the lot.
“Looks like we got refueled just in time.”
Buddy hung his head over the seat, his nose almost touching Natalie’s ear. His dour mood reflected hers. Every so often his ears lifted as if he hoped to hear something encouraging.
Natalie’s big brown eyes held a lot of uncertainty. And then her phone beeped. She jerked as if pulled from a daze. Scrambling, she located it in her purse and opened it.
“Getting reception now?”
She shook her head. “No, but I did get a message. I guess they can come through even when the calls won’t.”
“From your sister?” That would cheer her up.
“No.” She bit her bottom lip then groaned with dread. “It’s from the manager at the cabin rental.”
Now what? Jett wondered. He watched her face as she perused the message, seeing her dejection grow. “Let me guess. We can’t get to the cabin.”
“He says the roads are impassable. The best we can do is try to find a hotel for the night and hope things are better tomorrow.” She looked out the window. “But how can they be? The roads to the cabin aren’t paved, they’re gravel, winding through the woods, up and down hills. That’s why I chose the place—because it’s remote and private.”
Damn it, Jett would not let her trip be ruined. He patted her thigh. “I guess we better look for a hotel room, then.”
“He said he’ll reimburse me the down payment on the cabin.” She chewed her bottom lip and finally looked at him. “Jett, I am so sorry you got stuck on this wasted trip.”
Stuck? His irritation sharpened because that wasn’t how he saw it. Sure, the travel was tense, Natalie more so. But they were together, and for him, that had made it more than worthwhile.
Now, he needed Natalie to admit the same.
CHAPTER SEVEN
JETT SAT BACK IN HIS SEAT and gave her a remote look. “Do you honestly think I’d have been happier sitting at home, knowing you were out here alone in this fucking mess?”
At his coarse language, her eyes widened and her jaw loosened. “Jett.”
He ignored her chastising tone. “You were going, Natalie. With or without me, right?” That alone still burned his ass. He’d have missed her, but she’d planned to be away from him with no qualms at all. “Well let me tell you something, lady, given this shit weather, I’m damned glad I’m here, too, even if you aren’t.”
“Jett.” This time she said his name more softly, still in reprimand. She searched his face. “You’re actually glad you’re here?”
“Damn right. At least this way I can see that you’re fine instead of wondering if you were one of the cars stranded off the road.”
Her expressive face filled with tender emotion. “I guess I hadn’t thought about how that might bother you.”
Of course she hadn’t, because she thought of their relationship in terms of sex and only sex. He narrowed his eyes. “I’ve actually enjoyed talking to you while we’re both wearing clothes.”
Her mouth twitched. “Is that so?”
Knowing he sounded a little unhinged, not at all like his usual self, Jett gave one sharp nod. “But I’m definitely looking forward to having you all alone tonight, too. All night.” His abdomen clenched at just the thought. “With or without pajamas, Natalie, I’ll be keeping you close enough to stay warm, I promise.”
Her lips lifted in a slight smile. “I’m looking forward to that, too.”
“Then how the hell can you think this is a wasted trip?” The more he tried to reach her, the more annoyed he got. Sometimes it felt as if he was fighting a losing battle. Only he refused to lose. Ever.
But especially with her.
“You’re right, and I’m sorry.” She touched his shoulder. “I’m very glad you’re here, please don’t doubt that. Except for worrying about a wreck, you’ve made the trip…fun.”
She took the wind out of his sails, leaving him scowling for no reason at all. “All right then.” Left with nothing else to say, Jett put the SUV in Drive and turned out of the parking lot.
As Natalie reached for the food on the floor, she fell silent, prompting him to additional nagging. Never in his life had he nagged, but now, he couldn’t seem to stop.
His jaw tightened. “You know, it’s damn frustrating how you do that.”
Surprised, she lifted her brows at him. “What’s that?”
“The way you disconnect from me.” It was dicey getting off the roads that hadn’t been cleared. Carefully, Jett veered onto the highway. “In bed, you’re always crystal clear. I know just what you want, when you want it.”
Giving him a heated perusal, she said, “I know.”
Her acknowledgement of their sexual compatibility kicked him in the gut, making his blood rush, his skin burn.
But damn it, he had to stay on track. “The thing is, out of bed you’re so damn complex. Half the time I can’t figure you out.”
Natalie tilted her head. “Maybe that’s because there’s nothing to figure out. My life is boring.”
“How can you say that? You’re the most fascinating woman I’ve ever met.” Every time she revealed another piece of herself, Jett somehow felt more whole, as if each step closer to her helped to fill up the empty places inside him.
He shook his head at that morbidly poetic thought; damn it, he did not have empty places. What bullshit.
“No way.”
“You’re kidding right?” How could she be so unaware of herself? “Look at you. You’re sexy as hell, but you don’t seem to know it. You burn me up in bed, but outside of bed you’re this perfect little teacher.”
Her brows came down as if that someone insulted her. “Perfect little teacher?”
Jett laughed. “So many contrasts with you.” Maybe that was it—the contrasts intrigued him. But… “I even enjoyed watching you interact with my family.”
She hesitated. “That was actually sort of scary.”
“Meeting my sisters?” Yeah, they were outgoing and often outrageous, but they weren’t bullies. “Why?”
Busying herself with arranging the food, Natalie spoke casually, maybe hoping he wouldn’t hear the gravity in her words. “Comparisons, I guess.”
Jett considered that. From what he’d learned, her family was the exact opposite of his. He had hoped the contrasts would show her how nice things could be. But maybe it hadn’t worked out like that.
