Frozen Valentine

his eyes,” I mutter.
“You sure she’s not going to want to kill you when she finds out?” Leo chuckles.
“Nope, she’ll be thanking me for it in the end.” I grin.
And I know I’m right it’s just a matter of them connecting over the next few days. Ironically, tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day and she’s booked at the cabin for two weeks. Or so she thinks.
Theo
I didn’t realize when Christian said something about a snowstorm heading in the direction of the cabin, that it would take me three times as long as it normally does in getting this far.
The roads are coated in snow and ice.
Good thing I’ve got four-wheel drive and should be able to get through it without a problem. It has only taken what feels like forever to get there.
I turn onto the road leading to the cabin breathing out a sigh of relief, knowing I’m only a mile away from the cabin where I can light a fire and warm up.
As soon as I straighten the wheel and start to speed up slightly, a deer runs across the road right in front of me causing me to slam on the brakes which is not a good idea to do. Sliding over the slick road, I end up in the ditch.
Fuckin’ great, it’s too late at night to worry about getting the damn thing out of the ditch now. Between the snow falling and the darkness of the night I won’t be able to get it out. Not without help.
I can walk the rest of the way to the cabin, and tomorrow I’ll see if I can’t get it out.
Sighing, I turn the engine off and pull the keys from the ignition. I take a deep breath and open the door. No reason to hold myself up when it’s going to take me a bit of time to walk the rest of the way. At least it’s only a mile and not more than that.
Though it’s going to be one freezing cold walk since I didn’t bring a heavier coat or wear something besides jeans and a Henley matched with my steel-toed boots.
Yeah, I’ll be cold but nothing a warm fire won’t warm up.

Chapter Two


Blake
Sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace, I stare into the depths of the flames. So far today my mother and father have both called ten times each. All before I turned my phone on mute to keep from hearing when they called.
I would turn my phone off but my brother told me to never do so. Of course, I’ll listen to Christian. He’s my favorite person in the world and is always there for me. We have a bond unlike any other and I would do anything for him and vice versa. It’s why he rented this place for me.
Lifting the cup of hot cocoa up to my lips, I take a sip and contemplate my life. I want to move away from home. I might live in an apartment away from the house and have a job working in an accounting firm but it’s not what I want. I hate my job. I hate the apartment I live in. All because the moment I had something special to me, my mother came in and threw it out. If it wasn’t what she wanted in there it would be trashed.
Same with everything else in my life she tries to control it all. If it wasn’t for my car being a rental, I’m sure she’d already be here trying to drag me home.
I’m not a pubescent child. I’m an adult who is trying to live a life without dealing with the headaches of parents who want to marry you off to get money.
I could ask my brother for his help in getting away from them and I know he’d help me. But it’s not his problem to deal with. Christian has his own life to live and doesn’t need the headache I’m sure our parents would bring to his door.
The fire crackles and the flames dance with their orange and yellow colors as the embers shine through the burning wood. I’d never built a fire before and I’m proud to say I did this one by myself. Thanks to the directions the caretaker left for me. I guess my brother informed him I’d need instructions.
Smiling to myself, I sip more of the hot cocoa. I’ve enjoyed the silence of the cabin. Throughout the day I’ve been reading one of my books and put on a pot of homemade chicken and dumplings. My favorite.
Blue has even been at ease here. Laying on the opposite end of the couch, stretched out she takes up most of the furniture, my doggie snoozes.
All of a sudden, she perks up, ears pointed back, and turns to the door. Blue hops off the couch and trots over to the door. Her stance is not soothing at the moment. Or one of needing to go out.
Someone or something is out there. I put my mug on the coffee table and stand. I stride over to the window next to the door and peer out through the curtains.
My eyes widen at the sight of a man walking up to the house.
Oh my. Oh crap.
My brother always told me not to speak to strangers unless I had to and to never let anyone in my home if I didn’t know them. But the man looks half-frozen from the looks of him in the darkness. It’s still snowing heavily out there and I can’t let him just stand out there in the cold. What if he’s been in an accident and needs help? Or he could be a serial killer coming to kill me.
I quickly make the decision to not live with a man’s death on my conscience. I mean seriously, what is the worst that could happen. Besides, if he is a serial killer and kills me, he’ll be taking care of me not having to deal