“Shit.” Van reached for my chin and turned it back. “That was a fucking compliment. I’m the damn wolf you heard out there. It’s who I am in my private life and in my career. You are Little Red Riding Hood, and the last thing you should do is invite the wolf into your bed.”

“Weeks before my wedding, I found out my best friend is pregnant and the man I was engaged to is the father.”

“Fuck.”

I nodded. “I’ll sleep over here. I’m not asking you to make love to me. I’m offering half the bed.”

“I don’t work that way,” Van said as he walked away.

My eyes closed as I tried to make sense of anything that had happened over the last forty-eight hours. The stress and cold had worn me down. I opened my eyes to see Van crouched near the fireplace, tending to the fire inside. His words made me wonder about him.

What kind of private life does he have?

What does he do in business that he considers himself a wolf?

I was almost asleep when I heard the wind as the door opened. When I looked up, the kerosene lamp on the table was extinguished and Van was gone.

He probably went to the outhouse, I told myself.

Time passed.

Uncertain of where he could have gone or if he’d leave me alone, I sat up against the hand-carved headboard and pulled the blankets over me. The fire snapped and crackled. The wind outside continued to blow. I reached for my phone to see the time, and then, remembering it was turned off, I set it back on the bedside stand. My eyelids grew heavy, but I refused to lie back.

Finally, to my relief, the door opened. Through the firelight, I watched as Van took off his hat, gloves, coat, and boots. My lip disappeared behind my teeth as he unbuckled his belt, unfastened his blue jeans, and allowed them to fall to his ankles. His silk boxer briefs weren’t those of a mountain man. They showed each bulge and pulled tight over his muscular behind. Reaching over his head, he tugged on the back of his thermal shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing his wide chest with just the right amount of dark hair.

Inconspicuously, I moved lower under the blankets so as to not alert him that I was still awake.

The moving of the blankets and leaning of the mattress caused my eyes to open. “Van?”

“You’ll regret this, Julia.”

5. Julia

Julia

Van slid under the blankets until he radiated warmth beside me. The twisting in my core at watching him disrobe turned painful as he turned to me, our noses nearly touching. His large hand gently came to my cheek as he pulled me closer until our lips met.