I’m expecting him to be standing in the kitchen, but he’s not there. I yank open the front door, and there he is, in the doorway, one hand braced up against the door frame.
Still shirtless.
Oh, god, I think I’m salivating.
For a moment, his face looks kind of soft, open, but it shuts down again fast.
“Sorry, I—” I try to smooth down my hair. “I probably look like a real mess.”
He frowns. “Not at all. You look as fresh as a daisy.”
A blast of cold air blows through the door, and I shiver.
His face fills with concern. “I’m sorry, look at me making you all cold.”
I dart a glance at his bare torso. Mr Johnson on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be cold at all. In fact, I can feel the heat radiating off of him.
“Oh—” He looks down at himself, grabs the shirt that’s tied around his waist. Chuckles like it’s nothing.
“Guess I don’t feel the cold a lot.” He wipes his forearm across his damp forehead. “Supposed to be a storm blowing in later, but before that, I was wondering if you wanted to go out and have breakfast in town?”
I bite my lip. “In Twin Falls?” The thought of going back brings an instant knot to my gut. But the way he’s looking at me, all kind and good natured, I just melt. “Can you wait ten minutes while I get ready?”
He cocks his head. “Take all the time you like.”
“Okay, but please come in—to your own home,” I say awkwardly, since he looks like he’s planning on staying outside.
He throws out his arms carelessly, like he doesn’t care one way or the other, and strides in. As he walks over to the kitchenette, his huge bulk instantly dominates the cabin.
Too much. Being in this little space with him so close that I inhale his sexy masculine scent with every breath is way too much, I think as I bolt for the bathroom.
* * *
It is kindof a relief being outdoors. The sky is low and slate gray, and the tang in the air can only mean snow is coming, but at least I can focus on things apart from my totally embarrassing attraction toward Mr Johnson.
We drive through the forest, among dense pines and bare deciduous trees. I used to know these woods like the backs of my hands, I think. Every clearing, every trail.
“Been a long time, huh?” Mr Johnson says, as if he read my mind.
“Yeah. Crazy how Kayla and I hung out here so much.”
“She was a creature of the forest,” he says. “And I was just relieved she wasn’t trying to drag you off to bars.”
I go still.He was protective of me, rather than his daughter?I feel like I’m just starting to grasp something, but it’s still out of reach.
We exit onto a familiar backroad. As we approach Twin Falls, my stomach flips. Last time I was here, I hoped I was seeing the town for the last time.
But now I’m not alone, I remind myself. Mr Johnson is here with me.
He parks up in a lot at the end of Main Street.
“Place I have in mind is just a minute away,” he says, scanning my winter coat with a worried look. He’s still just wearing a plaid shirt and jeans, and I think it’s real sweet that he cares about me being cold.
“I’m tougher than I look,” I tell him.
A smile tugs at his lips. “Oh, I know you’re tough all right, Blair.”
How am I tough? I wonder as I follow his broad back out of the lot. He just witnessed me totally failing at life in the big city, and needing to get rescued by my old friend’s dad.
