"Oh." Her gaze fell and she looked back through the opening, out to where the sun was sinking fast. She wrapped her arms around her middle, like she was holding herself together, and then her shoulders went back. "Well, I'll just make sure the bedroom door is shut tight. I can push the dresser over to block it. It'll be all right."
Like hell I'd let that happen. "That's not going to work."
"Yes, it will. It's only one night."
The distance I'd created out of necessity evaporated as I stepped toe to toe with her. "Let me be clear. That's not going to work for me. I'm not about to let you sleep here alone without a secure front door." My chest was tight. I might be a cold hearted man, but in this instance, there was a jolt of somethingI hadn't felt in a long time. Something I didn't want to examine too closely. Because I might have just met this woman, but what I was feeling went beyond the general concern one feels for a neighbor. Or even just another human being.
The truth hit me in a rush. I was attracted to Ayla, but ti was more than that. A lot more than that. Because the idea of her sleeping here alone, her safety at risk in any way, sent me into such an emotional tailspin that I was tempted to scoop her up and carry her out to my truck immediately.
Such possessive need to protect someone rocked me. But I was powerless to fight against it, and had no time to examine it fully. Not right now. Because I had one problem to deal with.
Convincing Ayla to leave with me.
To stay with me.
Spend the night with me.
I dragged in a breath, forcing myself into a state of calm I hadn't needed since I was last trying to convince a scared kid to leave what he thought was shelter, before it collapsed on top of him. The memory of that last night, the urge to just drag him out because it would be safer, threatened to pull me under, but I pushed back against it. I couldn't get lost in the past.
"Ayla, I promise I wll help you get this place fixed back up. But I can't leave you here alone without knowing you're safe. So please, come back to my cabin. You can stay there until we get the damage repaired."
Her eyes went wide, surprise or shock at my suggestion I didn't know.
"I can't ask you to do that for me."
"You didn't ask. I'm offering. And frankly, either way, I'm not leaving you alone in this place." Her chin lifted in that adorably stubborn tilt once more, and a thrill shot through me. Wanting to forestall the argument I could see building, I added, "It's either my cabin or this one. But if you stay here, I'm staying heretoo. I'll sleep on the floor out here. And you can do what you planned to do. Sleep in the bedroom, close the door, drag the dresser in front to block it."
She hesitated. It was a small victory and I wanted to press her, but made myself present it like a negotiation. "My cabin has a functioning door. A big, comfortable mattress that hasn't been shredded, and extra blankets. Plus, I know I fit on that couch. We'll both get a good night's sleep and come back tomorrow. Refreshed and ready to take on this project."
Ayla crossed her arms, which only emphasized the curves I could so easily get lost in. "You promise? If I go with you tonight, we'll come back tomorrow and start working to fix this?"
"I promise." Relief and the feeling of success was a heady combination. "We'll fix this together."
Silence hung between us for seconds and then she gave me what I was hoping for.
"Okay. I'll stay with you tonight."
8
AYLA
I stood in Oren's perfectly undamaged cabin. The bag I'd brought with me was on the bed and the big man was pointing to the bathroom.
"Take a shower, if you want, and I'll make us dinner." He set a pile of clean towels and washcloths beside my bag. "Got plenty of hot water, so don't feel like you have to rush."
He ran his eyes over me, like he was checking me for any sign of injury or pain. There was nothing to find. I was fine, really. At least that's what I kept telling myself. But there was the exhaustion sneaking up on me. It had been a long trip to get myself to the mountain in the first place. To find the cabin in that state, and then walking to Oren's, going back there.
"Ayla, you all right?" The question made me realize that he'd gone quiet and I hadn't noticed until now.
I shook my head. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."
"You can just go to sleep if you want. Up to you." It was a tempting thought. His bed looked comfortable and warm. Like I could wrap myself up in the beautiful quilt and drift away untilmorning. But I smelled like a bus trip and I hadn't eaten in too long.
"Actually, a shower sounds really good. Dinner, too." That earned me another small smile and my heart lifted at the sight of it. The effect this man had on me was problematic but I didn't want to think about that.
"Okay, then. I'll get cooking."
He left me alone, and I felt the absence of him when the door shut between us. It didn't make sense, the connection I already felt snapping into place. In the life I'd left behind, there'd be people telling me it was too soon. That I was just sad and lonely, grieving. Looking for a distraction.