ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (244 page)

“A lot right after it happened, but it had stopped for a couple years.”

“How long has he been gone?”

“Four years...almost.”  She touched the comforter and plucked at it. 

“Same…” 

“Same what?”

Forrest cleared his throat.  It was a coincidence and that was all. 

“My wife…she died…almost…four years ago as well.”

Rain came up on her elbows.  Her stone gray eyes were serious and pinned Forrest uncomfortably. 

“What date?”

“It doesn’t matter.” 

“Look at my arms!  It does matter!”  Rain held an arm towards him as she sat completely up.  A thin layer of goose bump raised her flesh. 

Forrest licked his lips.  He didn’t want to discuss this. 

“January first.” 

As the color drained from Rain’s face he was
sure
he didn’t want to discuss it. 

“That’s the anniversary of Trevor’s death too.” 

Forrest stood.  He was angry.  Why did it matter?  He was sure thousands of people died on January first every year! 

“Did she take her own life too?”

Forrest whirled and answered her with a growl.  “No!  That’s stupid!”

Rain’s face became unreadable.  She laid back on the couch and rolled onto her side, turning her back to him. 

Forrest watched her, the anger ebbing from his body, leaving him weak.  He hadn’t meant it.  With a sigh, he went to the sliding glass doors and stared out.  The weak sun was trying to find a way out from behind the clouds before dusk took over.  He didn’t think it would win that fight.  Leonidas whined at his side. 

“Come on, boy, let’s go out before dark.”          
  

Forrest had wanted to clear his head.  He had stayed out too long, just walking the trails with Leonidas.  The snow was heavy and deep, but it was a good work out for man and beast.  They had to stop and rest often though. 

The cabin still had a thin arm of smoke reaching for the sky, and he hoped Rain was still just sleeping.  The rest was probably the best thing for her.  The guilt of what he had said to her was still weighing him down, but he planned to apologize to her as soon as she woke up.  Maybe she would be up already. 

Forrest rounded the west side of his cabin and froze.  The air carried a scent he didn’t recognize at first.  He drew in air slowly and tried to pinpoint what he was smelling.  Human.  Cougar.  Human and cougar together. 

Leonidas’s hackles rose and he growled deeply, dropping his body low to the ground.

“Easy, boy.”   Forrest breathed and touched Leonidas lightly on the head.  Forrest moved farther up the side of the house, trying to maneuver the snow as silently as he could.  He was able to see the porch, which was above the ground by a good four feet.  He crouched slightly and looked up just as his front door opened.  Two men were standing at the front door, and both had rifles strapped to their backs.  Forrest cursed himself for coming out without his gun.  He always brought it with him just in case he ran into a coyote or mountain lion. 

“Evening, Ma'am.  Our four wheeler broke down a ways out, and we were wondering if we could use your phone?”

He’s lying
.   Forrest frowned deeply. 

“This isn’t my house.  The owner should be back soon.  You can wait on the porch until he does.”  Rain moved to close the door, but the man who had spoken stopped her, forcing the door to stay open. 

“How about we just wait inside with you.” 

“No.”  Rain’s voice was steady and firm, but Forrest could smell her fear, and he knew at least one of the men could too. 

Forrest didn’t want to approach them unarmed, but he had no other choice.  He straightened and moved towards the front of the house. 

“What can I do for you boys?” 

Both men whirled, and Rain took the opportunity to slam the front door and lock it. 

The man who had spoken recovered quickly.  He grinned, exposing crooked teeth.  His companion remained stony faced.  It was from him that the strange scent emanated.  His nostrils flared slightly.  He tilted his head downward, showing recognition for another shifter.  Forrest was surprised to see it was Scott Dyer.   

Rain hurried around the house.  She was sure a man like Forrest would have a gun of some sort, and it was just a matter of figuring out where it was at.  She entered his bedroom and was relieved to see a double barreled shot gun leaning into the corner by his bed.  She opened the top drawer of his night stand, and luck just happened to still be on her side.  There was a box of ammo.  Not just bird shot, actual shells that could cave a chest in. 

Forrest stared at the men.  “What can I do for you?”

“Our four wheeler broke down.”  The grinning man said.  “We just need to use a phone.”

“Sorry.  My phone line is down.”

The man’s smile faltered.  “Really?  Odd for a land line.”

Forrest shrugged casually.  “Mountain life.  It’s unpredictable at best.” 

“Right.” 

The silent companion leaned towards his friend and whispered.  The man’s smile disappeared entirely. 

“Sorry we bothered you.”  He said and the men descended the steps of the porch and began walking down the driveway.  Scott looked over his shoulder once, and Forrest was sure his eyes glowed yellow. 

The front door opened and Forrest turned, surprised to see Rain standing there with his shot gun in the crook of her arm.  He couldn’t help but smile.  Sara wouldn’t even touch his guns. 

“Is it loaded?”

“Damn right!” 

Forrest mounted the steps.  Rain looked up at him nervously. 

“Those men really weren’t after the phone, were they?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

Rain backed into the house, her eyes incredulous.  “Who comes out after a major snow storm to hunt or whatever…?”

“Criminals.  People looking to take advantage of the situation.” 

“Will they come back?”

“I don’t know.”  Forrest grimaced at her expression.  “Don’t worry.  We’ll be perfectly safe, ok?” 

Rain stared at him for several seconds before nodding her head once.

“I should be able to get you into town tomorrow.  I can plow my driveway.” 

“What should I do about the insurance adjuster?”

Forrest rubbed his jaw.  “Well, you could stay on here for a few days.  Do you need to be present when he or she arrives?”

“Don’t know.  I’ve never had to deal with anything like this.”

Forrest didn’t want to admit it to himself, but the woman staying on was not an entirely disagreeable idea.  He despised feeling that way, but there it was.

Forrest may have relaxed to realize that Rain was just as uncertain, but also thrilled at the prospect of needing to stay extra with this handsome man.  It was more than just his looks.  His very presence exuded strength and compassion, all while keeping his rugged masculinity intact.  Neither Trevor nor Dante had ever been able to do such a thing.  

Rain laughed when something wet touched her hand.  They had been so engrossed with their conversation, neither had noticed that the little deer had woken up and walked over to stand behind Rain. 

“Aww!  Our little girl is feeling better!”  It was an innocent comment, a careless one, really, but it hit Forrest like a ton of bricks.  She had said “
our
”.  Sara had always talked of children, but he had wanted to wait.  It was a deer not a baby, but watching her crouch in front of the animal and coo at it as she ran a hand over the slim back, made him yearn.  His heart constricted and for the first time in a long while, he was able to look his loneliness in the face and acknowledge it.

“We should name her Galadriel.” 

“She’s from Tolkien.”  Forrest replied quietly. 

“Yes.”  Rain looked up and smiled at him.  “And please don’t think I just got that from the movies, I actually read all of the books, including the Hobbit.”

“You like Literature then?”  Forrest asked, his heart hammering in his chest. 

“Love it.  I read some mainstream stuff too, but classical lit and what I call classical fantasy are my favorites.”

“What’s your favorite book?”

Rain laughed again.  Forrest realized that it was a pleasant throaty sound, and he desperately needed more of it. 

“I can’t choose just one.”

He licked his lips.  He needed to keep her talking.  Something was changing within him and he wasn’t ready for the spell to be broken.

“Alright.  Tell me your top three.”

Rain looked at the ceiling.  “Ok.  Anna Karenina, Alice in Wonderland, and all of Poe’s work.” 

“That’s an odd combination.  And I’m pretty sure all of Poe’s work counts as a little more than one.”

Rain shrugged.  “I see your book case over there.  Tell me your top three.” 

“Wuthering Heights, Bleak House, and the Iliad.”

“Nice.  You have an odd combination too.” 

Forest went to his book shelf and touched several of the spines.  The books had been companions over many long harrowingly lonely nights. 

“Help yourself to any of the books while you’re here.” 

“Thanks.”

The deer pushed its head into Rain’s side, and Leonidas sniffed her, his eyes frantic to see what she was doing and if she was alright. 

“I think she’s hungry again.” 

“Probably.  I’ll fix the bottle, I’ll have to do it in the fireplace as best I can, and then we need to see about changing the dressing on your cut.” 

Rain sensed the change.  The light of his whiskey brown eyes were a little brighter, defiantly warmer.  He was seeing her in a new way, and he was pushing past whatever reservations he had on purpose.  She watched him fix the milk.  Having feelings for someone you just met was a dangerous game that often ended in heartbreak.  Rain just wasn’t sure she wanted to walk that road again.  Yet, she wasn’t sure if she could stop it.

The evening rolled in with a quiet steadiness which had Rain’s emotions both soothed and awestruck.  They had fed Galadriel, then under Forrest’s suggestion, they had both chosen a book to read.  The power still wasn’t on, making it difficult to read after darkness fell.  But Forrest did have two Coleman lanterns and that helped. 

“I’m going to go ahead and power the generator in the morning.” 

Rain nodded her head, leaning into one of the lanterns to try and finish the page she was on.  Forrest turned one corner of his mouth up in amusement.  She had chosen The Witching Hour by Anne Rice.  He had felt embarrassed when she found it in one of the piles on the floor.  To Forrest, although he enjoyed the book immensely, it was a woman’s book.  Rain had pointed out that to some Wuthering Heights was too, but good writing is good writing and one should never be ashamed of what they read.  He hoped he could remember that the next time he was in a book store.  Forrest’s eyes widened.  Book store! 

“Hey, if we get into town tomorrow, I want to take you somewhere.” 

Rain closed the book and looked at him with tilted head. 

“Where?”

How could he explain what the place was?  It was magic.  It turned back the clock and made Forrest feel like a kid again.  No matter the season, or holiday, Ruth Ann decorated the Enchanted Forest, and her Christmas display should have already been up.  How had he forgotten to go?  She would have had it up right on time on December 1
st
. 

“It’s called the Enchanted Forest.”

Rain grinned broadly.  “I like it already.”

“It’s a bookstore.  Some used and there’s an antique section, but she can order a brand new copy of most anything you could want, if she doesn’t carry it.  She…”  He moved a step towards her, intent of explaining the unexplainable.  “The owner decorates for every occasion, and her Christmas display is really something to see.  Plus she has a room in the back where she sells little knick knacks and pretty things.” 

The way he said “pretty things” made Rain smile.  It conjured images of a country gentleman.  Forrest Early
was
a gentleman through and through, as far as she was concerned.

“I would love to go there, but I need a shower first. I think I’m starting to smell.”  She scrunched up her nose. 

“There’s probably enough warm water in the reserve for you to take a quick one, if you want to try.” 

“That would be great.”

The warm water did last long enough for her to shower.  It was the fastest shower she had ever taken, with fear she would be hit with cold water.  Rain emerged from the bathroom with a towel around her head, and the same clothes she had been wearing.  To her surprise, Forrest was taking his parka and boots off.  Her travel bag was sitting by the front door. 

“You got my stuff?”

“Yeah.  I had to dig the car out just a little bit, but once I did, it wasn’t any trouble to get to the trunk.” 

“Thank you!”  Rain grabbed the bag and disappeared back into the bathroom.  The clothes were cold on her skin and made her shiver, but they still smelled like detergent and she was happy to have her favorite leggings slide up her legs and even happier to pull her oversized football jersey over her head.  She roughly scrubbed her hair with the towel and pulled a wide toothed comb through her hair several times.  She didn’t know what possessed her to do it, but she applied a light coat of mascara as well.  Low light was her best light, and she wanted to use it to her full advantage.