Winter Heat Read online

  I want to roll my eyes at her question. She has so little faith in me. Of course, she’s calling to check in, assuming I won’t be ready. We both know it will only piss Merric off more.

  “As a matter of fact,” I boast, smiling to myself at the chance to prove her wrong. “I was just finishing up as you called.”

  “Really?” Her response is a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

  “You should have more faith in me, Ma! I’ve been living on my own now for what, three years? I think I’m finally starting to get a hang of this whole adult thing.”

  Considering I called her two days ago to ask her what would happen if I washed a shirt that said, “dry clean only,” it may be a bit of a stretch to be asking for faith, but she seems to let it go.

  She chuckles. “Well, I’m glad because I spoke to Merric earlier this morning when he was heading into the office. He had some business he needed to tend to before he headed this way but asked for me to pass along he would be there to pick you up around five o’clock.”

  I turn to glance over my shoulder at the clock above my TV. It reads 4:58, but I set it ahead intentionally. I can always use any help I can get.

  The move forces me to get a good look at myself in the mirror, which hangs just next to my TV. It’s a good thing I still have a few minutes; this heat isn’t doing me any favors.

  I don’t usually care what I look like, not that I have anyone I’m trying to impress, but I haven’t seen Merric since his dad died three summers ago.

  Our parents got married the week before my seventeenth birthday after knowing each other for three months. Merric’s father Maxwell had moved from Myrtle Beach to Richmond. He was there to oversee the opening of the new location of Paine and Thorne Investment Management.

  Merric had graduated from college the year before and was positioned to follow in his dad’s footsteps. When Maxwell moved to Richmond, Merric stayed in Myrtle Beach, learning the ropes from Maxwell’s business partner Erik Paine.

  He may have been my stepbrother, but I never viewed him as one. He was eight years older than me, and by the time our parents got together, he had already lived the life of a college student.

  We’re opposites in every sense of the word. Where I’m outspoken and a tornado of chaos, he’s quiet and reserved. You can tell just by looking at him, he’s strategic in every move he makes, always thinking and planning ten steps ahead.

  Anytime we were around each other, which wasn’t often, he would act as though he couldn’t be bothered to carry on a conversation with me. I never thought he had paid much attention to me… well, until the night I found him drunk in our parents’ yard.

  I swear, sometimes it feels like that night was all a dream. Some nights, I wake up from dreams so vivid, so intense, it’s almost like I’m back in that dark hallway with my back pressed against the wall. I can practically feel his fingers digging into my hips, the taste of his mouth searing mine.

  Merric remained close with my mom after his dad’s passing, but that night was the last time I had seen or heard from him. When I woke up the next morning, he had already taken off back to Myrtle Beach.

  I click the button to turn the speaker on and toss it onto my bed, listening to my mom talk all about my cousin Penelope’s upcoming wedding. It worked out perfectly, coinciding with the trip back home to Richmond for Christmas during winter break. The holidays are my mom’s favorite time of year, and now that she’s living alone, I know how much it means to her to have us back to visit.

  When she suggested Merric pick me up on his way north, I hesitated, knowing this would be the longest I’ve ever spent with Merric alone. While I had enough money to cover my trip, I hadn’t told her I had been working at Whiskey Barrel. It would open up a slew of questions I didn’t want to answer.

  I let it go, biting my tongue and accepting the offer for a ride, even if it comes with the unbearable silence of riding with Merric.

  I rake a brush through my long, blonde locks, attempting to tame my unruly hair before ruffling it enough so it doesn’t lay flat on the side of my head. My makeup still looks somewhat decent from earlier this morning, despite feeling like I sweat it all off.

  “Oh, honey, you should see how she has it all set up. It’s so beautiful. Penelope was so happy, too, when I told her you were coming back home. I’m still worried, though, about you and Merric making the drive. Have you seen the news? They’re saying we could get anywhere from six to eight inches of snow. It sounds like it could bring white-out conditions, too.”

  Ugh.

  I guess I should be thankful I’m not trying to make the drive by myself. Although I can only imagine how moody this could make Merric.

  I untwist the cap of my lip gloss, swiping a bit over my lips before blotting them together, just as two knocks hit my door.

  “Shit,” I mutter, interrupting my mom. “I think Merric’s here.”

  I grip the doorknob, pausing to let out a heavy sigh. My nerves tingle like electric shock jolting through my system at the thought of being near him again.

  Don’t be stupid, Oaklyn! I whisper to myself, trying to shake myself from my thoughts. It’s just Merric.

  I open the door and find Merric standing there, dressed in a black suit with a steel-gray tie. His dark hair is longer on the top, styled in a messy “I woke up like this” sort of way. Except I know him well enough to know he’d never step foot out of his house in such haste.

  His jaw is set, his face stoic and unreadable. A five o’clock shadow, ironically, is dotting his face. Time has been so damn good to him.

  He looks so sexy, it’s downright sinful. I want to berate myself for even thinking it, but truth be told, I’ve always had a huge crush on Merric. Flashes of the kiss we shared are still fresh in memory. But considering he hasn’t said more than two words to me since that night, makes me feel certain he regrets it. Or maybe he hates me, and I have no idea why.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  He looks past me to where my suitcase lays open. There’s a subtle tic in his jaw when he finds the answer to his question.

  “Actually, I am. I just need to throw a couple things in there, and I’ll be ready to head out.”

  He nods, his fists sliding into his pockets. He doesn’t move, standing and waiting while I zip around my room to toss the last few items in my suitcase before grabbing my coat.

  His brisk attitude has me ready to spout off a comment about the last time we were in a hallway together until I remember my mom is still on the phone.

  “Mom, I’m sorry, I have to let you go.” She’s rambling incessantly about Penelope’s rehearsal dinner and how there’s the perfect little space outside for photos.

  “Merric just got here, and we need to get loaded up if you want us to try to beat this storm,” I remind her.

  “Okay, honey. Be sure to text me and keep me updated on how the roads are.”

  I hang up, assuring her Merric will drive carefully, and we’ll stay in touch along the way.

  Merric’s expression is unreadable, although the slight tic of his jaw is still there. I can’t help but think he’s annoyed over the thought of being stuck in the car with me for the next four hours.

  Zipping up my suitcase, I drag it off my bed, and it falls to the floor.

  “Okay,” I sigh. “I think I’m ready.”

  “You think?” Merric questions. I spin around, doing one last check for anything I may have missed and turn off the TV.

  It’s not exactly clean in here. My roommate, Claudia, is no better than I am when it comes to being organized. Merric sidesteps piles of clothes and reaches for my suitcase, helping to take it as I remember to shove my phone charger into my purse.

  “Ah, crap! My dress, I can’t forget my dress!”

  “All right,” Merric interjects. “I’ll let you grab whatever else you need, and I’ll get your suitcase loaded into my car. I’ll meet you outside.”

  He doesn’t bother to use the pull-handle, instead lifting it
to carry it as he disappears out the door.

  My best friend and boss, Jayde, offered to let me borrow her red dress to wear to the wedding. She recently wore it for an event, and it’s stunning, with little sections of mesh along the sides, showing my hips through the material.

  My reason for wanting to wear this dress specifically may or may not have something to do with the fact I knew I’d be seeing Merric.

  I carefully carry the dress down the stairs and out to the parking lot, where I find Merric standing near the trunk of his car.

  “I’ll just hang this in the back, if that’s okay?”

  He nods, reaching his hand up to close the trunk. His black Maserati is purring low. It’s the definition of sex. Thoughts flash through my mind of Merric pushing me onto the hood, having his way with me.

  I cough, clearing my throat to shake myself from my own mental images, muttering out a low “shit.”

  I move my purse and dress to hang in the back seat, climbing in next to Merric.

  As soon as I close the door, his scent overwhelms me. My eyes dart all over the small space, from where he’s seated to his hands firmly clenching the wheel.

  “You going to put on your seat belt so we can leave?”

  I peer up at him as he stares blankly back at me. His mood is annoying already. The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. “Are you going to act like this the entire drive?”

  “Like what?”

  What do I even say now when he’s giving me a ride? Like an asshole? Like the last time we saw each other you hadn’t kissed me?

  I shake my head, dropping the subject. Huffing out a sigh, I reach up and pull the seat belt over my shoulder, ready to get this trip over with.

  Despite how sexy he looks with his sharp jaw and his dark, broody eyes, I will do whatever it takes to make the next four hours go by without issue. I don’t have the patience for him and his mood.

  “Never mind,” I mutter, facing forward. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

  Chapter Two

  “Maybe we should just pull over,” I suggest, gripping the door handle after we fishtail for the third time.

  As if the tension isn’t already high enough, his temper has only made things worse. Merric has had an attitude from the moment he showed up and the fact it’s taken us twenty minutes to make it three miles isn’t helping the situation.

  He shoots me a glare from the corner of his eye. His nostrils are flaring.

  “For what?” he grits out. “The longer we wait, the worse it’s going to be. The snow is coming down heavy. We’re about an hour out.”

  “Yeah, an hour on a normal day. At this rate, it’s going to be damn near midnight by the time we make it to Richmond.”

  He pumps the brake again, but the roads have hardly been cleared and considering how low his car is to the ground, it’s only a matter of time before he gets us stuck.

  “Where are we anyway?”

  He exhales harshly. “Aren’t you the one watching the GPS? What do you mean, where are we?”

  We’re both growing more and more agitated as the minutes tick by. The sun has long since gone down. The snow is coming down fast and heavy, making it difficult to see more than twenty feet in front of us. For all we know, we missed a sign somewhere along the way and are headed in the completely wrong direction.

  I swipe my fingers over the screen of my phone, trying to pinpoint on MapQuest where we are exactly.

  “We’re just outside of Stony Creek.”

  I used to visit Stony Creek when I was younger, back before my parents got divorced. My mom loved taking a weekend trip down here to check out their shops lining the small town. All the winding roads through the rolling hills are beautiful when the leaves start to change in the fall. I bet the view is stunning after the first snowfall.

  “Maybe we should pull over for the night, find a place to stay. I don’t know what they have for hotels around here, but I’m sure we could find an Airbnb for the night. It’s after nine, and like I said, at this rate, it’s going to be after midnight before we get there.”

  “You could’ve driven yourself, ya know.”

  “What, and miss the opportunity to spend all this wonderful quality time with you?” I snort.

  He shakes his head, ignoring the question.

  “Do you treat everyone this way, or am I just lucky?”

  “Like what, Oaklyn? I treat you no differently than I would anyone else.”

  That’s a lie. Aside from the night of his dad’s funeral, he’s always been rude to me although I’ve never been able to figure out why.

  “Like shit!”

  I twist my hands in my lap. The silence that falls over us is painful, and I want to take it all back. He’s right. I could’ve driven myself, and I feel impolite given he’s the one who’s doing me the favor.

  After a few agonizing minutes pass by, I wish I could take back this entire night.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I was up late last night studying for a test this morning. It was my last final before break, and I didn’t…”

  “Oaklyn!” he interrupts. “It’s fine. I’ll pull over as soon as we can find somewhere safe, and we’ll figure it out.”

  I nod. A few minutes later, I notice what looks to be a gas station through the flurries of snow, the lights shining like a beacon in the darkness.

  “I see it,” he mutters when I point ahead.

  He pulls into the gas station, right into a parking spot in front of the store.

  “Why don’t I see if they have anything for us to eat, grab a few drinks, and you can see about finding us somewhere to crash for the night?” His voice softens.

  Maybe my comment did the trick, or maybe he’s resigned himself to the fact he’s stuck with me alone for the night. Either way, I’m grateful because while we can’t change the circumstances, we can at least get through it without the added frustrations.

  “If they have pizza by the slice, I’ll take two.” Merric turns to look at me, his hand on the door.

  “Really?”

  “I’d never joke about pizza!”

  “It just doesn’t sound appetizing.” His lip curls in disgust.

  “Gas station pizza is where it’s at, Merric. You should put those suits away and live a little.”

  His eyes narrow, his jaw set, shaking his head as he steps out of the car. I’m close to telling him to be careful, those dress shoes won’t be forgiving when he’s traipsing through the snow, but I don’t.

  We’ve done nothing but bicker back and forth this entire trip. The sooner we can get something to eat and find a place to stay, the sooner I can crash. I’m hungry, tired, and ready to call it a night.

  I pull up the Airbnb site and scroll through available places near us. I’m not sure what I expect to find, but there are only a few close by on such short notice. The first one is a no-go with only one bed, but the second looks promising and is only ten minutes away.

  It’s a small log cabin located on the edge of town. Judging from the pictures, it’s nice and quaint, but the selling point is the fact we’d have our own rooms. Without waiting for Merric or his input, I put in a reservation. Thankfully, the owner lives next door and can leave the keys in a lockbox outside the house for us.

  I’m about to head into the gas station in search of Merric when he walks out with a couple bottles of water, two sandwiches, and chips.

  “Hate to break it to you, but no pizza. Guess you’ll have to settle for this instead.”

  I thank him, not caring in the least, as long as I have something to eat. I change the subject and tell him about the place I found. I’m relieved he doesn’t complain when I add in how I went ahead and booked it for us. I plug the address into the GPS, and a few minutes later, we’re back on the road.

  The snow is still coming down in flurries, the roads are slick, making it harder for us to travel, and I’m grateful we end up agreeing on staying somewhere close by for the night.

  W
hen the GPS signals for us to take a right turn, Merric curses under his breath when the car fishtails again.

  “Where the hell are we going?”

  “We’re almost there. It’s only about a half a mile down this road.”

  When we finally reach the cabin and pull up, there’s a small light on the front porch, illuminating the house. The sidewalk leading to the door hasn’t been shoveled, and my feet disappear into the snow with each step we take. We each grab our things from the trunk before Merric waves me off, mumbling for me to unlock the door, and he’ll get the bags.

  The smell of wood and fire hits me the moment I open the door. A small light above the stove illuminates the kitchen in a soft glow.

  “I’ll check out the bedrooms,” Merric says, kicking off his shoes near the door, carrying our stuff to our rooms.

  I toe off my fleece boots, regretting my decision not to wear any socks when my cold feet pad on the hardwood floor. Two leather couches face the fireplace positioned in the middle of the room. A flatscreen TV is mounted above it, with a fluffy white rug and a coffee table in between. It’s warm and cozy, and all I want to do is start the fire and curl up while watching a movie.

  A small note welcoming us sits on the counter, letting us know the food and drinks in the cabinets and fridge are included in our stay. I tiptoe down the hall in search of Merric, hoping to find my things. I want to change out of these jeans and into something more comfortable.

  Judging from the sliver of light visible under the door, it looks like Merric has claimed that room. I find my suitcase sitting on the bench at the foot of the bed in the vacant room.

  I dig out my pajamas and pull my hair up into a bun on top of my head. Living in the dorms, the only TV I usually indulge in is whatever is on Netflix. I’m excited to see what cheesy Christmas movies are playing on the Hallmark channel.

  After washing my face and cleaning myself up, I meander back to the kitchen to find Merric sitting at the breakfast bar. He’s dressed in a pair of black lounge pants and a white t-shirt, emphasizing his arm muscles.