Speaking of puppy eyes…clearly this guy had nearly frozen off his more delicate bits by running around Alaska’s vast countryside nude. Must be his first time stripping. Poor baby, he needs someone to show him the ropes. Either he was masochistic, undressing out in the cold instead of waiting until he was inside, or he had a brain the size of a gnat’s.
Such a shame. The good-looking ones were always so stupid. Clearly this little truth didn’t just apply to Michigan’s less-than-brilliant crop of available bachelors.
“Why don’t you go by the fire? You’ll warm up faster,” she suggested, motioning toward what had to be pure temptation to a guy who’d wandered who knew how far in near-freezing temperatures.
“Yes. That would be nice. I was just…didn’t want to scare you. I can imagine what you’re thinking.” He brushed past her as he walked.
Crazy thoughts of getting cozy with him under that blanket—all in the name of sharing body heat, of course—passed through her mind. “Oh, you never know what I’m thinking,” she said brightly. He looked harmless, in a devastatingly sexy sort of way. Despite the low IQ, Katie’d picked a winner. Abby decided right then and there that Katie deserved something extra special for her next birthday. Maybe twins. Going along with the ruse, she asked, “What happened?”
He shrugged. “I was sleeping. Then something woke me up—a dream. At least I think it was a dream. And I felt weird…”
“Hmmm. That’s almost believable.” Almost but not really. She was still going with the stripper story. It made the most sense. “Sounds like you were sleepwalking.” Abby knew all about sleepwalking. She’d done it since she was a kid. It was a little disorienting at times, especially if she woke up in the middle of a dream. “Been there. Though I can’t say I’ve walked out of the house naked before. Thank God. I can just imagine the field day Mrs. Knotsmidt would have with that. She already thinks I’m an oddball.” She nodded her head. “Better sleep in some sweatpants or something from now on. Just in case. It’s a wonder you didn’t freeze to death.”
He glanced down at his quilt-covered form and then grinned guiltily. “Good suggestion.”
Oh, what that grin did to her! Knocked her brain clear out of her head. It landed somewhere around her toe region. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you,” she added before her gray matter had found its way back to its former position. She wasn’t normally so forward, even with a naked stripper.
“Thanks,” he said, sounding downright cheery.
“At least you didn’t run into the bear or sasquatch or whatever that was trying to rip down my door a bit ago. A naked guy I can handle, no problem. A wild animal with claws and teeth…no.”
He studied her for a moment, his lopsided smile still firmly in place. She really liked it. Really, really liked it. The cop stripper had possessed a come-and-get-me smile like that too. Made a girl all soft and warm.
He combed long, tapered fingers through his hair. Her mouth went dry. Biceps. Oh, mama.
He did it again. He was clearly torturing her. “You’re not from around here.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Gee, whatever gave you that idea? Is it the accent? Or the fact that my friend called from an out-of-state area code and told you that?” she teased.
“No, actually it’s the luggage.” He pointed at the stack of suitcases still piled high on the cot. “Don’t exactly look like the type who’d come out to a place like this by yourself though.” His gaze dropped to her feet.
“That’s because I’m not, as my kitten-healed boots do testify. My girlfriend, Katie—the one who hired you—was supposed to come along. But some dumb strike delayed her flight. So, here I am, all alone. In the woods. With inappropriate footwear…” She sounded pathetic, which was exactly what she’d been shooting for. Maybe he’d be inspired to do an extra dance or two to ease her suffering.
Visibly perplexed, he looked at her for a long beat. Then his expression turned wicked. A good wicked. “Can’t have that. I’ll stay with you until your friend arrives. I think I owe you for saving me from freezing my,” he cleared his throat, “vitals…off.”
Whoo hoo! He wasn’t just a stripper but a bodyguard and boy-toy all wrapped in one scrumptious package. Okay, so she’d never worked so hard to get a stripper to perform his act before, but they were now on the right track. She was about to spend the night huddled up snug in a cabin with a guy who made her toasty with just a smile.