Page 18 of One Quick Obsession

She had an upcoming doctor’s visit soon, one that we couldn’t do with just a home visit, and she would fight it. She would never yell at us, never push, but she would break down inside, and it would break me. But as the sister left in Cage Lake, it was my responsibility. I would never begrudge Luna for moving to Denver, for finding her passion at a university there, but some part of me wished that life could be different. But that wasn’t the case and wishes never came true.

I drove down the side streets of Cage Lake, before turning right on Main Street and going north towards the lake. Soon people would no longer be near the slopes and instead, on the lake for something other than ice fishing. Of course, weather in Cage Lake meant that one could probably do both within the same day and not find it odd.

I nodded at a few people that I knew and waited as tourists jaywalked across the road without paying attention. I rolled my eyes and told myself that tourists were my bread and butter. They were literally why I had a job. Part of me wanted to check in on my staff, to see how they were doing today with a full resort, but I had promised my second-in-command I wouldn’t. They would call me if there was an emergency. I apparently needed to just have a day off.

I tapped my finger along the steering wheel and finally pulled into my driveway. The sun shone brightly through the tall trees, and I smiled at my small two-story cabin. It was mine, and no one else’s. My little refuge.

With another sigh, I got out of the car and made my way around the back of the house. I looked up at my security cameras, and then down at my watch that buzzed about the movement on my own property. I’d immediately added more security after Ronin had stopped by, and some part of me felt like it wasn’t enough. Maybe it would be better if I lived in town, where everyone would be watching me at all times, but I needed this place. I needed my solitude.

I worked with people and strangers for hours a day, and part of me just needed a moment alone. So I would do all that I could to make it safe. I resented that Ronin was trying to take that away from me.

I went through the back door, set my things on the counter, and then went back out to the firewood station. It was nearing April now, so we probably had one or two more snowstorms on the way thanks to living in the mountains, so I would still need my fire going, but at least I didn’t have to have so many cords like I did during the heart of winter.

I reached for my gloves and then one earbud in so I could listen to music as I did the heavy lifting that came with owning a home of my own. I left the other one out so I could hear if someone came up behind me. With my favorite pop star scream-singing about men and how we didn’t need them, I laughed to myself and got to work.

Even though it was a little chilly out, sweat slicked my brow, and I knew I had to look amazing. Lips twitching, I pushed thoughts of how I looked out of my mind and turned to get the next log. The scream that ripped from my throat was probably heard in the next county, as I dropped the piece of wood on Hudson’s foot and ripped out my earbud.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, chest heaving. “You scared the shit out of me.”

Hudson blinked at me, then looked down at the wood that had barely missed truly hurting him. “I called your name three times, and you weren’t listening. Good to know that you’re careful about your surroundings.”

I winced at the judgment in his tone, but then again, I hadn’t been paying attention at all. That wasn’t good. Not with the fact that I had extra security for a reason. Honestly, it wasn’t like me to be so lax and I knew I needed to get my head in the game.

That’s when I realized Hudson wasn’t wearing a shirt.

No, he wore work boots, jeans that rode low on his hips, and a ball cap turned backwards. Sweat slicked those rigid muscles of his, and the man still had at least a six-pack. I’d never actually seen one of those in real life, and I didn’t quite believe he was real.

The hoops sliding through his nipples nearly made me want to press my thighs together. I hadn’t known Hudson had nipple piercings and now all I wanted to do was lean forward and see what the metal would taste like on my tongue. Of course, it made me think of my own bars through my nipples that was my personal secret, and I knew this line of thought was all trouble. My gaze went to the rigid scars on his side and shoulder, and then I forced myself to look at his face.

His very handsome, very bearded face. I was not just ogling Hudson Cage. I had better taste than that. No, that was cruel. Because there was nothing wrong with Hudson Cage other than his attitude. In fact, from what I could see, there was everything right about him.

And perhaps I was getting heat stroke.

“Everything okay there? You look a little flushed.”

I narrowed my gaze at the twitch of his lips. “Is there a reason that you’re half naked on my property?”

He gestured towards the tractor trailer that I hadn’t noticed. My God, I needed to lower the volume on my music if I wanted to be safe. What the hell was wrong with me? “Didn’t mean to startle you, Scar. I was moving a fallen tree on the other side of my property, and I’m already working with firewood. I figured you could use help.”

“Why? Because I’m a woman that happens to have her nails done?” I asked. I held up my hands, and then realized they were covered in gloves.

Perfect, Scarlett. Perfect.

Hudson sighed. “You know what, Scar, you annoy the fuck out of me.”

“My name is Scarlett. Not Scar. And I’m sorry that I annoy you, but you do the same to me.”

“I like calling you Scar. Scarlett sounds like you need to be in a mansion or something with a hoop dress. Maybe the one with the curtain rod in the back.”

I pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t laugh. “From The Carol Burnett Show? Based on Gone with the Wind. Neither one of us was born when that show came out. You know that, right?”

He shrugged and I resisted the urge to watch his muscles move. Barely. “I like the oldies. Plus, that episode’s a classic. Don’t tell me you’ve never seen it.”

“Of course I’ve seen it. And it is a classic. And I’m not going to be on some staircase trying to make an entrance.”

“You could probably make an entrance in a burlap sack,” he muttered.

I blinked, knowing I must have heard incorrectly. “What did you say?”