CHAPTER FIFTEEN – ANNALISE

 

When they pulled in at the cabin, Annalise hopped down from Jeremy’s truck and was inside the house before the garage door closed behind them. Zamboni and Flurry met her at the door that led from the garage into the mud room.

 

“Hi, you two. Need a potty break?”

 

Their wagging tails told her they did. She let them out back. Fortunately, a small stand of evergreens provided a relatively protected space. The dogs trotted outside and lifted their noses into the air, scenting the wind.

 

Jeremy came into the kitchen and set about making two mugs of hot chocolate. He didn’t bother asking whether she wanted any. He knew her well enough to know she never turned the stuff down, just like he’d known she used big words when she was angry. It was flattering to realize he’d been paying attention all these years.

 

When the dogs returned to the cabin, she grabbed an old towel from the shelf in the mud room and let them back inside. “A-ha!” She pounced on Flurry, getting the dog dried off before she could shake wet snow all the walls. Zamboni managed to evade her attempts to dry him, running into the kitchen and shaking there, sending up quite a spray.

 

When the dog stopped shaking, Jeremy glanced down at the steaming mugs in his hands. “I hope you don’t mind a little dog hair in your cocoa.”

 

Annalise laughed as she took the mug from him. “A little fur never hurt anyone.”

 

He set his mug down on the stove, reached up, and pulled the rum from the cabinet. He put a splash in her drink, then one in his. With a mischievous grin, he turned back and put a second splash in hers, then a third.

 

She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”

 

“Nope.” He added another healthy splash to his mug. “Just trying to keep you warm and take your mind off the storm.”

 

There were some other ways he could take her mind off the storm. Ways that would be even more hot and satisfying than this cocoa . . .

 

He narrowed his eyes back at her. “What are you smiling about?”

 

Busted. “Enjoying the hot chocolate,” she said. “That’s all.”

 

He arched a brow. “You haven’t had any yet.”

 

“Um . . . it’s always good.” She took a big sip. “Yum. See?”

 

The grin tugging at his lips told her he might not be buying her story. It also drew her attention to his oh-so-kissable mouth. If she kissed him right now he’d taste like chocolate and rum. Mmm.

 

Whoosh! The wind blew fiercely outside, rattling the kitchen windows. Zamboni, being the wimp that he was, issued a pitiful whimper.

 

Jeremy reached down to scratch behind the dog’s ears. “Don’t worry, boy. It’s only the wind.”

 

“I bet Zam’s going to climb into bed with you tonight.” Lucky dog.

 

“I wouldn’t mind,” Jeremy said. “He keeps my feet warm.”

 

“Dibs on Flurry.”

 

“You’ll have to take that up with her,” he replied with a grin. “She and Zamboni are usually inseparable.”

 

In that case, maybe I could sleep in your bed, too . . .

 

They took their cocoa into the living room. The dogs plopped down on the braided rug in front of the fireplace.

 

Jeremy picked up the remote from the coffee table and turned on the television. “Better check the weather report.”

 

On the TV screen, the regular program had been interrupted by a special news broadcast. “Several inches have already fallen in Duluth,” the female forecaster told viewers as she gestured at a map. “More is expected overnight. A travel advisory has been issued and sources from the Minnesota Department of Transportation tell us that highways and interstates will soon be closed.”

 

It was a good thing her parents had flown out when they did.

 

Another whoosh sounded as wind blew by outside, followed by the sound of tree limbs creaking. She took her cocoa and stepped up to the window to look out. Snow swirled around the house, so thick she could barely see the birdbath that sat only a few feet from the porch. It felt as if she, Jeremy, and the dogs were inside a life-size snow globe. She could definitely think of worse places to be.

 

While Jeremy stacked logs in the fireplace, she went about the room, closing the interior shutters on the windows to help keep out the cold. She did the same in the kitchen, baths, and bedrooms before returning to the living room.

 

The fire blazing, Jeremy plopped down on one end on the sofa. Afraid she’d appear eager or presumptuous, Annalise took a seat in one of the recliners. She still didn’t know for certain how Jeremy felt about her, but that banter earlier had been flirtation, right? Sure it was. Except maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was just a friendly exchange between long-time friends. Arghhh!

 

The weather report ended and the station returned to its usual Friday night program, a family-friendly sitcom. The show had been on for mere seconds when the TV screen, and everything else in the house, went dark.

 

“We’ve lost electricity,” Jeremy said. “Of course I suppose that’s obvious, huh?”

 

She cut a smile his way. “Little bit.”

 

Thank goodness they’d still have heat, courtesy of the propane tank outside.

 

“Stay put,” Jeremy said. “I’ll get some candles.”

 

The fire provided sufficient light in the living room, but they’d be out of luck in the bedrooms later. Using the flashlight app on his phone, he lit his way into the kitchen. She heard him rummaging around in drawers and cabinets. He returned a moment later with a couple of candles in glass jars, as well as two matchbooks and flashlights. “This ought to do us.” He placed the items on the coffee table for later.

 

With no television for entertainment, they’d have to come up with something else to keep themselves occupied until bedtime. Annalise knew just the thing. She stepped over to the end table and rummaged around in the drawer for a deck of cards. “You up for a game or two?”

 

“Poker?” Jeremy asked.

 

“I was thinking more along the lines of crazy eights.”

 

The grin played about his mouth again. “You know you’re not twelve anymore, right?”

 

She knew it. Still, when she was with Pappy, she’d still felt like his special girl. Even at twenty-five. “Poker, then,” she agreed. “Prepare to have your wallet emptied.”