He shrugged nonchalantly. “I couldn’t let you sleep in your jeans.”
I glanced down at my top, grateful to see it was the thermal Henley I’d been wearing upon my arrival. Still, Joe had taken off my jeans.
I experienced a tingle between my legs at the thought.
Okay, I was definitely better.
“Oh.” I slipped out of bed, skirting him and feeling his heat without even touching him. “Food?”
The creak of the wooden floorboards told me Joe was following me out of the room. The floors were toasty beneath my feet, suggesting underfloor heating. In fact, the entire cabin was comfortably warm, even though the fire from the log burner had died during the night.
I came to a stop in the middle of the open-plan room.
Because … the view.
Beyond the sitting room were sliding doors that led out onto the deck. And beyond the deck was Lake Tahoe. Crossing the room, I peered out through the doors at the majestic view of tranquil water surrounded by snow-dusted trees on the hills that sloped down toward it.
“Wow.”
“Pretty spectacular, huh?” Joe came to a stop beside me. So close, his shoulder brushed mine. I glanced at him to find him watching me. His eyes narrowed on my upper cheek. “Why do you have a shiner, and why did you pass out from exhaustion?”
Sighing, I turned back to the view.
I could feel Joe’s aggravation growing.
Part of me was thrilled that he gave a shit.
The other part was terrified of it.
“I’m not letting you leave here until you tell me.”
I scowled. “You’re not the boss of me, Joe.”
He was silent so long, I finally looked at him.
And wished I hadn’t.
Excitement scored through me at the heat in his eyes and the obvious way he was fighting it. The muscle in his jaw ticked before he yanked his gaze away. His voice was gruff, almost hoarse. “You’re not leaving here until I get answers.”
Indignation killed the excitement. “Didn’t you hear what I just said?”
“Cut the crap, Ryan.” He glared at me before crossing the room toward the kitchen. “A woman I care about fainted, and she has a fucking black eye. Of course, I want to know what happened.”
I followed him into the kitchen. I tried not to react to him saying he cared about me and failed. My tone was softer now. “Joe, it was nothing. And I don’t want you making a big deal out of it because I don’t want Shaw to know.”
He contemplated me, then surprised me. “Coffee? Bacon sandwich?”
Both sounded great. I slid onto a stool at the island. “Yes, please.”
“Good. And you can tell me what happened while I make breakfast.”
“Technically, it’s lunch.”
He cut me another look.
“Or brunch,” I muttered with a shrug, staring out the side door of the kitchen. Beyond were snow-covered trees, providing privacy between us and the neighbors. “My sister isn’t here, is she?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.
“Nope. They changed their minds a few days ago. Said Shaw wasn’t feeling too great.”
My sister had lied to me and Joe to get us at this cabin alone. Together. “You know this wasn’t an accident, right? My sister did this to us deliberately. What was she thinking?”
“Shaw later. You first.”
I watched Joe move around the kitchen as he made coffee, unable to ignore the way his long-sleeved tee molded to every inch of his perfect body. I thought about him unzipping my jeans last night when I was out for the count. Of him tugging them off and then rummaging through my luggage for my pajama shorts. Of him pulling the shorts up my legs. He must have seen my underwear. I tried to remember what pair I was wearing.
Oh, well.
I shifted as renewed heat flooded between my legs.
I so wished I’d been awake for that moment so I could’ve studied Joe’s face.
Had he liked what he’d seen?
“Well?” he asked impatiently as he slid a steaming mug across the island toward me.
I took a bolstering sip and then stopped at the realization he knew exactly how I took my coffee. This was Joe. So I was inappropriately attracted to the man, and I’d thrown myself at him when I was drunk. But he was still Joe.
As much as it scared me to rely on anyone, he was my friend.
I met his dark gaze. He was worried about me. It was plain to see. “Promise not to tell Shaw.”
He frowned. “I don’t like keeping secrets.”
“Considering the high possibility that the little busybody is trying to play matchmaker with us, I wouldn’t be too concerned about keeping secrets from her.”
Joe gave a huff of unamused laughter. “Right.”
I took another sip. Remembering Christmas Day set off a spark of unwanted adrenaline. My hand shook around the mug, and I lowered it quickly.
Joe caught the movement anyway. “Hey …” His voice was soothing as he reached out to cover my hand with his. “It’s okay. I’m here.” He held my gaze. “Gotta admit you’re scaring me a little, baby.”
I shivered at the pet name he’d never used with me before. It was so intimate. Something a lover might call me. And I stupidly wanted to launch myself across the island and into his brawny arms. Instead, I slipped my hand out from beneath his and dropped it in my lap. Staring at the counter, unable to look at him now, I shrugged. “I’m making a bigger deal out of it than it was.”
“Ry, I’m losing patience here. I got a million ugly things going through my head right now, and I need to know that I’m wrong about all of them.”
“Sorry.” I forced myself to look at him. “I’m not used to anyone but Shaw caring.”
That seemed to piss him off even more. “Well, I care. I care a fucking lot.”
“Joe …” I shrugged, helpless against his concern. “Christmas Day. After I left early … when I got home, my door was ajar and the lock broken. And I was stupid. I was so stupid.” I shook my head at myself. Everything they tell you not to do, I did. “I went into the apartment, and there was a guy in my bedroom. He was high, had a garbage bag filled with my stuff … but he had”—my eyes filled with tears—“he was going through my jewelry box, and he had my mom’s locket in his hand. I didn’t think. I just went for him. We grappled and found ourselves in the living room. I pushed him into the tree, and when he got back up, he charged me, and we fell into the glass coffee table.”
Joe sucked in a breath.
“I was so lucky—it was only a couple of minor cuts on my back. But he punched me hard, and he was out of it … if my neighbor hadn’t heard the commotion and come running, it could’ve been so much worse. The guy took off. He didn’t get any of my stuff. But …” I ran a hand through my hair, embarrassed at what I was about to admit. “He scared me. I’m scared. I … until last night, I hadn’t slept since it happened.”
Movement drew my eyes up, and I watched as Joe marched around the island. “What …”
Suddenly he hauled me off the stool, his arms bound tight around me, crushing me to him. Joe buried his face in my neck, breathing hard.
Realizing he wasn’t just comforting me but himself, I closed my arms around him, too, my fingers curling tight into his shirt.