Oh God, they’re all looking at me.
I’ve never in my life been in a room with this many solidly attractive men.
I’m pretty sure the one they keep calling Horny is a Disney prince reincarnated. Solid jawline and just a beautiful face. Frankly, he’s too pretty.
Potato, I think that’s his name, the one who owns the house, he’s got that whole “I don’t care about my appearance” look, when we all know he does, which of course makes him even hotter.
The cookie monster has sincerely one of the best smiles I think I’ve ever seen. Full of boyish charm, it makes me want to smile just looking at him.
I can’t see much of the book guy other than his hands, and wow, those are big.
And then there’s the goalie. I can’t quite recall his name. Lawes, maybe? I was too distracted by his glacial-blue eyes and his dark blond hair. It’s longer than I prefer on a guy, hitting him just below his chin, but it’s incredibly sexy on him. Not sure it’s his eyes or the beachy waves in his hair, but he intimidates me, more so than the pretty boy.
But the thing that bothers me the most about the goalie is there’s something vaguely familiar about him. As if I’ve seen him before.
I really shouldn’t be here. Katherine, my best friend and personal bodyguard, would have a heart attack if she knew I just walked into a strange house full of burly men I’ve never met before, men who could easily capture me and hide me in their basement—her words most likely. Every situation I’m in always ends with me held in a basement by my captor, according to her. It took lots of convincing and leaving WITHOUT her blessing in order for me to go on this trip. And I had to promise that if I did wind up in a captor’s basement, that if I called her for help, she gets to tell me “I told you so” first.
I hope stepping into this house isn’t going to prove her right.
But what other options do I really have? I don’t think I would be able to find my car in this storm. I almost slipped and fell multiple times just trying to make it to this house. I can’t imagine going back out there, looking for another safe haven.
When my car got stuck, I realized that I had one option, fill my backpack with as much from my suitcase as I could, along with food and water, and hope for the best.
I’m standing in my only option.
Hand to his chest, the nice one says, “I’m Eli Hornsby. That’s Silas Taters, the owner of the house and your gracious host. On the couch is Halsey Holmes. I doubt you’ll have any interaction with him at all. He keeps to himself. Over there with the big smile, that’s Levi Posey. He likes bologna sandwiches. And then at the kitchen bar is Pacey Lawes. His first name has nothing to do with the show Dawson’s Creek. Just a coincidence. He likes to let everyone know this.”
Pacey.
I love that name. Matches his looks totally.
“And you are . . .”
“Winnie,” I answer. “No correlation to Winnie the Pooh, just a coincidence.” I smirk, and when I glance over at Pacey, I get a smile from him as well.
“What about Winnie from The Wonder Years?” Levi asks.
I point at him. “Now that I can’t be too sure of. Given my mom was a huge fan of Fred Savage, I could see the correlation.”
“My dad was obsessed with her,” Levi says. “I remember watching reruns with him and him telling me over and over about how much he thought he was going to marry Winnie Cooper when he got older. Spoiler alert—he didn’t marry Winnie Cooper, but rather got a lady named Yessica pregnant. A classic drunken night. They didn’t get married, my dad claimed custody, and here I am, a product of whiskey. I think that’s why I like it so much. Whiskey, that is. Fucking good.”
Eli clears his throat. “Posey is a talker.”
“Do you call each other by your last names?” I ask. “Because I’m barely hanging on to who everyone is.” I point to the homeowner. “I know I heard your name, but all I can think of is potato. And I know that’s not your name, but that’s what I want to call you. And Eli, right? I’m having a hard time discerning if you’re Eli or Horny.”
“Both,” Levi says. “And you can call us whatever you’d prefer. Personally, I think I might start calling Taters ‘Potato’. Has a nice ring to it.”
“Don’t even fucking think about it,” Potato says, walking past me with a huff.
I can sense we’re not going to be friends.
“Are you hungry?” Eli asks. “We don’t have a lot of food, but we can offer you a beer and a bologna sandwich. Our chef was supposed to come up tonight and make us some food, but because of the storm, we’re pretty sure he won’t be making his way up here tonight. Hopefully tomorrow.”
“Well, I don’t want to eat what little you have. I can dig into my backpack for something.”
“What, uh, what do you have?” Levi asks while motioning with his finger at my backpack. That smile of his is totally disarming.
I walk over to where Eli set down my backpack and unzip it. After moving my clothes to the side and digging to the bottom, I take out a bunch of protein bars, some applesauce pouches, and quite a few trail mix packages.
“Whoa, we hit the jackpot,” Eli says and then turns to Potato. “Aren’t you glad we invited her in? She has your favorite kind of Quest Bar. Birthday cake.”
“Is that, uh, is that the flavor?” Potato says, stretching his neck to get a better look.
I pick up a birthday cake Quest Bar and chuck it over at Potato, who catches it with one hand.
“Whoa, nice toss, Winnie,” Eli says.
“Thanks, I used to play softball. Played in college too.” I hold up a Clif Bar and say, “Peanut butter up for grabs.”
“I’ll take that one,” Eli says. He snags a blueberry muffin, too, and tosses it toward the guy with the book. Halsey, I think they said his name is. “Heads up, Holmes. Blueberry, your favorite.”
Halsey turns from his book for a split second to catch the bar and then buries himself in the pages again.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m going to have a bologna sandwich,” Levi says. “Want me to make one for you?”
“You know, a bologna sandwich sounds pretty good, actually,” I answer.
Levi perks up. “I think I just found my newest best friend.” He lifts off his chair and goes to the fridge.
“Under one condition,” I say, and he pauses. “I watch you make it right in front of me. I need to make sure no drugs are slipped in there. You know, just making sure when I do get in touch with my friend that I can tell her I checked all the boxes in safety . . . besides the whole eating a meal in a stranger’s house thing.”
The guys laugh and Eli says, “You knocked on the wrong door. We’re not in the business of drugging women, capturing them, or keeping them as our prey. We’re just trying to relax after a long-ass season.”
“Sounds a little like me,” I answer honestly. “Besides the playing hockey thing.” Turning toward Pacey and trying not to get lost in his eyes or stutter while I speak to him, I ask, “Would you like a protein bar?”
He eyes the pile of protein bars on the floor and his lips twist to the side as he decides. I find the little quirk of his lips endearing.
“I’ll take the apple pie and a pack of trail mix . . . that’s if it’s okay.”
“Of course,” I say. My hand feels shaky as I pick up his order and toss it to him. He catches with ease and then smiles at me.
“Thanks.”
“Yeah, sure,” I answer shyly.
“I have the ingredients prepped,” Levi says. “Ready to watch?”
Looking away from Pacey, I say, “Yup, ready.” I walk over to the kitchen counter, on the opposite side of Pacey, and consider just how insane this entire situation is.
I know any other intelligent human being would not have come into this house. Especially any other single girl alone with no cell service.
But here I am, about to eat a bologna sandwich, sharing my snacks, and getting wrapped up into this once-in-a-lifetime situation where I’m trapped in a cabin with a bunch of professional hockey players.
You can’t make this up. They played a game of “hockey” with coasters and umbrellas to prove who they were. That is—grown-up boys.
I’m just grateful to be out of the rain. If I’m taken into the basement later, then so be it.
But . . . please, Jesus, don’t let this be a basement abduction.
“ADMIT IT,” Levi says while elbowing me.
We’re sitting at the dining room table meant for twelve, but we only take up half of the table. I’m sitting at the head of the table, between Eli and Levi, the two friendliest out of the bunch, and we’re finishing up our “dinner.”
“It’s good. Tell the boys just how good that sandwich was.”
I swallow and wipe my mouth with my napkin. “Besides the bread sticking to the roof of my mouth, it was pretty darn good.”
“The bread sticking to the roof of your mouth is all part of the bologna and Wonder Bread experience.”
“If that’s the case, then ten out of ten.”
Levi smacks the table and points to all the guys. “Told you, fuckers. Regretting it now, aren’t you?”
“Not even a little,” Potato says, leaning back in his chair and bringing a bottle of water to his lips.
“You know, we never asked, what brought you up here? Where were you headed?” Eli asks.
“Coming from Seattle,” I say, keeping things vague. Yes, they seem nice, but they also don’t need to know my life story. “Decided to head up here, take some time off. Never been and Banff has been on my bucket list, so I hopped in my car and started driving.”
“From Seattle?” Levi asks. “That’s almost twelve hours.”
I shrug. “Put on one of my favorite podcasts. I left around seven this morning. Hasn’t been terrible.”
“Are you staying in town?” Eli asks.
“Uh, not sure. Haven’t thought that far.”
The boys all exchange looks and the silence between them starts to make me nervous.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“You don’t have reservations or anything?” Levi asks.
“No, I figured I’d find something when I got up here.”
Eli cringes and says, “I would be impressed if you found vacancy anywhere. Banff is really popular this time of the year, especially for the views. I’m not sure you’re going to find anything open.”
My hope falls. “Really? Here I was, trying to be spontaneous. I didn’t even consider lodging.” I think about my car stuck in the mud. If I can get it unstuck, there’s enough room in the back seat. “Looks as if I might be crashing in my car, then.” I try to laugh it off but none of the guys laugh.
“If you’re worried about being abducted, sleeping in your car is a surefire way to make that happen,” Pacey says, keeping his eyes trained on his water bottle. He hasn’t said much this entire “dinner” but when he does talk, for some reason it feels as if I hang on his every word.
I don’t know what it is about him, he’s not really elusive or broody like the men are in all those books I read. He’s just . . . uninterested?
Wow, that says a lot about me.
Get it together, Winnie.
“Why are you up here, again?” Eli asks.
“Adventure,” I say, swallowing down the real truth. “So, you know, I can just travel back. No biggie.” I shrug and pass it off as nothing, even though in the back of my head I’m panicking.
This is exactly what Katherine didn’t want to happen. She didn’t want me traveling alone, getting lost, and then, once again, abducted and with no cell service, of course. And apparently now, half the food I arrived with.
Not smart, Winnie, not smart at all.
Seeing that the rain has let up, I know I’ve probably overstayed my welcome, so I stand from the table and say, “Well, thank you for the company and the opportunity to get dry, but I don’t want to keep you guys any longer from enjoying your time off together.”
“Great,” Potato says, standing as well. “It was nice of you to stop by.”
“What the actual fuck, Silas?” Eli says. “You’re not kicking her out.”
“I’m not.” He motions to me. “She’s on her way out. I was being polite and saying thank you for stopping by.”
“And where the fuck do you think she’s going to go?” Eli asks.
“Uh, back to her car?”
“I’m uncomfortable when Mom and Dad fight,” Levi says, pulling at a cloth napkin.
Leaning in close, Pacey asks, “Which one is Mom?”
With that signature smile, Levi says, “Taters, of course. Easily the bottom.”
“Fuck you, I’m not the mom.” Turning back to Eli, he says, “If she wants to leave, let her leave.”
“I really don’t want to cause any trouble,” I say, taking a step back. “I was just hoping you guys had a phone I could use. I really appreciate you letting me stay for a little bit. It’s been quite kind.” I turn and head toward the door. Behind me, Eli and Potato argue while I gather my things.
It’s obvious Potato doesn’t want me here, and I’m not about to make someone uncomfortable in their own house. I take my jacket off the coat rack and notice that it’s still wet. That’s fine, it’s drizzling out anyway, and if I find my car—that’s a big if—I have more clothes in there.
God, this is idiotic.
I shouldn’t have left the car in the first place. But fear took over, I saw some lights in the distance, and I followed them. Which brought me here. Much good that did.
I start to put my jacket on when a strong hand lands on my shoulder.
I turn to find Pacey staring down at me.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he says quietly while taking my jacket. Eli and Potato are still arguing. Halsey is back on the couch, reading, and Levi is watching “Mom and Dad” while nervously fidgeting in his chair.
“That’s o-okay,” I stutter, feeling incredibly intimidated by his intense blue eyes. “I really don’t want to impose anymore.”
Still talking quietly, he asks, “And where are you going to go?”
“Back to my car.”
“And where is that?”
I swallow hard and wave my hand toward the door. “You know, that way.”
“I see.”
Just then Eli comes up to us as Potato storms off. “Sorry about that.” Eli looks behind him and then back at me. “It’s nothing against you. Taters is working through a bad breakup with a girl he’s been with since high school. As you can see, he’s not handling it well.”
“Oh, that’s awful.” I look off toward the hallway he just stormed down. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It seems any female will piss him off at the moment, so it’s nothing against you, just your sex.”
I nod. “Well, I don’t want to make him even more mad while he’s on vacation.” I reach for my jacket but Pacey doesn’t allow me to take it. “If you don’t mind.”
With concerned eyes, Eli says, “It’s eleven at night, you have no clue where your car is, it’s still drizzling out, and the roads are mud. You’re not going to do anything but get into more trouble if you leave now. There are plenty of bedrooms here. Please just stay the night, and in the morning, we can help you find your car.” When I don’t say anything, Eli adds, “My parents would fucking murder me if they knew I let you leave here.”
“I can show you to your room,” Pacey says, picking up my backpack and hoisting it over his shoulder.
I look between the two men who I just met, and even though I still feel as if this isn’t a good idea, I don’t think my other option is better. Warm bed, or cold, frigid night trying to find my car while sinking into the mud. One comes with possible abduction—although, I think we might have established these guys are okay—the other comes with possible broken bones.
Succumbing, I say, “Okay.”
“Good.” Eli looks behind him again. “I’m going to go check on Taters. Lawes, you don’t mind showing her to her room?”
“Nah, I got it,” Pacey says casually. He nods toward a hallway in the opposite direction Potato went. “Come this way.”
As I start to walk away, Levi holds up his hand in a wave while he picks at the trail mix Potato didn’t finish. “Have a good night. See you in the morning.”
He’s funny.
“Good night,” I call out, and then I follow Pacey down the hallway. He turns on lights as we walk, and I can’t help but notice the way the lights shine down on his back muscles and how they pull against the fabric of his light blue T-shirt. It’s unmistakable the man is an athlete with his broad, thick shoulders and his narrow waist and . . . oh God, he has a nice butt.
A really nice butt.
All bubbly and tight—
“This okay?” he asks as we stop. My eyes quickly retreat from staring at his ass and up to his face. God, did he catch me?
Do not stare at the man’s ass, Winnie. Honestly, what is wrong with you?
“Oh yeah, this is—” I finally look at the bedroom, and oh my God, it’s gorgeous. Just like the rest of the house, which is styled with gray-washed woods, the ceiling is vaulted with wooden beams, accentuating its height, and a gorgeous clear chandelier dangles from above. The black, wrought-iron canopy bed is impeccably made with white and light blue linens, and makes the entire room seem like a dream. And right across from the bed is a fireplace with a comfortable-looking rug placed in front with an accompanying sitting chair.
Uh, yeah, this is looking much better than my car right now.
“This is more than I could ask for. Honestly, I could just sleep on the couch.”
Pacey walks into the room. “You’re not sleeping on the couch when there are plenty of empty rooms for you to stay in.” He sets my backpack in front of the fireplace and then reaches around to the side and flips on a switch. The fire roars to life.
Wow.
Just wow.
“That was fancy.”
He looks up at me, a smirk on his face. “If you found that impressive, wait until you try out the heated towel rack.”
What is this life? Did I stumble into an alternate reality where I get to stay at a five-star resort with a bunch of hunky hockey players? Pretty sure I’m maxing out my luck right about now.
“Bathroom is in there.” Pacey points to a closed door. “Everything is stocked that you might need. I’m pretty sure there are some spare clothes in the closet for men and women. Taters likes to be that kind of host, even though it might not seem like it, and if you need anything, I’m two doors down on the right.”
“Okay. Um, thank you. This was very kind of you.”
He moves toward the door and I quickly step out of his way. He stops at the door and looks over his shoulder. The scruff on his jaw is accentuated by the light of the fire. “If you’re still worried about abduction, then I suggest locking the door and shimmying that chair over there under the handle.” With that, he winks—my bosom heaves—and then he takes off, quietly closing the door behind him.
I inwardly squeal and thank my lucky stars that this night didn’t end up worse than it could’ve been.
Maybe Mom really is helping me on this trip. I take a seat on the bed and lie back on the plush comforter so I’m staring up at the vaulted ceiling.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I allow myself to be thankful.
Very, very grateful.
I’ll enjoy this comfortable bed and warm fire tonight, and tomorrow morning, I’ll make a plan. I’ll find a place to stay, and I’ll get my car out of the mud.
I came up here for a reason, and now that I’m here, I need to figure out how to follow through.
