Winter Inferno

Nine

CALE

I woke up slowly, feeling sated and happy. It was a foreign feeling for me. It wasn't that I was an unhappy guy, but the current feeling of complete contentment...yep, that was definitely new. I grinned, remembering my time with Brandy in the closet the night before. Which led to me remembering her spread naked on my bed after we left the reception.

She'd been shy, at first, trying to hide her beautiful body from my hungry eyes. I'd never seen anything more gorgeous. Kissing her all over seemed to break her of any unease. By the time I slipped between her legs, for the second time, she was putty in my hands. That wasn't just my ego talking either.

Sex had never been so good and I couldn't wait to do it again. I reached for Brandy, but came up empty. In fact, the bed beside me was cold so she'd been gone awhile. I bolted out of bed and grabbed a pair of sweatpants, stepping into them before I ran up to Brandy's room. Empty. Her suitcases were gone. Fuck. I ran back downstairs.

"Why am I learning that my sister left here hours ago, with her bags packed, and tears running down her face?" Brody growled a second before his fist connected with my face.

I stumbled back, holding up my hands, "Wait, man. I can explain."

"Explain! I told you if you hadn't changed your tune about relationships then you needed to leave my sister alone! You assured me that you understood and you promised she wouldn't get hurt."

"I have. Changed my tune, I mean. I'm in love with her, man." I admit out loud for the first time. I'd realized it when she had visibly drawn strength from me, in order to survive the showdown with her mother. In that moment, I'd dropped my plan of trying to entice her into a fling and began forming a new plan. One to win her heart.

"Then why did she leave here crying?" Brody growled.

I winced, "I hadn't gotten around to telling her about my change of tune, yet. I thought I'd have time this morning, but she snuck out in the night. I can't believe she snuck out! Damn, she's frustrating!"

Brody cursed, "Christ, Cale."

"I know. I fucked this all up." I told him running my hands through my hair, in irritation. The first time I actually wanted a relationship and I royally fucked it up.

"Her flight is taking off soon. You'll never make it in time." Brody explained, looking at the clock.

"Give me her address." I demanded.

"Her address? You're going to Florida? You hate the heat."

"And she hates the cold. How on earth will we ever work?" I asked, only half-joking. I knew I'd have a hard sell ahead of me. I couldn't leave Montana. I had too much invested here. I'd just taken over my parent's ranch. We boarded and trained horses. I was now the fourth generation to run it. I couldn't just pack up and move to Florida. Would I be able to talk Brandy into moving here, though? The fact that she left here crying, was actually a good sign though, right? That meant she cared.

I turned to head back to my room after Brody scribbled Brandy's address on a piece of paper for me. Brody called me back, "Cale? You're sure, right? I don't want you playing with her heart."

"I'm sure. She's it for me. She's the one with all the power here." I said, without hesitation.

Brody smiled, "Good. Sorry I hit you."

"I probably deserve far worse." I said, flexing my sore jaw.

Brody winced, "We good?"

"We're good." I told him, with a grin, and continued on to my room. I grabbed my phone and booked a seat on the next flight out, then I got dressed.

As I packed, my thoughts were on Brandy. I knew she'd felt the connection between us. Right? It'd been the most intense experience of my life, so surely she'd felt close to the same. There was only one way to find out, I thought as I zipped my bag and headed out.

I'd just started away from the cabin, when my cell phone rang. I answered and my Uncle Max instantly started berating me, "I drove as slow as I could, watching the rear view mirror the whole time. Boy, where you at? I expected you to come after her?"

I sat straighter, "You took Brandy to the airport?"

"Sure did. She found my number on the fridge at the cabin. I drove as slow as a damned turtle. You know I hate driving slow. So I repeat, where you at, Boy?"

I sighed, "She snuck out while I was sleeping. I didn't even know she was gone or I would have come after her sooner. I'm on my way to the airport now."

"Her flight was getting ready to take off when I left. You're too late." Max accused.

"I know. I booked myself on the next flight out."

"Hot damn, Boy. That's more like it. I could tell right away you two would hit it off. She seemed a little uppity at first, but I knew you'd thaw her out."

"I fell in love with her, Uncle Max." I said, grinning. The more I said it, the more peace I felt.

"I knew you would fall some day, I'm just glad I lived long enough to see it. I've never told you about my Nancy. Woo-e she was a looker. We married right out of high school. We only got five years together and God didn't bless us with any children. She died before you were born. Cancer. I'd move Heaven and Earth just to get one more day with her."

I was floored. Uncle Max was a gruff loner. I was shocked to hear about him being in a relationship and how he seemed to still love his late wife, even after all this time. My God how wrong I'd been. None of that mattered though. Brandy Gaines was the woman for me and I had every intention of doing whatever it took to make her see it.