Snowfall and Secrets (The Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 1) (2 page)

“Normally it doesn’t. It was unusually cold this year, so we got it a few weeks early. This is only my second run on it. You ready to go?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be. Are you sure this is safe?”

He nodded and turned the snowmobile on. Tess moved her hands farther up his jacket, and he tensed up. This was unbelievably awkward, but she didn’t want to freeze.

At first the ride was smooth, but the farther they drove on the lake, the bumpier it got, and she pressed herself tighter against him. Flying off this contraption would be the perfect end to this rotten night. His stomach was taut with muscles, and she wondered what it would feel like without a shirt. She quickly dismissed the thought. She wasn’t running away from one problem to land into the arms of another.

About thirty minutes later, she saw land, and they made a smooth transition from the lake to the island. She’d never seen so much snow in her life, and none of the roads had been plowed. She could only tell the streets because of the houses on each side. Lukas kept close to the lake as he drove around the island. After a few minutes, he slowed and pointed to a hill. It was the school where she’d be teaching third-fourth grade. She wondered how she would get there every day. Maybe her apartment was close to the school, and she could trudge through the snow. Maybe she would have to find snowshoes.

Eventually he pulled in front of a huge Victorian home. When he turned the machine off and they both removed their helmets, she addressed him.

“I don’t think I can afford this place.”

He took off his helmet and laughed. “This is my house. I’m going to get you some decent winter clothes before I take you down to your place. But it’s not far.” He pointed across the yard. “That’s where you’re staying. It used to be a carriage house, but I don’t keep horses, so I turned it into a guesthouse. I don’t normally rent it out, but Doc’s a good friend of mine. He knows I keep it maintained even during the winter because I have friends that come and stay sometimes.”

Tess bristled.

“I don’t need your charity. I can buy new clothes tomorrow.”

“You start work tomorrow and might not make it to the mainland for a few weeks. It’s not easy to get there this time of year. You have to arrange flights and a car on the other side. I can take you this weekend if you want, but until then, you don’t want any fingers falling off.”

Tess crossed her arms and frowned. “It’s not like I’ll fit in any of your clothes.” She tugged at the snow pants that she had to hold up around her waist.

“I’ve got something. Let’s get inside. I’m freezing.”

Lukas held the door open, and she was immediately grateful for the warmth. The inside was cozy and well-decorated. It definitely had a woman’s touch. She was so stupid, thinking he was single. That’s why he offered her clothes. His wife probably had something that would fit her.

“Is your wife home?” she asked.

He took off his scarf and froze. “Um, I’m not married.”

“Oh, sorry, your house looks so nice.”

“Men can’t have nice houses?” His smile melted her heart.

She crossed her arms and took a step back from him. “Are you gay?”

Lukas laughed. “No, I just like to keep things neat.”

Her cheeks burned. Thankfully, they were probably wind chapped, and he couldn’t tell. She hadn’t meant to make an assumption or to be so rude.

“Can I take your coat? Everything is packed, and it might take me a little bit to find the snow stuff.” Next to Lukas was a rack that looked awfully lonely with just his coat.

Tess nodded. So there had been a wife or something before. And here she was taking her clothes. Just once she’d like to not feel like a complete imbecile around him.

She handed him her coat, gloves, and hat. Her hair stood on end.

“That’s a nice look on you.”

“I’m sure it is,” she replied, blushing.

A black head with a brown snout and pointy ears poked around the corner and whimpered. Tess moved toward her, and she disappeared.

“Was that a Doberman?”

Lukas nodded. “She’s shy. Her name is Dio. Come on upstairs, and we’ll see if we can find you something to wear. Dio will come around. She doesn’t like new people.”

“Was there an Ena?”

He raised his eyebrows. “You know Greek? I’m impressed. There is an Ena. Tria and Tessera too. In fact they go all the way to Deka.”

“You have ten dogs?” she asked, flabbergasted. There was no way he had that many dogs in a house like this.

He chuckled and waved her up the stairs.

“No, I only have one. The others belong to my fraternity brothers. We got them three years ago.”

“Why?”

“Do you ever stop asking questions?”

“No,” she replied, unashamed. “How would I ever learn anything from my students if I never asked them questions?”

He opened a door to a bedroom and slipped inside.

“Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? Aren’t they supposed to learn from you?”

They entered a box-filled room with no furniture.

“No.” Her teaching style was unconventional. He wasn’t the first person to question it. She didn’t feel like defending it right now. “You didn’t answer my question. Why did you all get dogs?”

He opened a box and dug through it. She desperately wanted to see what was in the box. Damn her curiosity. But she stayed close to the door so he wouldn’t think she was nosy.

He moved onto another box. “We had a Doberman in the frat house in college, and she died a few days before we graduated. We made a pact that we’d all get one.” He paused for a second. “And so three years ago we did.”

There was more to that story. “Why three years ago? Why not before?”

“Found it. Come here.”

He pulled out a thick coat and handed it to her. It was down and much better than the designer coat she bought in Miami.

“Try it on.”

The arms were sort of long, but otherwise it fit perfectly. Though she hadn’t tried to zip it up yet. Sometimes that was a problem. She zipped it and sighed a breath of relief. It wasn’t too snug around her chest.

“It fits.”

“Good,” he said, digging through the box.

“You can have this whole box. There are a few pairs of gloves, scarves, and hats. There should be a couple of snow pants on the bottom. Boots too.”

She gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you. I’m sorry I don’t know how to pack like a northerner.”

He shrugged. “It’s not like I was using them anyway.”

“Whose are they?”

His smile fell. “My ex-wife’s.”

“Won’t she want them back?”

He shook his head. “She moved to California. She told me to throw it out, but I wanted to wait until the divorce was final so she couldn’t accuse me of taking her things. Then I sort of forgot about it. I never use this room, and it seemed like too much of a hassle to clean it out.”

“You could turn it into a bedroom for Dio.”

He laughed. “I could, but she’s already got her own room. Not that she ever uses it. When no one else is around, she doesn’t leave my side.”

“Sounds like a good dog.”

“She is. You ready to see your place?”

Tess nodded.

“Wait. Let me see if I can find one more box.”

He dug through a few more, then grinned. “Here it is. You could probably use these too. They are some of Stacey’s winter clothes.”

“Thanks. I’ll return them when I’m able to get new ones.”

“No, don’t worry about it. I’m just going to donate them anyway.”

She picked up one box, and he followed her out of the room with the other and shut the door behind him. Dio met them at the bottom of the stairs, shaking her stumpy tail. She bumped her head against Lukas’s knee.

“Girl, I’ll be back in a little bit. I promise. Do you want to go out?”

She jumped up and down, and her whole body shook.

He sighed. “Do you mind waiting a second while I get her ready?”

“Sure.” Tess thought he meant getting her collar and leash, but he put four booties on her paws and a vest around chest.

“You have a coat and boots for your dog?”

“It’s too cold out there for her. One of my neighbor’s dogs got frostbite on his feet. I won’t do that to Dio.”

Dio pranced at the door, and when he opened it, she flew out into the snow.

After they put their own coats and gloves on, Lukas and Tess joined Dio out in the frozen wasteland. The wind bit at Tess’s face, and her hands were still freezing. She couldn’t wait to get to her own home and find gloves that actually were able to withstand the cold.

They put the boxes in the sleigh with her suitcases. She climbed on the snowmobile behind Lukas and without thinking, slid her hands under his jacket to warm them.

“You know, Tess, that’s not necessary. We aren’t going far.”

She was glad she was sitting behind him because her face flushed bright red. Again. She removed her hands and rested them on his sides. Within seconds they pulled in front of her little house. The porch light was on as well as a few others inside the house. It looked so warm and inviting. She was relieved. When he said carriage house, she assumed the worst.

“I had the housekeeper clean it today and turn up the heat. Go ahead. I’ll get the suitcases.”
She grabbed one box and tentatively opened the door. The house was bigger than she anticipated with a large, comfortable living room. Tess set the box down on the coffee table, and Lukas followed with the two suitcases. He dumped them in the doorway and went out to fetch the other box. Tess dragged the suitcases farther into the house. Dio followed Lukas into the house and made a beeline for Tess, who immediately scratched the dog behind the ears.

“See, I told you she’d warm up to you. Can I give you a tour?”

“Sure.”

He walked to the back of the house first. “There are two bedrooms down here and a loft upstairs. I don’t keep a bed up there, but some of my friends swear the couch is more comfortable than the beds.”

“This is your guestroom.” He opened a door to one of the bedrooms. A day bed was pushed up against the wall and a small desk sat near the window.

Then he moved across the hall. “This is the master.”

He groaned.

Tess looked around him. The bed had been strewn with rose petals. Two towels were in the shapes of swans, and a bottle of champagne sat in a bucket of ice.

She glanced at him and arched an eyebrow in question. To her delight, his cheeks colored, and he looked as uncomfortable as she’d been since she landed on this frozen island.

“Usually my buddies bring their girlfriends here for a romantic getaway. I didn’t tell Estelle that you’d be a permanent resident. I just told her to get it ready. The guys that use it regularly call Estelle directly. I wonder how long it’s been since she didn’t have to fancy up the room.” He waved toward the petals. “I’m sorry. I can clean it.”

“Don’t be absurd. I can take care of it. Though you can take the champagne.”

“You don’t drink?” he asked.

Tess shook her head. “Every stupid decision I’ve ever made was preceded by too much alcohol. I gave it up a month ago.”

“What happened a month ago?” he asked.

“Now who’s being nosy?” That was one story he wouldn’t be getting out of her. Not that she’d be able to keep it a secret for long.

“Sorry.” He met her eyes, and for a crazy second she thought he might kiss her, but Dio wiggled her way in between them. Lukas reached down and patted her head. “Come on, girl, we need to get home soon.”

They walked into the living room. He pointed at a ladder. “That goes to the loft. The kitchen is through here.”

He pointed into a doorway, and Tess pushed open a swinging door. The kitchen was small but designed well with decent counter space. A basket filled with food was set on the table.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“The PTA and school board wanted to make sure you were welcomed. The fridge should be pretty well-stocked too.”

“Wow, I didn’t expect this.”

He chuckled. “They want you to stay. A lot of people would be on the next plane back to Miami.”

“I am not most people.” She leaned against a counter, exhausted. She had to be at work tomorrow, early in the morning.

“I should let you be. Doc said he’s sending a winter taxi for you in the morning.”

“What on earth is a winter taxi? I thought Mackinac didn’t have cars.”

He gave her a crooked grin, and she nearly sighed. “They are horse-drawn carriages. If the horses can’t get around, they use snowmobiles.”

Tess shook her head. This she needed to see to believe.

“Thanks. I’ll see you around.”

He hesitated at the door and then left without saying anything else.

Tess shut the door and went to her room. She sighed at the rose petals. She never had a guy do anything like that for her before. One of these days she hoped to meet someone who treated her like she was more than just breasts and legs. Though soon, she’d have one more hurdle to cross. She’d come with baggage.

She opened the kitchen cupboards until she found glasses. She dug around the well-stocked fridge, got out the milk, and poured herself a large glass. Then she went to the basket and rummaged around it.

There were probably ten different types of fudge. In her research she knew the island was famous for it, but she didn’t expect so many kinds. She picked a box at random and sliced off a piece.

Oh, heaven.

Maybe this wouldn’t be that bad of a place. The carriage house was nice too. She wondered how long he would let her rent it out. It sounded like he was doing this as a favor. But it was perfect. It had a second bedroom, which she would need soon.

She looked up and saw the champagne. The story about why she no longer drank was one she would never tell him, but he’d know the consequences soon enough.

Tess was pregnant and had no idea who the father was or if she wanted to keep it. One morning, she woke up naked, alone on a couch in a house where an old friend had thrown a huge party, with no memory of the night before. Tess could’ve done some asking around to find out who he was, but she was too embarrassed. It didn’t matter anyway. If he was the type of guy who screwed a drunk girl and left before she woke, she didn’t want him around.