I laugh softly. “No, of course not! I don’t actually live here.”

I open the door of the room in the east side. It is actually a guest room before. I can say that it used to be my room whenever I came to visit in the past. Next to it is an adjoining bathroom. Across the hall are two bedrooms, which used to be sister and her husband’s room and Lori’s.

“The heater is on, so you don’t have to worry about the temperature. The bed sheet, cover and others are fresh, just so you know. There are clean towels and bathrobes in the built-in cabinet, among other things. If you need anything else, you can just tell me.”

I don’t know if the last sentence came out wrong or something but he suddenly cups my face and kisses me hotly on the lips. I am startled, at first. Of course. Who wouldn’t? But oddly, I like the way he kisses me. It suddenly makes me horny. I can’t even remember the last time I had sex with someone. I am already twenty-nine but I’ve never thought of settling down or having an affair with somebody. Perhaps it is because of the farm and my niece.

And oh, damn it! Why do I suddenly feel this raw and primal with desire just because I am kissed by this stranger that I know only by name?

I push him back just when I realize I started to respond to his kiss. But maybe not. It is merely because of the ringing of the phone downstairs.

I quickly leave him standing there with awed expression on his face.

My niece is checking up on me. I tell her that I’m okay, and I can stay here in the lodge at least until the storm abates.

“Alright, Aunt Cathy. Just stay indoors and I’ll do the same,” she warns me.

I chuckle. “It feels like I’m the niece here,” I joke.

She laughs on the other end of the phone. Lori is more mature than her age.

Before she hangs up, she says she’s going to call again some time to check up on me. That is, if the phone lines are not going down. Or the cell phone, for that matter.

I contemplate for a second after putting down the phone by the kitchen. Why haven’t I told her about the guest? I might be crazy. I haven’t even thought if he is a serial killer or someone dangerous. But strangely enough, I don’t feel like that about him. On the contrary, he is someone exciting.

After some minutes, I finish checking the doors and windows if they are locked well. I climb upstairs to go to Lori’s bedroom to rest.

***

In the morning, I cook breakfast. It is composed of bacon, eggs, toasted bread, vegetable salad and black coffee. The storm is still raging outside.

Barett goes out to get his overnight and laptop bags in the back of his car, so he can have something to change in and maybe get some work done while stranded. Then I hear him take a shower before coming down to the kitchen to join me at the table.

“Do you happen to have WiFi?” he asks conversationally, reaching for the pot to pour coffee in his cup.

“It actually works like a snail. If you have patience, you are welcome to use it. I only have the dish, you know?”

He nods and starts to eat.

“Do you think I have to check if the trees are already cleared away by now?” he asks after swallowing the food.

I blink and look down at my food. “I don’t think so. You don’t have to. They usually do that when the storm is over. It is dangerous out there.”

He nods slowly, and then, a smile slowly appears on his face. “I think that gives me an excuse to stay here a while longer and get to know you better.”

I almost choke. I quickly reach out the glass of water and drink it.

He sniggers. “You kissed me back last night,” he states.

I don’t know if it means that I like it or that he has some kind of power over me or it’s entirely something else. I cannot read his eyes. And I don’t know where this talk is going either.

“Are you married?” he asks suddenly.

I hesitate. I am not too sure why he is asking me this question. Is he hitting on me or what?

“Of course you’re not. I can see that,” he answers for me. His eyes stray down at my hands. Of course, he can’t see any ring on either of my fingers.

My eyes automatically look at his own hands, too. He holds them up like he is so proud of not wearing a ring as well. But then some men do take off their wedding ring whenever they wish or have to. Nonetheless, I can’t see any sign that he’s been wearing one.

Married or not, I still want this man though. That I can’t hide from myself. I have even been dreaming about having wild sex with him last night. I recall I woke up so horny and so wet down there that I had to take a cold shower to turn down the heat of my body. Then I had to curl up in my bed in a ball.

He continues to eat until he’s finished.

“You did mention that I only have to ask you if I need something else,” he slowly says. He reaches for his cup of coffee and downs it all. He gets up from his chair to stand behind me. His one hand caresses my curly black hair that cascades down my back. He bends forward to whisper in my ear. “Or have I heard it wrong?”