Chloe sat by the window overlooking the courtyard wrapped in a big quilt she had found on one of the beds. She had let the fire go out in the cabin but the warm sunshine coming in through the windows was keeping her toasty and comfortable. She had genetics books spread out on the table in front of her, but she was having a hard time concentrating. She kept glancing out the window at every sound, hoping it was Jackson coming back.
A knock on the door startled her. "It's open!
" she called as she attempted to untangle herself from the blanket.
"Hey, Chloe," Blake said, opening the door and kicking the snow off his boots before stepping inside. She beamed up at him, finally escaping the clutches of the quilt.
Blake wrapped her up in a big bear hug, popping her back in the process. She still couldn't believe how strong he was. Or that he was a good three inches taller than when she had last seen him. He had changed quite a bit, but his green eyes were still the same. She knew that even though he was different, he was still her little brother at heart.
"How are you doing? I haven't seen you since last night, and it's way past noon now," she said, as he set her down from his hug.
He grinned. "Just woke up. That wolf stuff is exhausting. I've never run so far so fast... I'm feeling it now, but last night was awesome."
Chloe shook her head at him, going back to her chair and wrapping up in the blanket.
"You want me to restart the fire?" Blake asked, watching her cuddle into the blanket. She nodded and he laughed, going to the small fireplace. He picked out several small pieces of kindling from the woodpile by the door and started building a wood base.
"You always were better at the outdoorsy stuff than me," Chloe commented as he quickly got a small fire dancing. He added more wood and kept coaxing the flames.
"You know we're inside right?" he teased. He looked over at her, his eyes soft. "Chloe, I need to thank you. From what I've been told, I'd be a real monster if you hadn't saved me. Thank you for not giving up on me."
"You know I've never been good at leaving you alone," Chloe said with a smile. "Just, no signing up for weird experiments again, okay?"
Blake laughed, leaning back on the balls of his feet as the fire caught on the bigger logs Blake fed into the fireplace. "Arthur says I can't tell mom, so I'm glad I've got you. We always were good at secrets." He grinned at her. "Can you imagine what she would say if I did?"
Chloe put on her sternest face, frowning and pulling her brows together. "Blake Madison, if you pee on the houseplants again, I will make you sleep in the doghouse!"
Blake laughed, balancing himself with his hand on the stones of the fireplace. "You do a spooky imitation of Mom. I remember her saying that!"
"You were in so much trouble. I couldn't believe you had actually done it," Chloe snickered. The room already felt warmer with the fire going. Blake opened his mouth to say something, but instead cocked his head to the side for a moment. "What is it, Blake?"
"Someone's coming up the road. Truck if I had to guess." His eyes grew distant as he listened to a sound Chloe couldn't hear.
"It must be Jackson." Chloe felt her heartbeat speed up. Even though she had seen him only a few hours before, she couldn't wait to have him back with her.
"Hey, sis," Blake said, standing from the fire and sitting down in the chair next to her. "I know there's something between the two of you. I'm okay with it, after last night, I actually really like the guy, but be careful, okay?"
Chloe smiled. She could hear the truck now. "Thanks, Blake."
"Just looking out for my big sister." He grinned at her and looked out the window. "You've got a visitor," he said in a teasing, sing-song voice.
She smacked him on the shoulder and he laughed. Chloe heard the truck stop and the door open. He was walking toward her cabin and it made her heart soar. Blake leaned forward and gave her a hug, wrinkling his nose as he pulled back.
"I can smell the happy hormones all over you." Blake made a disgusted gagging noise and Chloe smacked him again. He winked and stood up. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Chloe rolled her eyes and sighed. Blake opened the door to reveal Jackson raising his hand about to knock.
"Good to see you, sir," Blake said, stepping out on the porch and taking Jackson's hand in a friendly handshake. If Jackson was surprised, he didn't show it.
"Good to see you too," Jackson answered back amicably. His eyes were on Chloe rather than her brother though. "Chloe, I need to talk to you."
"Sure, come on in," Chloe told him, opening the door a little wider to let him in.
"Oh, Captain Wolfe?" Blake blocked Jackson's progress inside. "I just want you to know, you better take good care of her. You hurt her, and I'll-"
"Have to kill me," Jackson finished for him. "I know. Between you and Quent, I'm a dead man."
"That's if they get to you before I do," Chloe said. She flashed a grin at the two men. "I know how to do stuff, too."