Free Nobody's Dream by Kallypso Masters Page B

dizziness to hit. When it didn’t, he figured maybe the worst of the concussion was behind him. He tucked his shirt into his jeans before zipping and buttoning them closed.
    Luke’s stomach growled, taking his attention away from the chill in the room. His appetite had returned full force. Steak and eggs sure would hit the spot this morning.
    Luke entered the frigid living room and glanced around. No Cassie. He didn’t hear any sounds from the kitchen, either. She must be in the shed with her alpacas, or maybe she’d gone to her studio. He’d like to see where she worked but wouldn’t invade that space the way he had the rest of her house. An artist’s place of work was sacred, deeply personal, and no one should enter without an explicit invitation.
    Somehow, he didn’t expect that invite to be forthcoming anytime soon. She was one private person. Hell, so was he. The only time anyone had been in his studio was when he needed help moving a covered piece to his truck for delivery.
    The fire had died down—whether because he’d asked or from neglect, he didn’t know. Had she slept in her studio? She sure as hell hadn’t shared that bed with him. He hoped she’d been warm wherever she had bedded down. Tonight, he’d take the floor in here and let her have her bed back.
    But his first order of business was rustling up some breakfast—or whatever meal it was time for. Then he’d take the insert apart and see what the problem was with the blower. Maybe he could have some decent heat blazing in this cabin soon.
    Although, Cassie sure seemed to prefer the cold. Must be from growing up in the Andes. Or maybe his body had softened in the comparatively warmer climes of West Texas? His stomach growled again, and he decided he’d eat before trying to find—or decipher—the woman who was Cassie López. A thorough survey of the contents of the fridge told him eggs wouldn’t be on the menu, and he wasn’t going to invade her freezer hunting for a steak without permission, so he ladled out a bowl of the delicious soup she’d served at his last meal. While it microwaved to a scalding hot temperature, he sliced off a thick slab of her amaranth bread. Soon, he sat down at the table and dug in, blowing on the spoonful of soup to cool it down. He took a tentative bite and closed his eyes.
    Damn, but the girl could cook.
    He’d been living out of cans and prepared boxed dinners for so long he appreciated every flavorful bite. After having his fill of a second bowl, he still had not seen or heard any sign of Cassie, so he decided now was the time to tackle that fireplace repair before his energy failed him again. He noticed the circuit-breaker box on the wall in the corner. She’d clearly labeled the circuits, and he cut the juice to the fireplace.
    Thirty minutes later, he had the insert pulled away from the fireplace and quickly figured out what the problem was. Luckily, it was fixable using the tools he’d found in her kitchen drawer—exactly where his momma kept hers, too. Good thing. A run to the hardware store wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
    “What are you doing up?”
    Luke glanced across the room to where Cassie stood covered shoulder to knees in her ever-present woolen poncho. She’d come from outside. Her studio must not be inside the cabin. Or maybe she’d been taking care of the alpacas.
    “Fixing the insert’s fan.”
    “You should not be doing that so soon.”
    “Sorry, but I’m tired of freezing my ass off.” He heard how cranky he sounded and gave her a smile to soften his rant. “It was an easy fix. Besides, I’m almost good as new thanks to your wonderful care, darlin’.”
    He expected her to bite his head off, but she merely took a deep breath. Maybe she was warming up to him and his endearments. He wiped the grin off his face before he pissed her off—again.
    “You should be in bed.”
    “Spent enough time in bed already. I need to do something useful.”
    He stood from his