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I step back and assess the unconscious Adonis lying on my sofa. I decide to check the attic for some of my step-dad's old clothes, they'll have to do for when he wakes up.

I find some old boxes and stick them into the washing machine. I put in his top and jacket, too. I check the pockets first and find a phone. The screen lights up when I pick it up, it has that Raise to Wake feature.

The picture is of some American muscle car. Maybe a Pontiac? I'm not sure. Who on Earth has a picture of a car as their phone wallpaper?

Is it bad that I'm relieved it's not of a woman or partner?

Doesn't mean he doesn't have one.

I go out to the generator in the garage and make sure it is filled with enough fuel. It takes me a couple trips each month to bring all of the canisters up the mountain.

For two hours, the lumberjack doesn't wake. The snow falls thick and heavy, and visibility out of the windows becomes none. I get some bear spray out of the pantry and leave it on the side in the living room.

This man might be injured, but he is still a complete stranger. I shouldn't be naïve. I have knives in the kitchen, and now bear spray and iron pokers that I can easily grab in the living room. He seems harmless enough, but his muscles tell me that he could do a lot of damage should he need to.

With any luck, he will only have a mild concussion.

I guess it's a good sign that he woke up. He couldn't have been out for long, so I hope there's no lasting damage to his brain. Problem is, I have no medical background. I have no idea what's good or bad, but I seem to recall that concussions usually cause dizziness and confusion, maybe being sick.

Fingers crossed he doesn't do any of that.

Whilst the lumberjack snores on my sofa, I sit down at my laptop again. The beautiful woodsman is the perfect model for my character. The newfound inspiration allows me to develop my male lead.

Is it pervy of me to use this unconscious man as a basis for my romantic novel?

Or am I just an author, getting inspiration wherever she can?

At five, the lumberjack shows no signs of waking up. I light a fire in the living room and change out of my thermals and into my loungewear (that consists of a t-shirt and joggers, my cabin gets nice and warm with the fire).

There's only four rooms in the whole cabin, not counting the pantry, freezer or attic. Because of its small size, its super easy to heat.

I feed Blue and then I get started on dinner, making double the amount, seeing as I have an unexpected guest. I hope he likes sausages.

The smell of food must rouse him. I continually check on him as I cook and one of the times I poke my head around the archway, I find him sat up on the sofa.

I quickly take the pan off the heat and come through to the living room.

'Hi,' I greet him.

He looks up at me and blinks a couple of times. He stares blatantly, and then checks out the room.

'Where am I?' He asks groggily.

I take a seat in one of the armchairs in front of him.

'In my cabin. I found you outside, you had obviously fallen down the slope.'

A grimace mars his beautiful face, he must be remembering the fall. He reaches up and feels his head.

'Shit,' he says as his fingers catch the plaster.

He looks down at his bandaged arm and then back up at me. 'Did you do this?'

'Yeah. There was a branch sticking out of it.'

His eyes widen and he looks back down at the bandage. 'Thank you.'

'No problem. I'm Nora, by the way,' I tell him.

He manages a smile and it changes his whole face. Good Lord, he's handsome.

'I'm Jonah,' he replies. 'I'm sorry for putting you out like this. If you let me know where my jacket and boots are, I'll get going.'

My lips twitch as I resist laughing at the thought.

'Um, you were out for a while. There's a storm outside, a blizzard hit about two hours ago.'

Jonah's eyes widen and he looks over at the window. Snow covers every pane, so you can see nothing but white.

Gingerly, he gets to his feet and crosses to the front door. He opens it a little. The snow is already a foot deep and counting. Jonah hurriedly shuts the door and turns around with a frown on his face.

'Looks like I'm stuck here,' he says and looks at me sheepishly. 'Do you mind me staying until the storm passes, please?'

I do laugh at that. 'Of course, silly. I'm not going to kick out an injured stranger. I'm making dinner, are you hungry?'

He places his hand over his bare stomach and immediately, I'm jealous. Those abs are to die for.

'That would be great, if it's not too much trouble.'

So polite.

'Not at all. I've made sausages with some mash and veg.'

'Sounds great. Do you want me to do anything?'

I shake my head. 'No, just sit and rest. I've put my step-dad's clothes in the wash, they should be dry now.'

I collect the clothing from the dryer, which includes his jacket and jumper, despite the fact there are holes in the sleeves. I'll set about mending those tonight.

I take through one of the long-sleeved tops for him.

'He was quite a chunky guy, not ripped like you,' I comment with a blush. 'This should fit.'

He thanks me and carefully pulls the top on, being sure not to catch his arm. The blue really brings out the grey in his eyes.

I shake my head and quickly turn around to go to the kitchen. A few minutes later, I serve up dinner for us. I also give him his phone back. He checks it, but there's no signal.

Jonah sits with me at the table in the kitchen. It's strange, having someone with me. For the last year, it's just been Blue and I.

I catch up with old friends every month when I go into town, but I've never had anyone up in the cabin before. The last time there were two people at this table, my mum was one of them.

'How long do you think the storm will last?' Jonah asks, staring at the snow-covered window panes.

I shrug. 'It's coming down pretty heavy. Probably a day or two and then it should pass. Lasted four days this time last year. It'll take a couple days for the snow to be cleared, too. I won't be able to drive you back down the mountain till it's cleared, I'm afraid, even with the snow chains on my tyres.'

Jonah nods grimly and turns back to his food.

'I'm really sorry to inconvenience you like this.'

'Stop apologising! I really don't mind. It's been a bit lonely here, just me and Blue.'

Jonah looks at me thoughtfully, and I feel as though I can read his mind. He's wondering what a young woman like me is doing all alone in a cabin up a mountain. Most people wonder that. They ask me every time I return to town.

'Well, thank you. I really don't deserve your hospitality. This food is amazing, as well.'

I give him a genuine smile.

'You're too kind, I know it's very basic, but my only taste-tester happens to be the least picky critic I know,' I reply jokingly, gesturing in Blue's direction.

That darling dog will eat anything pretty much.

'How old is she? She has beautiful eyes,' he comments wistfully.

Am I really jealous of my dog? I want him to think my eyes are beautiful. I really am losing it.

'Five this year,' I tell him proudly. 'She's the only thing that keeps me sane up here.'

I can see that he's practically itching to ask, but his manners are stopping him. Instead, he opens the topic for me.

'Yeah, I can imagine it gets lonely, but you must go into town for supplies, right?'

I nod and take a bite of my food, chewing it before swallowing. 'Yeah, every month. I collect my post, catch up with friends, family, that kind of thing.'

I decide that we won't get into my choosing to live up here now, maybe later. This man is still a complete stranger, after all. I don't much fancy baring my whole life story for him, not whilst sober, anyways.

'So, Jonah, tell me about your job. I saw your high-vis out there, I take it you work for Johnson's Lumber?'

'Yeah. Well, as of next week, I do,' he responds. He sits back in the chair and his entrancing eyes meet mine. 'I'm new in town, only moved here last week. My cousin moved here a year ago and thought I'd like it.'

He pauses for a moment and I wait patiently, not wanting to rush him. The man hit his head after all, he has every reason to need breaks.

'He got me the job with Johnson and I wanted to take a look at the mountain today, you know, get a feel for it before I start. Anyways, got myself completely lost and then I tripped.' He shudders. 'Went right down that slope. Remember falling and everything.'

His eyes darken as he relives the experience. I fight the overwhelming urge to reach across the table and squeeze his hand. It's resting next to his plate, having never picked up his knife.

It looks rough and has a few callouses, from what I can see. A real working man's hand. The kind that feels good when dragged over your skin...

Shit!

I really need to snap out of it. One stranger at my table and suddenly my libido makes the world's most inappropriate, ill-timed return.

'Is there anyone that would be worrying about you?' I ask quickly, clearing my throat. 'Family? Friends? Your boss, Johnson, does he know you were out here?'

Jonah thinks about it for a moment and then shakes his head.

'No, no one. I've only got my cousin, who will probably text me in a few days, but nothing urgent. And Mr Johnson didn't know that I was coming up today. I picked up one of the high-visibility jackets and took it upon myself to come out here. No one knows.'

He frowns and his face changes completely, becoming shadowed.

'I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't have found me. Could have died out here and no one would have known,' he says gruffly.

He drags his hand down his face and I shift uncomfortably, not liking the morbid direction this conversation has taken.

'Well, it all worked out for the best, didn't it?' I say, too chirpily.

I look down at my food to break the awkwardness.

After a little more chat, I learn that his name is Jonah Marsden. He's twenty-nine and after bouncing around foster homes for most of his life, has nothing in the way of family.

My heart aches for him. Both of us are orphans then, but mine is a lot more recent. He's had to cope with that loss for a lot longer than I have.

He helps me clear the dishes, like the gentleman I'm discovering he is. We go through the living room and despite wanting a glass of wine, I resist. Jonah shouldn't drink after taking the painkillers, so I won't either.

It only takes a few minutes for him to cave and ask the question I know has been bothering him since I first introduced myself.

'If you don't mind me asking, Nora,' he says softly. 'How come you're living up here? In the wilderness?'

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