When she didn’t respond, he shook her. “C’mon, surfer girl. Time to wake up and hit the beach. Let’s go.” He snatched his coat and pulled it on before draping hers over her back.
“Go away,” she croaked. Her parka slid to the floor.
“Wow, good morning to you too.” He grinned, relieved she was coherent, and tucked the coat around her when she rolled over to face him.
Charlie peered over the seat, his eyes traveling from Noah to Rover to Hailey, coming back to rest on Noah. “Looking kinda cozy back there.”
“Would you close the fucking door? You’re letting in all the cold air.”
Charlie clambered into the driver’s seat and shut the door. “That’s a good one, Noah. You do realize it’s just as cold in here as it is out there.” He started up the motor. “Let’s get some heat going.”
Noah didn’t argue.
Charlie raised a hand to Hailey. “Hi. I’m Charlie. You must be Hailey Bailey. Hey, that’s kinda cute.” He pointed to Rover. “And this, obviously, is your dog.”
Hailey slowly pulled herself upright and clamped her arms tightly around herself. Noah pried them off her and helped stuff them into her coat sleeves. Her beanie had gone missing, and her hair slid forward, covering one eye and a cheek. She gave Charlie a feeble smile. “So nice to meet you.”
Reece opened the driver’s door. “You guys okay to move?”
Noah nodded.
“Good. I’ve got warm blankets in my truck, along with hot coffee and cold breakfast burritos.”
“I’d kiss you if I wasn’t afraid my lips would fall off,” Noah rasped. He helped Hailey out while Charlie lifted the dog. She teetered so much Reece tucked her beside him and dragged her into the back of the crew cab. Noah’s heart raced with worry.
The snow had lightened, but it was still coming down.
When Reece turned to offer Noah a hand, Noah shook his head. “I’m okay. Is she going to be all right?”
“I’ll let you know as soon as you get into the truck and I have a chance to check her out. But hey, good job getting everyone through the night.” He held his fist out for a bump, and Noah obliged him. Reece’s approval tickled pride deep inside Noah’s chest.
When Noah climbed into his brother’s cherry-red truck, Charlie was already pressing a cup of hot liquid to Hailey’s pale lips. Shit. She didn’t look good.
“Reece is a trained EMT, and he’s going to take some vitals, okay?” Charlie told her.
She nodded and let Reece run through his process, answering his questions without a hiccup.
“Good to go,” Reece declared. “You’ll feel a lot better once you warm up and get some food in your body.” He turned to Noah. “Your turn, little bro.”
“I’m fine,” Noah protested.
Before Reece could counter, Hailey’s eyes caught Noah’s, and he was struck by their color. They were ice-blue, ringed in navy with matching dark flecks, reminding him of a glacier surrounded by ocean, and for a moment he froze.
Her eyebrows scrunched into a weary frown. “We all know you’re a hero, Noah Hunnicutt, so let your brother do his job. I want you healthy so I can apologize—and thank you—properly.”
Noah exchanged an eyebrow arch with Reece. His brother fought a smirk. “Listen to the lady, dumbass. She’s got more sense than you do. How did you end up in a ditch anyway?”
Noah’s answer slid out as smoothly as butter on a hot muffin. “Wasn’t paying attention.”
Hailey shot him a quizzical expression, and he shrugged in reply. Her mouth curved in what he thought was a grateful smile. A cosmicsomethingpassed between them. Suddenly, Noah didn’t give a shit thatshewas the cause of an overnight ordeal that could have ended in disaster.
Chapter 9
Goldilocks and the Three Brothers
As they rode downthe mountain, the Hunnicutt brothers discussed the storm and the havoc it had caused. Bone-weary, Hailey drifted in and out of listening as they ran through the various mountain passes and highways that were closed without registering how the news might affect her. Rover rested beside her on the seat, and beyond him, Noah’s gaze shifted restlessly between her and the dog, as if he were worried one of them might stop breathing at any moment.
His concern was—wait for it—sweet. Why that word circled in her head whenever she looked at him escaped her, but it had solidly replaced “hot.” Well, not entirely. The two descriptors shared equal billing now. Knowing him a little better, she could see his growly bear persona for what it was: fake.
