“I can do that.”
Ryder appeared and swung open the passenger door before Grady could take off. He tossed in a stack of white and cream-colored blankets he must have grabbed from the parlor. Ryder’s expression drawn tight, he said, “Go get her.”
He didn’t wait for the door to close all the way before he took off down the driveway, letting the force of his acceleration slam it shut. “Talk to me, Claire. Are you at the sign yet?”
“I, I’m not sure. Yes. Yes, I can see it. I’m pulling off the road.”
“Keep your headlights on bright and turn your flashers on until I get to you. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Ok.” She sounded scared. Dammit, he’d better make it.
Like driving blindfolded, the whiteout was near complete. He couldn’t see shit, but he couldn’t leave Claire out there, alone in the storm. “Stay with me, Claire, I’m not leaving you.”
How could such a gorgeouswhiteout make everything so blindingly dark? Her heart was beating so hard it filled her entire ribcage, threatening to burst out of her chest. And her hands were vibrating like that little toy she’d kept in the bedside drawer that was probably covered in dust and nonfunctional by now. These were nothing like the pretty little stars that fell from the sky in the movies. These were Godzilla loogies.
Grady’s voice kept her in the present. “I’ll be there soon. It’s going to be ok.” He sounded absurdly confident in an uncertain situation.
“Are you crazy? I can’t see two feet in front of me.”
She flipped on her high beams, her emergency flashers, and hoped she kept the ridiculously red car as close to the road as possible so he could see her, but not so close someone else would run into her. Blinded by the whiteout, she squinted so she could just make out the trees that lined the road.
“Keep your heat on and sit tight. I’m on my way.”
“You’ll get lost trying to find me. Go back home. I’ll walk up the hill and find your friends’ house.”
“Have you always been this stubborn?”
“Me? You’re the crazy one driving through a blizzard so we can freeze to death together. How can you even tell where you’re going?”
“I grew up here. I could make this drive with my eyes closed.” It didn’t make any sense, but she believed him. Needed to, she supposed. He sounded so sure. He’d better be right.
She watched the minutes drag by. Where was he? It had taken her twenty minutes to reach the trailhead from downtown, and that was in clear weather. It could take him hours in this mess.
“Tell me about your hike today. Was it the Riverside Trail?” He chatted, for him or for her, she wasn’t sure.
“Yes. It was so pretty. I looped up to the Sundown Trail for a bit. When the snow began to fall, I started back. By the time I reached the car, I was turning into a Claire-cicle. I didn’t know snow could be this intense.”
“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it dump like this. Typical, Claire, your first snow is a goddamn blizzard. Do you do anything halfway?” His voice had a desperate edge.
“Apparently not.”
Silence for a moment. She could practically hear him white knuckled on the invisible road, trying to not get stuck in a ditch or wrap around a telephone pole.
“Claire, what’s your last name?”
How did he not know? Thoughts of him filled her every waking—and sleeping—moment, and he didn’t even know her last name. She laughed with relief. “Dabney.”
“What’s your middle name?”
“Carmichael. It was my mother’s maiden name.”
He chuckled. “Claire Carmichael Dabney. I like it.”
“What’s your middle name?” Although she appreciated the distraction they both needed, she wanted to scream and beg him to hurry out of the storm. She was safe enough for now, but knew he’d rush to get to her if she sounded scared or unsafe. He was already risking life and limb for her. The least she could do was keephimsafe by staying calm.
“August. After my father.”
“Ryder doesn’t say much about him.”Sure. Safe subject. Way to go, Claire.
