Shit, tears were full streaming now. She hadn’t admitted even to herself how scared she’d been.
Those ocean blues softened, and he wiped away the tears that poured down her cheeks. She didn’t sob, managing to hold back the snot-storm, but she felt like a leaky faucet.
As he held her tight against him, he murmured, “It’s ok.”
Desperately, she wanted to ask him why. Why would he risk his own life for the slut that had thrown herself at him a few days ago?
“Let’s figure out the next few hours.” Mind-reader. “Hop in back.”
Not easily in her snow-encrusted clothes, she climbed in the back of the SUV. He joined her a moment later and flipped down the seats. From under the back compartment, he pulled out what looked to be an emergency kit.
He set up a flashlight and turned off the dome light, then sat back on his heels and glared at their surroundings. Each on opposite sides of the car, they laid out the blankets into a makeshift bed. He gathered up water bottles and a handful of protein bars. He even had a reflective blanket to lie over them from his emergency kit. She chuckled as the remaining chunks of snow from their clothes had melted and they looked like bedraggled cats that had been dunked in the bathtub.
Without a word, Grady kicked off his leather shoes that were irreparably damaged by the snow, and he leaned against the side of the car. The flashlight cast deep shadows, accenting his fatigue.
Claire peeled off her soaked sweater. “I’d never seen snow before today.” She smiled with the goofiest smile she could muster.
As hoped, he grinned at her humor and let out a quiet laugh. “Well, you’re making up for it now. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a storm hit quite like this.”
“I checked the weather before I left this morning. It was supposed to be an inch or two. I thought that would be pretty.”
“Thatwould have been pretty. I’d say we’re over two feet by now. If this keeps up, I’m not sure we’ll be able to get out in the morning.”
His phone buzzed, and Hattie’s name popped up on the screen. “Hey,” he answered.
Ryder’s voice came through in a near panic. “Did you get to her? Are you guys ok?” Claire glanced at the front and saw Ryder’s phone propped up from where Grady had talked to her the whole way over.
Grady rubbed a hand over his face and leaned against the side of the car. The dark circles under his eyes told of more than just today was bothering him. Good. At least it hadn’t just been her, selfish as she knew that must sound, but his pain was oddly reassuring, that maybe he felt something for her.
“Got her. We’re safe. Roads are getting worse by the second, visibility limited to about twelve inches, so we’re set up here for the night.”
“Ok. Check back in the morning so we know you made it through the night. Sooner if you need anything, not that we’ll be able to get to you. Patricia’s already been trying to bribe the road crews. They’ve had lots of calls from people worse-off than you, so you’re stuck for the night at least.”
“We’ll be fine. Don’t let her do anything rash. ’Night.” Grady clicked off the call and tossed the phone to the driver’s seat.
He leaned forward and turned off the engine. At her worried look, he said, “We’ll turn it back on throughout the night whenever we get cold. I don’t want to run out of gas.”
She nodded and kicked off her shoes, then scooched her sopping pants over her butt and peeled them off, too.
When she looked over at Grady, he was looking everywhere other than her. At least she’d worn fairly modest underwear today for the hike. Expression drawn tight as he avoided looking at her, he flipped off the flashlight and the car was suddenly pitch black. It was too early for sleep, but she supposed they’d need the supplies if they were stuck here more than just tonight.
Cozy under the blankets, she rolled her big winter coat inside out to make a large pillow for them both. She felt Grady slip off his wet clothes before following her under the blankets. Side by side in the dark, each tucked as far against the side as humanly possible, Claire breathed a long sigh. Her visions of snuggling to stay warm were rapidly fading. If they didn’t talk this out, it was going to be a long, long night.
Brain a complete and utter blank, she strained to find something to say. In the distance, although not nearly distant enough, she could hear the cracking and occasional thunderous boom as a tree or large branch broke under the weight of the snow.
She hadn’t moved, or didn’t think so, and hadn’t noticed Grady move, but with each passing minute, he felt closer, like a magnet was pulling them together. Eventually, his arm was against hers, sending heat rushing over her.
“I’m sorry about the other night.” She blurted out. There. Conversation initiated.
Gravel coated his voice, his words cautious, his tone flat, sapped from fatigue. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken advantage.”
Had he been berating himself when she was the instigator? “I was a perfectly willing and eager participant.”
“Fair enough, but I shouldn’t have taken it so far.”
She snorted, “And I probably shouldn’t have flashed you.”
Still lying flat on his back, he chuckled under his breath. “So, thatwason purpose?”
