Sorry to bother you. Goodbye. She disconnected and pocketed her cell phone. The wind gusted, and she was shivering in her new goose down coat, which was supposed to keep her warm in minus twenty degrees. She was just a little cold. She clenched her jaw to keep her teeth from clacking together.
Her phone rang. She checked the screen. It was the bookstore. She unclenched her jaw enough to speak. Spence?
Where are you?
He sure didnt sound happy. She glanced across the parking lot, and the light in his office was out. Her teeth were chattering again. Im on the n-north side of the complex. I p-parked along the street.
Why did you do that?
Take a deep breath, Lucy. It wasnt his fault that he was the one man who could make her feel, well, less than adequate. Because I had errands in a few other stores, and I didnt want to waste gas, so I walked.
Why?
Youve heard about the greenhouse effect? How about that walking increases cardiovascular health?
Total silence.
Great. She took another breath and really wanted the phone call to end. No oneno onemade her more uncomfortable than Spence McKaslin. Anyway, thanks. Bye.
Wait. He barked out the word like an order.
That annoyed her, too. She didnt want to be annoyed, but it was almost a reflex when it came to Spence. He was a hard man to like.
Im not going to shovel you out with a wind chill of minus twenty and falling, but I will give you a ride home.
Oh, joy. Beware of getting what you pray for. Shed wanted help, but she hadnt wanted it in the form of Spence McKaslin. A grizzly bear would be a friendlier commuting buddy. If there was any simpler solution, she would take it hands down. But shed been outside only a few minutes, and not a single soul had driven by. Everyone was gone from the other stores and shops in the shopping complex and along the opposite street, so she said the fateful words, That would be great. Thank you.
Accepting his offer wasnt the most comfortable idea shed had in awhile, but it beat standing out in an approaching blizzard.
Ill be right there. He sounded so grim, he could have been accepting an appointment for five consecutive root canals. The line clicked off abruptly.
Her teeth were clacking together again, so she clenched her jaw. The wind cut through her layers of clothing, past her skin and went right into the hollow of her bones. Yikes, she was cold. But headlights flared to life at the back of the row of stores and swept around snowdrifts and parking curbs in her direction.
She was too cold to brace herself, as she always had to whenever she was in the vicinity of Mr. McKaslin. She had a short and unpleasant history with himthe unpleasant outweighed the short. When shed moved from Portland to Bozeman, she joined a readers group to get to know some people and because she loved reading. She had made many friends, Katherine McKaslin Munroe, whod been the assistant manager but who was now on leave, her sisters Danielle, Ava, Aubrey, Lauren and Rebecca. She had heard about the Gray Stone Church from Katherine, joined and made a new circle of friends. But every time she stepped foot inside the bookstore or spotted him in church, Spence scowled at her, turned his back and acted as if she did not exist.
The ride home ought to be interesting. She wondered if he would even say two words to her. She lived a long way from town. Did she really want to be in Spences presence the entire way?
His huge green truck skidded to a halt beside her. The door swung open. The dome light shone down on the big man, looking bigger in his thick winter coat, and seemed to emphasize his frown. He did not seem happy to see her.
He wasnt going to be happy when he found out where she lived. Maybe having him drive out all that way was too much. She could always stay in a downtown hotel. She stepped up into the truck not too clumsily, considering how she was nearly frozen solid. She collapsed on the seat and pulled the door shut, sprinkling large chunks of snow all over the pristine interior. Sorry, she said.
He stared at her without acknowledging her apology. He would be totally handsome if he stopped scowling. He had wide set dark-blue eyes that would put a movie star to shame, high granite cheekbones and a straight blade of a nose. A mouth that might be bracketed by dimples, if he ever actually smiled. He had one of those strong square jaws that spoke of integrity and manliness.
Where can I take you? he asked in a baritone devoid of warmth or friendliness.
She felt colder in his truck with the heat blasting almost lukewarm than shed felt outside in the minus degree windchill. Why did she want things to be different between her and Spence? She never could explain her feelings, why she felt sad whenever he behaved this way toward her. He wasnt the kind of man she even liked.
But he was a decent man. He was helping her when she really needed help. Lets head toward the university.
Sure. He put the truck in gear. I know youre cold, but put on your seat belt.
That almost didnt come out sounding like an order. Wow, this was going so much better than she expected. If only she wasnt board-stiff in the seat, she would be able to get the seat belt around the fluff of her inches thick coat.
Take a deep breath, Lucy, she instructed herself. Maybe the problem with Spence McKaslin was that he had always been a total stranger. So what if he had taken care to keep things this way. Maybe this was a God-given opportunity. Maybe her car was snowplowed under several feet of snow for a higher purpose.
She dropped her bag on the floor, latched the buckle and attempted to relax against the seat. The windows were fogged up and before Spence would drive an inch, he switched the heater to defrost and pulled a folded towel from beneath the seat to wipe the glass.
The way Spence leered at her out of the corner of his eye made her feel like a slacker.
If I reach under my seat, will I find a nifty towel, too? She asked, wanting to help out.
No.
That made her wonder what he kept under the passenger seat. Something sensible, she figured, because this was Spence McKaslinthe man who shed seen crack a smile once, but it had been short-lived and she had been way across the room from him. Definitely something practical, she decided. Probably an emergency tool kit or a first aid kit. It was unlike the mess of books she had beneath hers, which had slipped beneath the seat one by one after shed left each of them on the floor.
Here. If you dont mind. He folded the towel over to a dry side and handed it to her.
Talk about scintillating conversation. For once couldnt a handsome maneven a scowling, bad-tempered handsome manlook at her and say, You look lovely, Lucy, even with a frozen nose and your eyelashes iced together?
She took the towel from him. Sure, Id be happy to.
He grunted, nodded once and put the truck in gear. The vehicle rolled forward, and he expertly managed a huge slick of solid ice and turned onto the main road.
He remained silent as she wiped at the foggy glass. He didnt say, This is great. Weve never really had the chance to get to know one another, so lets do that now. How about a romantic dinner? Maybe some hot tea afterward in front of a roaring fireplace, and we can talk for hours.
No, he didnt say anything like that. He stared straight ahead as if he were pretending she wasnt seated right beside him. He didnt even sneak a look at her. She knew, because she was watching him. It was as if she didnt exist to him at all.
He remained silent as she wiped at the foggy glass. He didnt say, This is great. Weve never really had the chance to get to know one another, so lets do that now. How about a romantic dinner? Maybe some hot tea afterward in front of a roaring fireplace, and we can talk for hours.
No, he didnt say anything like that. He stared straight ahead as if he were pretending she wasnt seated right beside him. He didnt even sneak a look at her. She knew, because she was watching him. It was as if she didnt exist to him at all.
Bummer. She wished she could explain what it was about Spence that made her want to like him. It was just her romantic heart, she thought as she folded the towel a final time. The window was clear so she set the towel next to her bag instead of on the leather upholstery. She was a writer for a reason, mostly because this was her lifedull, staid and quiet. If she didnt have an imagination to spice it up, shed be lethally bored.
But not even her imagination was strong enough to figure out how to turn Spences silence into polite conversation.
So she contented herself with watching the windshield wipers swipe from side to side and the huge snowflakes evading them.
Chapter Two
Spence squinted through the snow on the window and couldnt believe his eyes. This cant be right. You dont live in a hotel, do you?
No, but I live way out on Blackhawk Hill, and thats too far to ask you to drive.
You should have asked me, he said. The shields were up around his heart, so he was certain he was immune to her incredible loveliness. Even with her hair wet from the snow and straggling against the sides of her face, she was breathtaking. Not that he wanted her to know thats what he thought. Im not leaving you here. I said Id take you home, and I meant it.
Did you hear the road report? Half the county roads are closed down. I should have left sooner, but I promised Danielle I would get those signed before your Thanksgiving week sale, and its been one of those days. Its my fault, so you shouldnt be punished for offering to take me home.
That was a womans logic for you. Spence scowled harder. He respected women and he liked them, but as the older brother of six sisters, hed learned girls were a puzzleand not logical in the slightest. Im taking you home where I know youre safe.
Really? And here I thought you would be in a hurry to get rid of me. She said it with a smile, with understanding, as if she thought she knew why he always kept his distance.
She knew nothing. Nothing at all. All it took was one glance into her unguarded green eyes and his Adams apple stuck in his throat and wouldnt budge. Emeralds would be considered dull and worthless when compared to that deep, stunning green. He couldnt speak. He couldnt swallow. He was lucky to breathe, which meant he was staring at her like a fool as she gave a little shoulder shrug.
Spence, Im not going to let you drive on unplowed roads the state patrol is about ready to close down anyway. Ill be fine here. Look, theres a vacancy sign. Its a nice place.
He tore his gaze from hers and stared at the stately hotel sign. Any second now the effects of Lucy would wear off and he would be able to speak again like a normal man. What if the power goes off?
They probably have a generator.
What about dinner? Have you had dinner?
Uh, no. Theres a restaurant next door, oh, thats closed. No surprise there. Dont worry. Im sure theres room service in a place like this. Kindly, she laid her gloved fingertips on his forearm. Thanks for your concern, but Ill be fine. You can leave with a clear conscience. Really.
Maybe I dont want a clear conscience. Even through the layers of down of his sleeve, he could feel the weight of her fingertips, the impact of her touch. It was like a mortar blast against the shields of his heart.
Wasnt that just his luck? She was the only woman who had ever made a dent in his defenses. A smart man would trust a grown woman to take care of herself, drop her off and drive away. But hed never been a smart man. Doing the right thing wasnt always smart. He didnt like the idea of Lucy being alone in a hotel room when a blizzard hit the city. Sometimes electricity and services were running by the next day. Sometimes it took much longer. She didnt even have a change of clothes with her.
Wait. He reached to turn on the radio and scanned for a road report. He found one of the local stations and listened. They were in the middle of listing all the county road closures. He thought of his brother-in-law, Jack, who would probably be called out on patrol tonight. The storm had come in fast, to everyones surprise.
He could feel Lucys gaze on him. His palms broke out in a sweat. There was that panic again, settling in because she was too close. Only the console separated them, but it wasnt only physical distance. Hed stopped barking at her and started caring, and he wasnt even sure when hed allowed that to happen.
Maybe it was inevitable. Hed been watching Lucy from afar for a long, long time.
I have three options, he told her, down to business and determined to stay there. That way he didnt have to notice how honest her eyes were. One, we call my brother-in-law with the state patrol.
Katherines husband, Jack?
Yep. If hes not out on an emergency, he can probably take you home.
Id hate to trouble him. Someone might need him more than I do.
Sincerity. It made her seem flawless and even more beautiful. He swallowed hard, wiped his palms on his knees and stared at the hotels sign again. Option two: we take you over to stay with Rebecca. Shes in a two-bedroom condo with a spare guest room. Shes not far from here, and Im sure shell be glad to have you.
Then Im inconveniencing her.
Lucy, youll be inconveniencing me worse if you stay here. Hotels are fine, but tomorrow is Thanksgiving. What about your family? Heres your third option: I take you home. Ive got four-wheel drive, and Im not scared of a little snow.
So I see. Actually, Im surprised snow doesnt melt at your command.
Actually, me too.
Spence, I cant believe this. Youre actually almost smiling.
Ive been known to smile.
Not that Ive ever seen. Sure, in theory of course you are capable of smiling, but not even I could imagine it. Were they having a moment together, Lucy wondered. Were they really getting along? Im guessing that you even have dimples.
Shh, dont go around saying things like that. A man like me cant have dimples. That will ruin my reputation.
Oh, so thats the secret to Spence McKaslin. The growling personality is all for the sake of your reputation. Lucy rolled her eyes. Men. Dont worry. Your secret is safe with me.
Thanks. I appreciate that. Word like that gets out and Ill lose all respect.
I dont think you have to worry about that. Lucy felt a little flip-flop of her heart, and that surprised her. Okay, maybe it was because shed never seen this side of Spence before, but what she did know about him certainly made him a man to admire. He was devout and devoted to his family. He was active in his church and did extensive volunteer work. That meant he couldnt be a bad guy, right?