Ryan squinted past the downpour and squeezed the arm of a worried Taylor, who stood on the porch in a silk lounging robe, looking as absolutely glamorous at one in the morning as she had twelve hours earlier.
Her bedroom door is blocked, she said, gripping the edges of her robe tight against the wind, staring through the stormy night to the destroyed window three stories above them. The way the tree fell, she cant get out.
Well get her.
Hurry. And Ryan, she added when he turned away to get to work. Im sorry. So sorry I didnt listen to you.
Itll be okay, he said. And hoped he could make it so.
His crew went to work, and when the rig ladder had been set parallel to the fallen tree, Ryan started climbing. Rain and wind whipped his face and body, but if he felt unnerved, he could only imagine what poor Suzanne was feeling, and he climbed faster. From below, Rafe directed a spotlight, highlighting Ryans way.
When he got to the top, he could understand why Suzanne hadnt been able to get out. The tree had fallen diagonally across her bedroom, trapping her in the far corner of the room, away from both the blown-out window and the door.
He was at the hole now, but the massive trunk and branches blocked his view. Craning his neck, he tried to see past the dark and the driving rain and all the drenched greenery. He moved from the ladder to the ledge, wedging his body in with the tree.
Still couldnt see a damn thing. Suzanne?
H-here!
Hunkering down, he was able to crawl on his belly beneath the trunk, ignoring the sharp branches scratching his arms and back. He slicked the rain from his face, and still couldnt see her. Where was she?
A sudden female sneeze gave him his answer, and he moved forward until he saw ten toes. Pulling himself up, Ryan squeezed into the cramped little space with her, letting out a pent-up breath because she was here. Alive.
Shed indeed found the one small safe haven available to her, and as he pulled the flashlight from his belt and turned it on, his heart clenched. She was huddled, back to the wall, knees to her chest, her arms wrapped tight around her legs.
Careful of the broken glass, he shifted up to his knees. Suzanne? You okay?
Her long hair, wet from the blowing rain, clung to her head and shoulders as she gave him a jerky nod paired with a shudder. She relaxed her position slightly, not huddling quite so tightly.
Her arms and legs gleamed in the glow of the flashlight, bare and also wet. No longer dressed in her long, flowing sundress and crystals, she wore only a tank top and a pair of panties, and even as he looked her over for injuries, trying not to linger on the way the material clung to her breasts or the way her nipples were so clearly defined, she continued to shake. The hem of the tank top didnt meet her panties, showing him the smooth skin of her belly. It quivered with her every shallow breath, whether from fear or cold, he didnt know. It didnt matter.
Reacting only to the fact she was shaking so violently-probably in shock, damn it-he simply put down the light and pulled her close.
3
SUZANNE DOVE INTO Ryans long, strong arms, nearly whimpering in gratitude. Despite the fact he was as wet as she, warmth radiated off his body. She felt like a heat-seeking missile, burrowing close, then closer still, not caring at the moment that she didnt know him from Adam.
Later shed worry what hed thought of her when she crawled up his big, hard body and pressed her face to his throat. Later shed worry about her less than half-dressed state, or that shed arched her body to a perfect strangers in mindless terror. Later.
But for right now, never more thankful to see another living soul, she just closed her eyes against the storm blasting through the broken window, wrapped her arms around him tight as she could, and held on through the wild tremors that shook her body in uncontrollable waves.
He made a rough sound of wordless comfort and pressed her closer. In spite of the urgency of the situation, she became startlingly aware of him and how he felt plastered to her. And how he felt wasincredible.
The wind continued to blow, bringing in more cold rain and the tinkling sound of glass scattering over the floor. The glass from the window, he murmured in her ear, and slipping an arm beneath her, he lifted and turned her so that she lay in his lap, his body hunched over hers, protecting her from the elements the best he could. As a gesture, it was the sweetest one that anyone had ever made for her. But the sweetness contrasted sharply with the decidedly not sweet feelings making themselves known within her.
Are you cut? His voice was hoarse with worry, probably because she was staring at him like an idiot-as she sat there realizing her best intentions to stay away from men for their own good were about to fail.
Suzanne?
Still shaking-though now she wasnt sure it was all from the cold-she shook her head.
He cuddled her closer, one hand on her still quivering belly, his face only an inch away. His gaze burned into hers, dark and intense. Are you sure?
The shivers had really taken over her body now, so she nodded. Weak with relief and fear, it was about all she could do.
Clearly not willing to take any chances in the dark, he reached for the flashlight on the floor at his hip and ran it over her, looking for himself.
She glanced down and saw what he saw Her wet, clinging, now thoroughly see-through tank and panties, both of which had risen to levels they shouldnt have, both of which revealed her in all her unwieldy glory, and she slammed her eyes shut.
Its okay, he whispered roughly, clearly mistaking her movement for fear. Holding her close, he cupped her head in his big hand. Youre okay. Lets get you out of here, how does that sound?
I-Ill be f-f-fine.
Its okay, he whispered roughly, clearly mistaking her movement for fear. Holding her close, he cupped her head in his big hand. Youre okay. Lets get you out of here, how does that sound?
I-Ill be f-f-fine.
Oh yeah, you will. Still holding her, he used his free hand to lift a radio to his mouth.
Because her ears seemed to be ringing, she didnt quite catch the conversation. Exhausted, she set her head on his chest, which allowed her to feel the vibration of his deep voice, and for some reason, it was horribly seductive. He smelled good, her sexy hero. And Lord, he felt good, too.
How had this happened? One moment shed been in a deep slumber, dead to the world. The next shed been startled right out of that sleep by the loudest crack of thunder shed ever heard, followed immediately by another crack, not from Mother Nature this time, but from the tree.
Shed leapt off the mat Taylor had let her borrow, just as the tree crashed through the ceiling and window.
Overwhelmed by the near-miss, a little stunned that she was alive, shed sat there until shed heard Taylors frantic voice calling for her.
Now shed been rescued by the man whod so mesmerized her earlier, the most amazing, strong, sexy man shed ever laid eyes on.
But he was just a man.
And for better or worse, shed sworn off the entire species. Shed even vowed so to Taylor. Handy that vow, as without it, her resolve might have been weakened by the feel of his rock solid, incredibly warm body against hers.
A flash of blinding lightning lit the room, and with it came an accompanying boom of thunder that seemed to echo inside her head, making her act impulsively, which meant she tried to crawl up Ryans body.
He hugged her. Were getting out of here, I promise.
She gave a jerky nod, and he rewarded her with a gentle squeeze of his hands. In the meantime, he said. Pretend youre somewhere else, anywherelike your nice, toasty bed, fast asleep, okay?
She could imagine the bed part, if he was in it.
No. Bad girl. Bad, bad.
Anywhere, he repeated, his voice like silk in her ear. Name it.
Well She cleared her rough throat. When Im stressed, I
You what?
Ieat ice cream.
Ice cream?
Yeah. I could really use a gallon about now.
He let out a bark of laughter. An entire gallon, huh? Thats good, thats real good. Make it chocolate and Ill join you. Deal?
She lifted her head and blinked into the dark until she could almost see his expression. A man whod eat chocolate ice cream out of the gallon with her? He had to be saying that just to fool her, no man was that astute. You like chocolate ice cream out of the container?
His hands on her had been nothing but light. Comforting. But now, while their gazes were locked, his hands seemed more than just protective, they seemedhungry. A beautiful woman asks me to share a delicious dessert with her? He smiled a smile that made her hormones stand up and beg. Id eat bugs on a stick.
Her last fiancé would have scrunched up his face and how unsanitary. Her first fiancé would have known exactly how many calories and fat grams that would have equaled. Not this man, her hero. Hed do anything to make her feel safe.
A flash of lightning fully illuminated Ryans face an instant before a crack of thunder hit. At the sound her body jerked. Ryan slid his hands up her arms to cup her face. Shh, he whispered, his thumb tracing the line of her lower lip. Were getting out of here. Right now, okay?
She stared at the tree stuffed into what had been her new bedroom. The tree that blocked her door. Knowing she was three stories up, and that he hadnt flown to get here, she swallowed hard and tried not to panic. Were going to go the way you came in, I suppose.
Yep. He lifted some branches, illuminating with his flashlight the way hed come in. If we go through here about eight feet, well come to the window.
Or what used to be her window.
Up on his knees now, he unbuttoned his long-sleeved chambray shirt and stripped it off, leaving him in a dark colored T-shirt. Im sorry its wet, but its better than nothing.
While she shoved her arms in the sleeves-grateful the hem came down to her thighs and more grateful for the body heat still in it-he said, Im going first so I can sweep away glass shards as we go. Stay close. Even though it was dark she could still see his intense gaze and the worry in it as he looked at her.