Read Online Chill Factor by Sandra Brown - Free Book Online Page A

probably about it.”
    â€œI’m so sorry.”
    Her apologetic tone brought his head up. “Why should you be sorry? If it hadn’t been for me, you wouldn’t have crashed your car.”
    â€œI couldn’t see beyond my hood. Suddenly you were just there, right in front of me, and—”
    â€œIt was as much my fault as yours. I saw your headlights coming around the curve. I didn’t want to miss my last hope of getting a ride into town, so I started running full out. Gained too much momentum coming down the incline. Next thing I know, I’m not at the road, I’m in the road.”
    â€œIt was stupid of me to brake so hard.”
    â€œReflex,” he said with a dismissive shrug. “Anyway, don’t blame yourself. Maybe I was put in your path for a reason.”
    â€œYou probably saved my life. If I’d been alone, I would have stayed in the car and been frozen by morning.”
    â€œThen it’s lucky I came along.”
    â€œWhat were you doing up here on the peak on foot?”
    He bent down and began tugging off his right boot. “Sightseeing.”
    â€œToday?”
    â€œI was hiking along the summit.”
    â€œWith a storm bearing down?”
    â€œThe mountains have a different kind of allureduring the winter months.” He took off his second boot and tossed it aside, then began to massage his toes. “When I got ready to head back into town, my car wouldn’t start. Dead battery, I guess. Anyway, rather than follow the road and all those switchbacks, I decided to take a shortcut through the woods.”
    â€œIn the dark?”
    â€œIn hindsight, it wasn’t the smartest of decisions. But I would have been okay if the storm hadn’t moved in so quickly.”
    â€œI miscalculated, too. Stupidly I fell asleep and . . .” She stopped when she noticed that he was blinking rapidly as though to ward off vertigo. “Are you about to pass out?”
    â€œMaybe. This damn dizziness.”
    She stood up and placed her hands on his shoulders. “Lean back, lay your head down.”
    â€œIf I pass out, wake me up. I shouldn’t go to sleep with a concussion.”
    â€œI promise to keep you awake. Lie back.”
    Still he resisted. “I’ll get blood on your couch.”
    â€œI hardly think that matters, Mr. Tierney. Besides, it’s not my couch anymore.”
    He relented and let her press him back until his head was resting on the cushion.
    â€œOkay now?”
    â€œBetter, thanks.”
    She went to the other sofa and, being chilled in spite of her coat, wrapped herself in the knitted throw.
    Although Tierney kept his eyes closed, he said,“Not your couch anymore? I’d heard this place was on the market. It sold?”
    â€œThe closing was yesterday.”
    â€œWho bought it? Someone in town?”
    â€œNo, a retired couple from Jacksonville, Florida, who want to spend their summers here.”
    He opened his eyes and looked around the main room. The cabin had every modern convenience, but it had been built and decorated to look rustic, in keeping with the mountain setting. The furnishings were oversize and homey, designed for comfort rather than show.
    â€œThey bought themselves a great second home.”
    â€œYes, they did.” She glanced around the room, gauging the sturdiness of its construction. “We’ll be all right here, won’t we? For the duration of the storm, I mean.”
    â€œWhat’s your water source?”
    â€œA reservoir on a plateau about midway between here and town.”
    â€œHopefully the pipes aren’t frozen yet.”
    She got up and rounded the bar that separated the main room from the kitchen. “We have water,” she announced as it sputtered from the faucet.
    â€œGot anything to collect it in?”
    â€œKitchen utensils were included in the sale of the cabin.”
    â€œStart filling every pan and pot