moved away. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Fine,” she lied again. The last thing she needed was for him to catch her weeping. She needed to change the subject. “How’s the mama wolf?”
A rasp of fabric on wood. Was he leaning on the door? “She’s all right. Exhausted and her back legs are still sketchy. But she was moving them, so we’re going to keep her comfortable. The pup is worn out, sound asleep with her mama. Mama’s watching me right now, but she’s relaxing.” His tone seemed to gentle even further. Unless she totally imagined it, he smiled at the wolf. At least she’d found something he liked.
Once she returned the towel to the rack, she finger combed her hair. The thick length took forever to dry on its own, but she didn’t see anything resembling a blow dryer. Pulling on the dark blue t-shirt, she paused to take a deep breath of his scent. Her first acquired shirt had carried hints of pine, cedar and snow—as he did. In the new shirt, she drowned in his aroma. How could someone be sweet and musky at the same time?
Her nose tingled as she sucked in a deep breath. Rubbing her cheek to her shoulder, she sighed at the softness. Would he notice if she stole this shirt, too? As before, he’d given her a pair of sweatpants to wear. She’d half pulled them on when she realized they weren’t pants but shorts—and they came to her mid-calf. Exactly how tiny was she compared to him?
Difficult to judge, when she tried to focus on anything other than him. After securing the drawstrings, she gathered her soaked clothing then opened the door. Dylan waited for her, and her gaze collided with his. Instead of anger or impatience, she found only quiet curiosity. “Better?”
“Much.” Taller than her by at least half a foot, she had to tilt her head to meet his gaze. His shoulders were massive, his chest equally so and very bare. He wore only a pair of denim jeans. Every muscle rippled as he folded his arms. Swallowing, she gave him a small smile. “Thank you, again, for the rescue. Am I in trouble?”
“Jury’s still out.” He plucked the soaking wet clothes from her hands. “Go sit by the fire. I’ll have food ready soon.” First, he went into the kitchen and she heard the splash of water. He took the time to wring out her clothes. When he returned, he hung them on the rack by the fire. She hadn’t moved away from the bathroom, and Dylan spared her a look as he hung each item of her clothing. With a sigh, he faced her. “I’m not going to bite you.”
“I know…but you’re bossy.” The accusation slipped out, and she winced. “And I’m really trying not to upset you or do anything that lands me in more hot water.”
The corner of his mouth kicked a little higher. “I’m making food. We have a fire, we’re warm and the storm outside is getting worse. You won’t be going to Three Rivers tonight. Make yourself comfortable.”
Her stomach bottomed out at his statement. Rushing across the room, she pulled open the heavy drape over the snow-frosted glass. The white blanket stretched from the yard onto the porch. She couldn’t even make out the steps—or the footprints they’d left when they entered. Drifts leaned against the side of the truck all the way to the driver’s side door.
The whole world had been transformed as though nature intended to erase any evidence of their presence. The flakes blowing down—and no doubt they blew—were fat and magical. She touched her fingers to the glass. Could she make this magical scene come to life…?
“Want your phone?” Dylan’s breath brushed against the back of her neck as he held her phone in front of her.
“Oh, yes!” Excitement thrummed in her belly. She threw him a grateful smile, ignoring the tingle when their fingers touched. Keeping the phone in the Ziploc bag during her hike protected it from moisture. The fact he had it meant he’d gone through her bag to fetch it. Of course, it had been in an outer pocket. Oh, what
“Fine,” she lied again. The last thing she needed was for him to catch her weeping. She needed to change the subject. “How’s the mama wolf?”
A rasp of fabric on wood. Was he leaning on the door? “She’s all right. Exhausted and her back legs are still sketchy. But she was moving them, so we’re going to keep her comfortable. The pup is worn out, sound asleep with her mama. Mama’s watching me right now, but she’s relaxing.” His tone seemed to gentle even further. Unless she totally imagined it, he smiled at the wolf. At least she’d found something he liked.
Once she returned the towel to the rack, she finger combed her hair. The thick length took forever to dry on its own, but she didn’t see anything resembling a blow dryer. Pulling on the dark blue t-shirt, she paused to take a deep breath of his scent. Her first acquired shirt had carried hints of pine, cedar and snow—as he did. In the new shirt, she drowned in his aroma. How could someone be sweet and musky at the same time?
Her nose tingled as she sucked in a deep breath. Rubbing her cheek to her shoulder, she sighed at the softness. Would he notice if she stole this shirt, too? As before, he’d given her a pair of sweatpants to wear. She’d half pulled them on when she realized they weren’t pants but shorts—and they came to her mid-calf. Exactly how tiny was she compared to him?
Difficult to judge, when she tried to focus on anything other than him. After securing the drawstrings, she gathered her soaked clothing then opened the door. Dylan waited for her, and her gaze collided with his. Instead of anger or impatience, she found only quiet curiosity. “Better?”
“Much.” Taller than her by at least half a foot, she had to tilt her head to meet his gaze. His shoulders were massive, his chest equally so and very bare. He wore only a pair of denim jeans. Every muscle rippled as he folded his arms. Swallowing, she gave him a small smile. “Thank you, again, for the rescue. Am I in trouble?”
“Jury’s still out.” He plucked the soaking wet clothes from her hands. “Go sit by the fire. I’ll have food ready soon.” First, he went into the kitchen and she heard the splash of water. He took the time to wring out her clothes. When he returned, he hung them on the rack by the fire. She hadn’t moved away from the bathroom, and Dylan spared her a look as he hung each item of her clothing. With a sigh, he faced her. “I’m not going to bite you.”
“I know…but you’re bossy.” The accusation slipped out, and she winced. “And I’m really trying not to upset you or do anything that lands me in more hot water.”
The corner of his mouth kicked a little higher. “I’m making food. We have a fire, we’re warm and the storm outside is getting worse. You won’t be going to Three Rivers tonight. Make yourself comfortable.”
Her stomach bottomed out at his statement. Rushing across the room, she pulled open the heavy drape over the snow-frosted glass. The white blanket stretched from the yard onto the porch. She couldn’t even make out the steps—or the footprints they’d left when they entered. Drifts leaned against the side of the truck all the way to the driver’s side door.
The whole world had been transformed as though nature intended to erase any evidence of their presence. The flakes blowing down—and no doubt they blew—were fat and magical. She touched her fingers to the glass. Could she make this magical scene come to life…?
“Want your phone?” Dylan’s breath brushed against the back of her neck as he held her phone in front of her.
“Oh, yes!” Excitement thrummed in her belly. She threw him a grateful smile, ignoring the tingle when their fingers touched. Keeping the phone in the Ziploc bag during her hike protected it from moisture. The fact he had it meant he’d gone through her bag to fetch it. Of course, it had been in an outer pocket. Oh, what
Similar Books
