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“Ineed to get her out of these wet clothes,” saidJack.Hetucked a wet tendril of hair behindRosalie’sear. “Weneed to get her dry and thenI’mgoing to take her to get warmed up.”
Carrienodded. “Here,Rosalie, you can change into these.”Sheextended a sweatshirt and a pair of fleece-lined leggings to her. “Letme go find a towel.”Shedashed out of the tent, andJackstarted methodically strippingRosalie, needing to get the soaked, icy fabric off of her skin.
“You…saved…me,” she said through clattering teeth.Shewas shivering violently now.Gently, he pulled her soaked sweater off over her head, letting it fall to the floor beside them.
“Myheart stopped whenIsaw you go through that ice.”Herubbed his hands over her bare arms, and just then,Carriereturned with two fluffy towels.
“Here,” she said. “Dowhat you need to do.Makesure she’s okay.”ShehandedJackthe towels.
“Thanks.”
“You’rewelcome.Oh, and once she’s feeling better, make sure you talk.Becauseshe really likes you, but you kinda messed up not telling her about your kid.I’msure you can sort it out,” she added with a cheeky smile, and then disappeared through the tent’s flap, leaving them both in silence.
Well, damn.He’djust gotten a mild dressing down from one of the most famous people in the world.Todaywas just full of surprises.
Jackworked the towel overRosalie’sskin, then removed her wet bra and added it to the pile of clothing.Whenshe was dry, he helped her pull on the sweatshirt, and then knelt down in front of her, helping her with her wet boots.Hetossed them aside, one by one, and then peeled her wet socks off.Finally, he reached for the button on her jeans, and she helped him work them down over her hips, the fabric clinging to her skin.Hetossed them aside and then her panties, working the towel over her hips, her legs, her feet, drying her thoroughly.Hershivering had lessened to the occasional tremor.
“She’sright,” he murmured, helping her slide the leggings up her legs. “Idid mess up.”
“Yeah.Youdid.Andshe’s also right thatIreally like you.”
“Willyou let me take you to my house to get warm?Youcan have a hot shower,I’llmake you some tea, and we can talk?”
Shenodded, her arms wrapped around herself. “Yeah.You…thank you.Forsaving me.”
Hestood, cradling her cheek in his palm and pulling her against him.Shesighed and melted into him. “I’llsave you over and over and over again,Rosalie.Whateveryou need, whenever you need, if you’ll let me.”Hewanted to tell her that he’d happily spend forever taking care of her, but thought she’d had enough of a fright for the day, what with falling through the ice.Noneed to terrify the woman with the intensity of his feelings for her.
Shesnuggled into him. “I’venever had someone to look after me.Itfeels…nice.”
Heheld her tighter. “Good.Comeon, let’s get you to my cruiser.”
“Aren’tyou supposed to be on duty?” she asked, her eyebrows lifting as he once again sank to his knees in front of her and started helping her into the pair of sneakersCarriehad found.Theywere too big forRosalie, but they’d do for now.
“Thisis more important,” he said, standing and shrugging out of his police jacket.Heheld it out for her, and she slid her arms into it, wrapping it around herself.Hecould’ve sworn she inhaled deeply, as though she were smelling it.Butit might’ve been a sigh or a shiver.Hepulled his police beanie off his head, and moved behindRosalie, where he wound her hair up on top of her head, and then slipped the beanie on over top, keeping her wet hair contained and away from her skin.
“Won’tyou be cold?” she asked with a little shiver.
“Sweetheart,Ididn’t fall into icy water.I’llbe fine.”Hetucked her hand in his and started leading her out of the tent.
“Jack?” she asked, and he stopped.Sheswallowed thickly, her eyes huge. “Isthis…real?”Hervoice was barely a whisper, and while her question was vague, he knew exactly what she was talking about.Thefalls, the magic, the connection between them that only seemed to grow, like a fire burning hotter and hotter, brighter and more beautiful.
Hepulled her against him again and brushed his lips over hers. “Feelsreal to me.”
Herface was tight with emotion. “Metoo.”
Hekissed her again, soft and sweet, her lips cold against his. “Comeon.Let’sget you home.”
Twenty-Three
Rosaliefelt wired and jittery asJackpulled his policeSUVinto the driveway of a dark greenA-frame not far from the falls onWillowAvenue.Pinetrees lined the driveway, separating it from its neighbors, and a neat row of shrubs stood on either side of the walkway that led to the front door.Jackparked the truck and jogged around to her side, opening the door and helping her down.Theworst of the chill had passed, but she still felt too cold.Herthoughts were scattered, and it felt as though her heart kept beating irregularly in her chest.
Shewasn’t sure if it was from her plunge into the icy water of the creek, or something else.Somethingto do withJackand whatever magic was happening between them.
Heled her inside the house, which was quiet and dark.
“Chloe’sat her mom’s this week,” he said, answering her unspoken question. “Wehave shared custody, and she trades off weeks.”
Shenodded as she followed him into the entryway, letting him take back his heavy police jacket and slipping off her shoes.Thesmall entryway opened onto a living room with soaring windows, a large, soft-looking gray sectional, and a beautiful stone fireplace.
