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“Why?”
“If our vehicles were blown away, we’re gonna have to walk out of here to find help.”
“We’ve got cell phones,” I said, digging mine from my purse. “Why don’t we just call an Uber?”
“Because the cell towers are down. I was on a call right before the twister hit, and I lost service. Hold on to yours. When we get outside, keep checking to see if you get a signal.”
“Okay. How far is the next town?”
When he raised his head and pinned me with a dubious stare, I knew I’d just screwed up. If I really lived in Dallas, I would know the answer.
“Denton…it’s about twelve miles from here.”
“Denton, right.” I nodded. “I-I knew that. I guess I hit my head harder than I thought.”
Shut up, Emma. Just shut the hell up, screamed a voice inside me.
With a noncommittal grunt, he finished wrapping the wide, elastic bandage tightly around my ankle, then glanced at the door.
“Sit tight. I’m gonna take a look and see what’s left.”
“I’ll go with you,” I blurted. For some reason I couldn’t put my finger on, I didn’t want to be left alone in the strange room. He opened his mouth, likely to argue, but I cut him off. “If we’ve got to walk out of here, we might as well start now.”
“It’s still raining.”
“So? We’re already wet.”
“Good point.” He softly chuckled. “All right. Give me a minute, and we’ll head out.”
When he crawled from under the table, and rose to his feet, like a beautiful Roman Gladiator, the breath caught in my lungs. I’d been so scared of the tornado I hadn’t paid attention to how brutally big he was or how his bulging muscles strained beneath his sun-kissed skin. I was definitely paying attention now. In fact, I couldn’t peel my eyes off his tight ass as he bent and picked up a candle, then strode around the room, blowing the others out.
Bending, he peered at me with those gorgeous piercing blue eyes and extended his hand. “Ready?”
“Yes,” I replied in an unintentionally sultry whisper.
Cheeks burning from embarrassment, I dipped my head, slung the strap of my purse over my head, then placed my fingers in his palm. A tingling heat slid up my arm as he helped me to my feet and cupped my elbow.
“Take a step to make sure you can walk on that ankle.”
The intensity of his stare nearly burned a hole right through me as I lowered my foot to the floor and gingerly shifted some of my weight. Pain streaked up my leg, but I clenched my jaw and bit back a hiss.
“You good?” he asked.
“Yeah.” I nodded, hobbling beside him.
Still gripping my elbow in one hand, he handed me the candle in his other before pushing his palm against a round metal disk protruding from the door. I suddenly realized the room we’d taken refuge in was some kind of industrial cooler or meat locker.
He tried to shove the metal door open, but it only budged an inch.
“Something’s lodged against it.” He scowled, releasing my elbow. “Hang tight. I’ll get us out of here.”
Balancing on my good foot, I watched him rear back, then slam his boot against the door with a brutal kick. The screech of metal and a heavy thud vibrated in the air as the portal burst open, revealing nothing but tree limbs and flattened fields.
Everything was gone…the building, our vehicles, and all signs of life.
“Holy fuck,” he muttered.
We both gaped at the void for several long seconds before he turned and scooped me into his arms again.
