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“You don’t have to be sorry,” he said softly, forcing himself to stay focused. “They scared the crap out of me when I first heard them up here too, but we need to go. It could get worse, then we won’t be able to leave.”
“How much worse?”
“Hail, gale-force winds… need I go on?”
“Should we go at all? I mean, I want to, I really do, but—”
“Yeah, we’re going,” he said firmly. “I just need to grab something. Wait here.”
Moving quickly into the bathroom, he opened a drawer, found a sleeping mask, and stuffed it into his pocket.
“Have you got everything?” he asked briskly, returning to the room.
“I don’t have a jacket?”
“I’ll find you something in the foyer closet,” he replied, picking up the leash. “Don’t you remember all those coats you tried to hide behind?”
“Uh, yeah. Marco, just one thing. I’m worried about my car. The top is up, but if there’s a downpour—”
“It will be fine. It’s been covered by an all-weather tarp.”
“Really?”
“Really,” he said, taking her hand and striding toward the door.
“Slow down. I can’t walk fast in these heels. I’ll break my ankle.”
“Then take them off and carry them,” he said brusquely, turning down the hall.
“But these hose are fragile. I might—”
“Good grief, woman!”
Coming to an abrupt halt, he stooped down and threw her over his shoulder.
“Again?” she protested. “Can’t you just carry me?”
“This is faster and more fun,” he retorted, slapping her ass.
Another roll of thunder roared overhead, but the lightning didn’t make the same crashing sound as it had earlier.
“That wasn’t as bad,” she remarked hopefully, feeling oddly ridiculous over his body as he marched down the hall. “Do you think it means the storm’s moving by fast?”
“Hard to say,” he mumbled, reaching the foyer and setting her on her feet.
“I feel all flustered now.”
Ignoring her remark and opening the closet door, he grabbed a trench coat for himself, and found a long, tan wool coat for her.
“This should do nicely,” he declared, removing it from the hanger and holding it open for her. “Come on. Don’t take all day.”
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Besides beating the storm, I have my reasons,” he retorted, “and there are times I’m not a patient person. This is one of them.”
“Sorry.”
“Follow me.”
