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There were about a dozen reasons I hesitated, including the fact I wasn’t used to undressing helpless women for any reason. I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off her face, furious with myself for finding her attractive while she could be close to death. I yanked off my coat and gloves, tossing them aside and raking my hands through my hair. Right now, there couldn’t be a worse scenario.
“Get a grip,” I hissed then turned away abruptly, yanking my gear bag onto the dresser, riffling through it until I found what I was looking for. As I held the bottle of bourbon in the dingy light, I shook my head. I could make all the excuses in the book for needing a hit of liquor, but the truth was I was terrified of having her die right in front of me. The ugly, helpless feeling was overpowering, more so than a single moment since arriving in Montana. I’d returned home to start afresh, refusing to fall into the demons that had kept me in a stranglehold.
I took a huge swig as I listened to the sound of the howling wind. I’d left my job as a damn EMT because it hadn’t soothed the beast crawling inside. I preferred the danger and rugged terrain where I usually didn’t need to deal with people other than my smokejumping team.
Much to the chagrin of my father, who was waiting with bated breath for me to accept the vice president position that had been on the table since I’d been ten years old. I hated the corporate world, but Pops had been pushing hard for years. With him being in bad health, my mother was now calling me once a week.
He had no understanding of why I needed to do this and there was no way of explaining it to him even after all these years.
When the mystery girl’s body started to shiver uncontrollably, I was forced back into reality. The girl needed my help. I took another mouthful, slamming the open bottle onto the scarred surface before moving toward her. As soon as I touched her, a moan slipped past her lips, her eyelids fluttering open again.
“Don’t fight me, sweetheart. I need to do this.” I wasn’t known as a gentle man, but I did what I could to be one as I peeled her jacket from around her, carefully pulling her arms from the sleeves then tugging it from under her. After easing off her shoes, I still couldn’t believe she wasn’t at least wearing any socks.
The fact she remained unresponsive troubled the hell out of me. It was time to stop acting like some teenager and get the rest of her wet things off. I held her head in my palm as I pulled the sweater over her stomach, stopping just before lifting the material over her breasts. This was getting ridiculous. I’d seen dozens of people in the worst possible light, sometimes forced to remove their clothing in order to provide medical assistance. Why was this any different?
Because you’re a hungry, lonely asshole.
That might be the truth, but for all I knew she was married with six kids. I tried to remind myself what I was doing then pulled the sweater over her head. When my eyes drifted to her red lace bra, I almost lost it. Every muscle inside my body was tense, blood coursing through my veins like wildfire.
I sat down on the bed, rubbing my sweaty palms on my jeans before unfastening the top button on hers. Because they were wet, I had to struggle to get them past her hips, concerned when she didn’t moan or cry out from my rough actions. When I finally wrangled them away, tossing them onto the floor, I immediately yanked the covers over her, avoiding gazing at her long legs or matching crimson panties.
You’re a very bad man, Phoenix. You’re never going to rise from the ashes.
That was certainly my reputation. I’d been called everything under the sun over the years.
Including a killer.
I searched the small closet, finding another blanket. The damn ratty pieces were far too thin to matter. Given her condition, she might need more help than I was capable of providing, but God only knew if there was a hospital or urgent care within fifty miles. If only I’d brought my emergency kit I kept at the house. After she was tucked in, I stood staring at her for a full minute before returning to the bottle of booze. At this point, I needed something to calm my nerves.
I hadn’t been this anxious in as long as I could remember. The slight burn from the cheap liquor as it slid down my throat was justified, punishment for my waves of desire. I had no idea how long I stood staring at her but when her breathing became less fitful, I finally took a deep breath. Still, she wasn’t out of the woods yet.
After a few seconds, I checked the pockets on her jacket finding nothing. There’d been no bag or purse I’d seen. Not only had she driven into the middle of a snowstorm, but she’d also walked into what would soon become whiteout conditions without any identification or money. What had she been thinking? She’d been better off staying in her car.
Yeah, but for how long?
I rubbed my eyes, finally noticing I stunk to high heaven. I hadn’t bothered showering at the fire depot, preferring to jump into my truck heading back home. I certainly hadn’t planned on seeing anybody in the dead of night. I took another belt of bourbon, realizing she would be out for several hours. At least I could take the time to grab a hot shower.
Another moan slipped past her lips, and I walked closer, unable to stop myself from brushing hair from her face, rolling the tip of my finger down her cheek. She was still so cold, but her temperature had improved slightly. That meant she’d made damn good time walking through the four inches of snow to where I’d found her. That could mean the difference in the poor girl getting frostbite.
I took a few minutes to rub each of her hands, checking on her feet before backing away. She’d had a guardian angel looking after her.
And that certainly wasn’t the wretched bastard who’d carried her from the snow. No, that man could only be considered a devil.
As I headed toward the bathroom, I released a long, exaggerated breath. Maybe fate had finally decided to come back and bite my ass.
* * *
Wren
Warmth and softness.
Shifting, I slipped my arm to the side, trying to make sense of what I was feeling beneath my fingers. I tried to open my eyes, but they were heavy, as if I’d had too much to drink, only I knew that wasn’t the case. But what… Mmm… I rolled on my other side, inhaling slowly, uncertain what scent was filtering into my nostrils. Then I realized what it was, the stench of smoke. Moaning, I tried to sit up, willing my eyes to open. A rush of images slammed into my mind.
Snow and ice pelting against the windshield.
Darkness so dense and ominous the headlights did nothing to mark the road.
Trees so thick I couldn’t make out anything else.
