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Drowsy, she rubbed her belly. “I love you, Annabelle. I hope it’s enough.”
GARRET SCOWLED at the twenty-something kid in front of him. “You havenothingavailable?”
“Nope.”
“I’ll make it worth your while. She’s pregnant and stranded and she was just released from the hospital. Don’t you have a sitting room or something?”
“No, man. Sorry.” The guy grinned, and a crackly laugh emerged. “Weird, huh? You know, no room at the inn?” He sobered when he realized Garret wasn’t amused. “Um…look, there’s nothing here. This storm caught a lot of people by surprise. We’re full and then some.” He glanced behind him, then leaned forward across the counter. “We’re not supposed to recommend anyplace else, but have you tried the motel on Route 9?”
“Call them,” Garret ordered. “Call them right now and find out if there’s a room available. Tell them we’ll take anything.”
The guy gave him a leery, you’re-going-to-get-me-in-trouble glare, but did his bidding. Garret paced in front of the counter and blatantly listened to the one-sided conversation. Finally the guy hung up. “Um…nothing, man—uh, sir. Sorry.”
Jaw locked, Garret stalked out of the lobby. There wasn’t a hotel closet left for Darcy to stay in. Scowling, he climbed into the Escalade only to hesitate when he realized Darcy was sleeping so soundly she hadn’t heard him.
He quietly closed the door, free to study her without being observed. She was certainly attractive, but the symmetry of her features was off. Her nose was a little large for her face, her top lip as full as the bottom. Put together, there was nothing awe inspiring about her appearance. Nothing to make him feel so…curious?
He shook his head at himself. Who was it that said if you rescued someone you were responsible for them?
Garret drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. Snow blanketed the windshield despite the frequent swipe of the wipers. They had to get to wherever they were going or be stranded. But there was no way he could leave her sitting in the lobby of some hotel at two o’clock in the morning.
Frowning, he checked her seat belt once more and put the vehicle in Reverse. Someone had to take care of Darcy and her baby. And right now it looked as though that someone was him.
SHE WAS IN A BOAT, sun-warmed air blowing on her face, the chop of the waves slapping against the hull, the radio playing eighties hits by rockers with big hair.
A jolt startled her and Darcy blinked, drowsily surveying her surroundings and wondering why the GPS looked different than she remembered. With a start, it all came back. The wind was a heater cranked full blast, the waves dirt-and sand-encrusted sludge hitting the undercarriage of the SUV.
You expected something else?
Not really. She hadn’t been on a boat since the last time Stephen had taken her out and they’d made love beneath the stars.
You made love, he had sex. Big difference.
The SUV slowed for Garret to make a turn. A garage door opened ahead of them and they pulled inside to park beside a Land Cruiser. She lifted her head.
“Hey. You were out the whole way.”
“Obviously.” The last thing she remembered was sitting outside the Station House. And now they were where? “This doesn’t look like a hotel.” She eyed the pricey-looking bicycle hanging on the wall in front of them.
“Because it’s not.” Garret released a heavy sigh and turned toward her. “Look, Darcy, the Station House didn’t have any rooms. I had the night manager call the last motel near here and they were full, as well. So I brought you home with me.”
Home?As inhishome?
Garret tilted his head to the side and held both hands up, palms open. “I’m not a pervert or a rapist. And even thoughyoucould be an ax murderer, I’m going to take a chance and let you stay here for the night because I don’t know what else to do.”
He was exhausted. One glance into his weary gaze told her that. While she’d been dozing, he’d battled the elements to get them to safety and with no where else to take her—
“I’ll sleep on the couch and you can have my bedroom. It has a lock on the door and I’ll even give you a baseball bat if it makes you feel better, but honestly, you have nothing to worry about from me. Or Ethan.”
That startled her. “Ethan?”
“My older brother lives here, too. I’ll introduce you in the morning. He’s completely safe. What do you say?”
What could she say? They were here and the thought of a bed compared to a booth in the hospital cafeteria was too tempting to resist. “Where’s that bat?”
In response, Garret winked, then got out and grabbed their cases before leading the way into the house. Darcy followed him down a short hallway past a utility room, the kitchen and living room beyond.
“The bedroom is that way, first door on the right. Let me find some sheets and I’ll change the bed for you.”
