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‘If we’re not buried beneath a pile of snow. At least we can use the heater to keep us warm, I suppose.’
‘Nope. Unless you like the idea of succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning. Me? Not so much. We’re surrounded by snow, Grace. That means the exhaust is blocked.’
‘Then how do we keep warm?’
He turned his head and grinned at her. ‘Bodily heat.’
Grace tutted loudly. ‘If you think I’m taking my clothes off and pressing my naked body against yours, you’re delusional. I’ve already told you my feelings on that score. I’d rather freeze to death.’
He shifted awkwardly in his seat, glanced at Grace and after a second or two, shook his head and laughed.
‘Yet again, you jumped to the wrong conclusion. It’s becoming an annoying habit. I wasn’t actually suggesting we get naked, but I’m up for it, believe me. I was merely suggesting we huddle together under a blanket. I keep one in the car for emergencies. Don’t ask me why. It’s just something I do. I like to be prepared.’
He twisted and leant an arm behind him and grabbed the blanket from the back seat. He held it up for Grace to scooch over and looked genuinely hurt when she hesitated.
‘Do you think you dislike me so much that you’d rather freeze than cuddle up beside me?’
She met his eyes and held his look for a second. She had already experienced a number of strange sensations by being close to him, and a look or a smile could already turn her insides to jelly. The thought of their bodies pressed against one another was too much to contemplate. But she decided warmth was preferable and that she could control whatever sensations he aroused, so she shuffled across the seat until they were almost touching.
‘Keep your hands to yourself, okay? And don’t make any sarcastic remarks or clever quips.’
‘Okay. But … I am now wondering if you’d planned this. You know. Make me veer into a ditch just so that you and I could be alone like this.’ He grinned as he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer.
‘I knew it!’ She pushed away from him as he laughed.
‘Oh come on, Grace. I’m teasing. Surely you can take a joke?’
She glared at him and then to her astonishment he frowned and looked genuinely contrite.
‘I’m sorry. That wasn’t funny. You’re right. I promise I’ll behave. Give me another chance?’
She was wary now. And not just of his teasing. She felt something when his arm wrapped around her and it was stronger than she had expected. For a moment she had felt safe and warm and protected. And also excited.
‘You’re a jerk. You know that, right?’
He grinned again and nodded. ‘Yep. But I really am sorry.’
He held the blanket out enticingly and she gave in and slid back to where she had been. This time he didn’t put his arm around her and she was a little disappointed. But she could hear his heartbeat and smell his aftershave and feel the firmness of his body and she closed her eyes and let her mind drift off for a moment.
‘Are you comfortable?’ His voice was soft and smooth and caring.
‘Uh-huh.’ She was a lot more than comfortable but she wasn’t going to tell him that.
‘Grace?’
‘Yes.’
He didn’t continue so she raised her eyes and met his but she was unprepared for what she saw. His gaze was intense and he looked so serious and yet so unsure of himself.
‘I’m sorry,’ he eventually said.
‘For what?’ Grace dare not look up.
‘For always being a jerk. For this. For … everything.’
‘This wasn’t your fault,’ she said, although there seemed to be something stuck in her throat. ‘We’re in this ditch because of me, so I’m the one who should be sorry. But let’s not worry about that. The blizzard will blow itself out, as you said it might and we’ll be home and laughing about this before we know it.’
Fourteen
