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“I’m fine. But I think I may have lost my Airpods,” someone else grumbles.
“Three of you?” I ask.
The pretty blonde nods. “We were trying to get to Frozen Falls, but we got lost in the storm.”
I step even closer and get the slightest whiff of something sweet. Like vanilla, or the icing on a cupcake with sprinkles.
“I’m Charles. I’ll get you to Frozen Falls.”
“I don’t know.” She wrings her hands. “I mean, you just came out of the woods, and we don’t know you.”
I look up. “Hate to say it, but you don’t have much choice. The next storm front is supposed to hit within the hour. We need to get to shelter.”
The engine groans and tries to turn over, then stops. “No dice,” the one called Bells says. “I guess we need to go with him, Clover.”
“Clover?” I look down into her big green eyes.
“Yes.” The pink on her cheeks deepens even more.
I have the strangest urge to stroke her cheek, just so I can feel how soft she is. How warm.
I clear my throat and try to push away the out-of-place thoughts. “We need to get moving. Take only what you can carry. My truck is a quarter of a mile, maybe a little more.”
She looks up at the sky, indecision in her eyes.
That urge hits again, and this time I give in and press my palm to her cheek.
Her eyes widen in surprise.
“You can trust me, Clover. Okay? I’d never hurt you.”
“Hands off, strange man of the woods.” Bells climbs into the passenger seat, then steps out and gives me a vicious look.
“Sorry.” I drop my hand and step back.
But I don’t miss the way Clover licks her lips. And I definitely don’t miss the way she doesn’t take a breath until I break our gaze.
3
CLOVER
Bells tried to stand up straight but sways on her feet. Her voice might be firm, telling the mountain man Charles to keep his hands and his eyes to himself, but I can tell she’s in pain. I have no doubt she is going to try to hide every second of it.
I give her a once-over, but I can’t see any visible damage to her. That doesn’t mean she’s not hurting still. She was the one that took the impact of the crash. It’s only a matter of time before she really starts to feel that.
Not wanting her to do anything she doesn't have to, I open the back-passenger door. If I wasn't in the middle of a full-blown freak out, I might laugh. As always, Aurora looks ready for a runway and she’s not even trying. All of her beauty and poise is natural. Some people have all the luck.
I truly believe a big reason why she seems to have a glow around her all the time is because she’s made up of kindness and sweetness on the inside. There isn't a mean bone in her body. Not even one mean enough to rip that jerk face Kent a new one. I think he knows that too. Predators often do. They sense the sweetness and good in people and pounce like the monsters they are.
“I got you guys into this mess.” Aurora’s voice is filled with tears.
“We’re in this shit together,” Bells says before I can respond.
“We wanted an adventure, and it sure as heck looks as if we're going to get one!” I put on a bright smile. The last thing I need is for Aurora to burst into tears. “Plus, look” I point over my shoulder. “We found a hot mountain man.”
Aurora snorts a laugh at my teasing. Most likely because I never openly call a man hot. The tears in her eyes start to fade away. My work here is done for now. I’m holding on by a tiny thread, and I don’t need Aurora having a breakdown when I’m so close to one myself.
“Guys. Our little Clover just made him blush.” I look back over my shoulder to Charles. Pretty sure that’s the cold doing that to his cheeks. He doesn't deny or defend himself. Truthfully, I don’t think he cares why we think his cheeks are red one way or another. He does, however, keep staring right at me. I try not to fidget at that.
