Page 20 of Pink and Country

I pushed my damp hair away from my face. Icicles had formed at the tips of my locks. My feet burned from the contact with the cold wooden porch.

What should I do? I had nowhere to go, no one to call to help me out.

Out of options, I faltered to HN’s cabin.

Misty clouds exited my mouth with each breath I blew out.

Uncontrollable shivers ran through me.

My teeth chattered, the sound reminding me of Morse code telegraph machines used in old movies.

My skin was turning blue from the cold.

My lungs idled.

I tried to wiggle my toes, but they were like concrete. Stiff and heavy.

Perhaps I should go back into the hot tub. No, it wouldn’t help anything but my shivering. Damn it.

I lifted my balled fist to knock on the door. Frozen, I’d lost all my strength. The muffled sound of my fist on the door dissolved under my jagged breath.

Hugging myself to keep warm, I dropped my forehead on the doorbell button.

Now HN or his family would hear me. Please, please, rescue me. My eyelids grew heavier, and I resisted the urge to lie down in a ball on the porch.

Did HN have a spare key to my place? Would he help me out with the stupid lock once I warmed up?

The door opened. I almost fainted. Black spots danced before my eyes. My vision blurred.

A wall of warmth greeted me. It towered above me by almost a foot.

HN’s eyes flared at the sight of me. A worried expression replaced the upset one he wore the other day.

“What the fuck? Have you lost your mind?”

I shook my head. “Stupid lock—” I mumbled the words between chattering teeth.

HN pulled me into his arms, and his heat spread through me. He kicked the door closed and walked me in front of the fireplace. In seconds, I had two blankets around me. HN sat on the floor and pulled me into his lap, his whole masculine and intoxicating body circling mine.

I wiggled my fingers and toes, trying to send warm blood to my extremities.

The more I warmed up, the more tired I felt.

My blood burned like lava in my veins.

My head fell on HN’s chest, and his heartbeat rocked me to sleep.

6

Carter

N ick picked up Dahlia and Jack. I offered to drive them home, but he was already on his way. “Hey, Carter,” he said, pulling me into some sort of man hug as we met him outside. “You don’t look so bad.”

I scrunched up my nose. “Well, it’s a—” I held in the curse about to leave my mouth “—nightmare. I still can’t believe I put up with her for two years.” I shook my head and shoved my hands into my pockets. My pulse spiked just at the thought of the Queen Bitch.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. It can happen to the best of us. Listen, if you need someone, other than Dah, to talk to, I’m here. Call me.”

“Thanks, man. And, shit, I forgot. Congrats on your baby.”