“You can’t,” I say quickly. “The roads are shut down. I’m at Chief Hale’s place. He said I could stay here tonight, and we’ll deal with the SUV in the morning.”
“And you’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m just fine,” I say, blinking hard against the sting in my eyes.
“Alright, baby girl. If you’re sure. Call us in the morning?”
“I will.” My throat tightens. “I’m okay. Promise.”
“Try not to cause too much trouble for Chief Hale,” he teases gently. “We love you, sweetheart.”
“Love you, too.”
I end the call and hand Nathan his phone, managing a watery smile. “Thanks for that.”
“Car trouble, is that what we’re calling it?” he asks, amusement tugging at his mouth.
“Not entirely untrue,” I say with a shrug. But the next second, my chest tightens and the tears I’ve been holding back finally spill. A small, broken sound escapes me before I can stop it.
Nathan’s expression softens instantly. He closes the distance between us, wrapping me up in his arms like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“Hey,” he murmurs against my hair. “You’re okay. You’re safe now.”
The low rumble of his voice, the steady thump of his heart—it all unravels me.
He presses a soft kiss to the top of my head. “Cars can be replaced, Tessa. You can’t.”
I nod against his chest, trying to breathe through the mess of emotion. His shirt smells like cedar, smoke, and home.
After a moment, he eases back just enough to look down at me. “You’re still freezing. And soaked.”
“I’m fine,” I start to protest, but he gives me that look—the one that used to stop me in my tracks when I was a teenager.
“Go shower,” he says gently. “Get warm. I’ll bring you dry clothes.”
There’s no room for argument in his tone—just quiet care.
“Okay,” I whisper, brushing a tear from my cheek.
He nods toward the hall. “Second door on the left. Towels are on the shelf by the sink.”
When I turn, he adds, his tone a bit softer, “Take your time.”
“Thanks,” I say, voice a little hoarse. I’m still half-shivering, half…something else. “I promise not to use up all the hot water.”
“Not worried about that,” he says, and the corner of his mouth lifts. It’s barely a smile but it's enough to make my pulse stutter.
I slip into the bathroom and shut the door, leaning against it for a second before turning the shower on full blast. My reflection in the mirror is a mess—cheeks flushed, hair a disaster. “Get it together, Pope,” I mutter. “He’s the police chief. You used to drive this man insane for fun.”
Stripping down and stepping under the spray, I sigh as the warmth begins to melt the chill right out of me.
I’m rinsing Nathan’s citrus shampoo out of my hair when I hear a knock on the door.
“Tess, is it okay if I open the door and set clothes on the counter for you?” he asks from the other side.
“Uh. Yeah. Sure.” I turn my back so he won’t catch a peek, even though the navy buffalo checkered shower curtain is pretty solid.
My heart strums in my chest as I hear the door open. There’s a tiny bit of shuffling and he must pause for a beat because all I can hear is his gruff breathing. And then, the click of the door as it shuts again.
