“That vehicle is coming from the mountain.” I rub spot in the fogged glass as the headlights draw closer.
The blizzard blurs into irregular swathes of light; the blue-white beams form. “Looks like it might be a truck and it’s driving fast.”
CHAPTER 3
There she is.
The invisible fist around my throat finally releases my Adam’s apple.
Liberty’s small SUV is parked haphazardly in the country store’s parking lot.
Turning off the road, I slow. The snow crunches below my wheels as my lights swing across the storefront, over the fogged-up glass.
She’s in there.
Even though I can’t see her behind the fogged door, I can feel her.
My cells shudder with relief, and in the next instant they go electric from her proximity. Happens every time I’m near her.
I don’t even bother parking somewhere respectable. Wasting no time, I fling open the truck door, striding the last few feet to the door.
I’m barely able to stop myself from sprinting and crashing my shoulder into the door, destroying any and all barriers keeping me from her.
Goddamn.
I’m a mess over this woman, and when I see her face, a rough sound comes from my throat.
There in a hole someone’s hand has wiped clean, she’s staring out like she’s just watched a spaceship land.
“Liberty, thank God,” I rasp as I jerk the door so hard the brass bell falls off, landing on my boot.
I hardly register it.
The entire world could fall down around me, and I’d only see her.
She’s so beautiful in her slightly off-kilter winter hat with her hair spilling around her shoulder.
I want to grab her and kiss the living hell out of her.
Faaaaak. This is not good.
I have to get control of this. Justice is going to knock my teeth out if I touch his sister.
Liberty’s plump and perfectly delectable mouth opens and closes, the mug of hot cocoa tipping and spilling over her hand. I grab it before she severely burns herself.
“Careful.”
Blinking up at me, she’s smiling, “Good heavens, what areyoudoing here?”
I have to clear my throat if I have any hope of sounding like a I didn’t just eat a bucket of sand. “I came to get you.”
“Me?”Her hand lands over her heart.
Placing the mug on the checkout counter, I take her shoulders in my hands. “Yeah, you. Thank god you’re safe. I was worried fucking sick when I found out you were on the road alone.”
A shiver runs through her. She seems to click into some other mode.Worried. “But the road is closed. How did you get here?”
Tipping my chin toward the truck, I grin. “Drove. I’ve got good traction.”
