It wrapped around the jagged edges of her day, softening them just enough that she almost forgot she was still in a wedding dress.
Almost…
“Do you like being snowed in?” Teddy asked.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been snowed in before,” Holly admitted. Not properly. Not in the cozy, movie-version way they were describing. As a child, Holly’s snow days had usually involved her mother complaining about delayed deliveries and rearranged social calendars.
“It’s fun, you can get all snuggly by the fire,” Maisie said. “And we watch movies or play games.”
“Snuggling by the fire does sound fun,” Holly said as she gave an involuntary shiver. Cold damp crept up from the hem of her dress, seeping into her bones now that the adrenaline was starting to ebb.
Without asking, Daniel adjusted the heater, and warm air brushed against her cold skin. “Better?” he asked, his eyes flicking briefly to her before returning to the treacherous road.
“Yes. Thank you.” The words felt inadequate for everything he was doing for her.
For as much as she had gotten into a truck with a stranger, he had allowed a stranger into his truck. And he was about to let her into his home.
As a father, that was a big deal. It wasn’t just kindness; it was trust. And trust, in her experience, usually came with strings.
There she went, overthinking things again. She’d assumed he was single since he didn’t wear a wedding ring… And yes, she had checked… But that didn’t mean he didn’t have a wife or girlfriend at home.
The mother of his children was probably waiting to welcome them into the warmth, with hot chocolate and hugs. A woman who would probably lend Holly some dry clothes and then send her on her way.
Holly stole another glance at him, unable to help herself as she tried to figure him out. His profile was illuminated by the dashboard lights, a strong jaw, a straight nose, and laughter lines at the corners of his eyes. Not a stranger’s face anymore, not quite. Already familiar enough that she could imagine how it might look when he really laughed, when he wasn’t concentrating on keeping them all alive on the road.
His hands gripped the wheel with calm confidence, large and capable. There was nothing flashy about him, nothing that screamed for attention the way Andrew always had to be the center of everything. Daniel simply... was. Solid. Present. Like the kind of man you built a life around, not a showpiece you dusted for other people to admire.
And completely off-limits, she reminded herself firmly. Whether he had a significant other or not.
“I love your dress, Holly, it’s so sparkly.” Maisie leaned forward, her small hand reaching to touch the beading on her sleeve.
“Careful, honey,” Daniel cautioned gently. “Give Holly some space.”
“It’s okay,” Holly said, surprised at how much she meant it. “It’s supposed to be sparkly for... special occasions.” The words caught in her throat. Special occasions like weddings you actually go through with… Her tongue felt thick, as if it were trying to push the rest of that sentence out, and she was physically holding it back.
“It looks like snow made of stars,” Maisie said with such wonder that Holly’s eyes prickled with unexpected tears.
She’d spent so long choosing the perfect dress for her perfect wedding to her perfect groom… Hours of fittings and alterations, of being pinned and measured and turned this way and that, while everyone assured her how lucky she was.
The truck hit a rough patch, wheels sliding slightly before gaining traction again. Holly gasped, her body tensing instinctively, and her hand shot out to brace against the dashboard as her heart leaped into her throat.
“It’s all right. You’re safe,” Daniel said, his voice low and steady as he slowed the vehicle further. He had such a reassuring voice. The kind of voice that made you believe everything would be okay. Warm, even when the world outside was frigid and sharp and unforgiving.
And she needed that right now. Because everything felt about as far from safe as it could possibly be.
Holly pressed her fingertips against the damp satin of her dress, feeling the cold fabric beneath her touch. This morning, her mother had buttoned each tiny pearl button with trembling fingers, whispering about how beautiful she looked, how perfect the day would be. How important it was not to mess this up. How many people would be watching.
And then she’d receivedthe letter.
The letter that changed everything. Ink and paper, nothing more…and yet it had tipped her entire life onto a different track.
“I’m sorry for all this trouble,” she whispered. She had made such a mess of things, and now she’d dumped her problems…or at least herself, on Daniel, crashing through his evening like an out-of-control snowplow.
“It’s no trouble at all,” Daniel replied simply, and somehow, Holly knew he meant it. There was no calculation in his voice, no expectation of gratitude or repayment. No edge, no subtle tightening around his eyes that would have told her she was inconveniencing him.
“Do you like whipped cream on your hot chocolate?” Teddy’s voice floated from the backseat.
“I…yes. Yes, I do,” Holly managed, grateful for the distraction. Talking about toppings was so much easier than thinking about ruined futures.
