“Jodi can ride with me,” she tries to argue, ignoring the fact that the woman in question is shivering.
“Does the heat in that rust bucket work?” I ask in a hard tone.
The brunette glares at me with indignation.
“No.” Jodi’s voice is soft and lyrical. I could listen to her sing Christmas songs year-round.
“You’ll ride with me.”
Her friend looks ready to throw a fit, but Jodi is only wearing a thin sweater and eventually she agrees to steer the car while I tow it on chains to Hope Peak.
“That wasn’t very nice. The way you spoke to Amber, I mean.” Her words are admonishing but her tone is flirtatious. She wanted to be alone with me too.
Out of the corner of my eye she sits comfortably in my truck. Shoulders relaxed, fingers turning pink from the heat, and rather than keep an eye on the icy road all her attention is fixated on me. I love that she already trusts me to take care of her.
“I’m not a nice person.”
“You’re towing my car.”
“This is the bare minimum,” I mutter. “Any half decent man wouldn’t leave your car on the side of the road.”
She hums noncommittedly.
“If you say so.” The headlights glint off the snowbanks as the road curves. “Do you live in town?”
“I could,” I murmur too low for her to hear. Then louder, “Just passing through. I’m working my way towards Colorado.”
“No way!” Jodi shouts with enthusiasm. “I’m from Colorado!”
My eyebrows jump as her hand lands on my arm.
“I’m on my way home for Christmas. Just dropping Amber off on the way.”
“No kidding?” I ask.
“Nope,” she says. “My entire family lives in Crescent Ridge.”
My head swivels to stare at the blonde sitting in the middle of my truck bench with both her arms wrapped around mine. She’s so happy. So genuine. I can’t believe it.
“Do you know a man named Nicholas?” I ask. “He lives on the ridge with his wife.”
“No, but I’ve been away at college.”
The reminder of our age gap should sting but it doesn’t.
“What’s his wife’s name?” she asks.
Wincing, I rack my brain for the name of his bride. I come up empty.
“It’s a tiny town,” she says. “Give me anything.”
“She runs a Christmas tree farm.”
“Noel got married?!” Jodi shouts as she squeezes my arm.
That would be her. I remember because I thought it was funny that Nicholas was marrying a woman with a Christmas themed name. Nick and Noel. It’s straight out of a children’s picture book. Or a sappy hallmark movie.
“He flew out there a couple of weeks ago. Not sure if they got married yet, but I know they were engaged.”
