“Almost there,” I murmured, mostly to keep her calm. “Just a few more minutes.”
Sara didn’t speak, but her eyes followed the light, clinging to it like a lifeline.
As we pulled up, relief crashed over me hard enough to steal my breath. The main house rose out of the storm, warm light spilling from the windows, smoke curling from the chimney.
I parked near the porch and killed the engine. The sudden silence was jarring, broken only by the wind.
“Stay here a second,” I told her gently. “I’ll get the door.”
She didn’t argue, didn’t move, just sat there trembling while I rounded the hood and opened her door. The blast of cold made her flinch, and I leaned in close.
“C’mon, Sara. Let’s get you inside.”
Her hand slid into mine, icy cold, and I held it firm, steadying her as she climbed down. She swayed on her feet, and instinct took over, scooping her into my arms before she could protest.
“Lucas—” Her voice cracked on my name, equal parts surprise and exhaustion.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said, my tone gruff to hide how her saying my name hit me square in the chest. “You’re freezing. Let me carry you.”
The porch steps groaned under my boots as I climbed them. The front door swung open before I reached it, spilling warm light and the familiar scent of woodsmoke into the storm.
Diesel stood there, his expression sharp. “You’re late.” His gaze shifted to the woman in my arms, and his tone softened just a hair. “Shit. Who’s this?”
“Found her stranded up the mountain,” I said. “Tailpipe was blocked. She wouldn’t have lasted long.”
Diesel’s jaw tightened. “Bring her in.”
I crossed the threshold, the warmth wrapping around us like a blanket. Sara let out a broken little sound. Relief, maybe? But I would be lying if I said I hated how she tucked her face against my chest.
“You’re safe now,” I whispered, low enough only she could hear.
For tonight, that was all that mattered.
CHAPTER 3
Sara
The heatfrom the house slammed into me the second we crossed the threshold, almost suffocating after hours of being frozen to the bone. My body didn’t know how to handle it. My skin prickled, and every single muscle trembled like I’d been plugged into a socket.
Lucas’s arms stayed tight around me as he carried me inside, and his chest was solid beneath my cheek. I should’ve protested, should’ve insisted I could walk on my own, but I couldn’t seem to find the strength. Not after what I’d just been through. Not when every step outside had felt like sinking into ice.
The room we entered was wide and open, built of rough-hewn logs and stone. A massive fire roared in the hearth, casting warm light over polished wood floors and heavy furniture. It was beautiful… and intimidating.
Five men stood waiting, each one different, but all radiating the kind of presence that made my stomach knot. These weren’t men who lived ordinary lives.
And they weren’t alone.
There were also women who stood close by, some at their sides, others watching carefully from a slight distance. Couples? Strong, unshakable pairs who seemed to fit together like puzzle pieces.
Lucas’s deep voice rumbled through his chest beneath me. “Found her stuck halfway up the mountain. Car was buried. She was trying to dig it out on her own.”
Embarrassment burned in my cheeks, but the way he said it carried no judgment, only concern. I looked up at him. In high school, he’d been the lanky guy who kept mostly to himself. Quiet. Kind. I’d searched for excuses to talk to him, but Chad or one of his buddies always shut that down. I had a list of people I was allowed to speak to, and an even longer one of those I couldn’t.
Still, my heart had skipped every time I saw Lucas. He always asked how I was, like it mattered, like someone cared. Maybe he saw what everyone else didn’t. Those small moments had carried me through more than anyone knew.
Now… damn. He wasn’t lanky anymore. He was all hard lines and muscle. Strong. Capable.
I turned my head so I wouldn’t be caught staring, no matter how badly I wanted to. He was pure eye candy, sure—but there was more to him than that. Lucas had once been the quiet boy who made me feel seen. Tonight, he was my savior again.
