Lucas growled. Actually growled. Then muttered a vicious curse under his breath as he stood. “I’m going to find Sara something dry to wear.”
I hadn’t even noticed I was still practically thawing out and dripping all over the couch and floor. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
Lily shook her head. “Do not even worry about it.”
“One perfect cup of cinnamon hot cocoa,” Carter announced as he returned, a travel mug in hand. Steam curled from the vent as he held it out. “Sometimes, I impress myself.”
It smelled heavenly as he handed it over to me. But the warmth it fed my fingers was even better. I closed my eyes and melted into the heat. “Thank you so much.”
Jacob looked at Lucas with a nod. “You good?
Lucas nodded.
Jacob clapped a hand on my hero’s shoulder, almost as if to say good job. “Take care of her. We’ll figure out how to get her car out and her home safely when the storm lightens up. Could be a few days.” He then glanced at me. “You are welcome to stay here with us in the main house.”
Lucas shifted, and I felt the need to stay with him. “Is… is it okay if I stay with Lucas?”
Fox’s brow rose a mile. “You mean… you want to stay with Dice?”
Jax shook his head and laughed again. “Yes, you know some women prefer a man who has… hobbies. Maybe you should get one.”
I wasn’t sure what that was all about, but I was resolved and would fight to stay with Lucas.
Jacob smiled and wrapped an arm around Lily drawing her in close to his side. “Sara, it was wonderful to meet you, even if the circumstances weren’t ideal, but… welcome.”
Welcome.
That one word meant more than he would ever know. Lucas stood up and offered his hand that I took immediately, holding my mug in the other.
Maybe that wrong turn up the mountain was right after all?
CHAPTER 4
Dice
The storm howled aroundus as we left the main house, my hand firm on Sara’s back as I guided her toward the bunkhouse. The wind bit at any exposed skin, and all I could think about was getting her somewhere warm and safe.
And away from prying eyes and questions.
The bunkhouse was a simple modular home, one of a few scattered near the barn. Come spring, Jacob planned to start building permanent houses for the crew. Diesel, Jax, Carter… they’d all have places of their own, spots to settle down with their women. But for now, this place worked. It wasn’t fancy, but it was home.
Lights glowed in the windows, a welcome beacon against the storm. The front door creaked as I pushed it open, ushering Sara inside ahead of me. Warmth wrapped around us immediately, carrying the smell of coffee, wood smoke, and too many men cooped up together for too long.
A few guys were gathered around the kitchen table, a deck of cards spread between them. Poker chips clicked in their hands,the rhythmic sound breaking through the background hum of conversation. One of the men was newer to me, Trippe, a quiet guy who mostly kept to himself. Fox had a room here too, but thankfully he was stuck at the main house tonight.
The room fell silent the second they saw me with Sara.
“Holy shit,” one of them breathed, his hand frozen mid-shuffle.
One man slowly set his cards down. “Everything okay?” His tone was neutral, but I didn’t miss the underlying tension.
“Yeah,” I said evenly. My hand stayed on the small of Sara’s back. “Found her car buried in the storm. She was trying to dig herself out.”
Brows furrowed. No one cracked a joke. No one dared. They just… watched. Measuring her. Measuring me.
Finally, one of the older men gave a single, slow nod. “She’s safe now. That’s what matters.”
Sara shifted closer to me, picking up on the unspoken weight in the room.
