Her gaze flew to me. “I never implied you would.”
“Just making that part clear. I’m also not good with kids, so don’t be expecting much help in that area.”
A spark of something lifted her chin. “I don’t need your aid with Zaza. She is my daughter.”
“Good. Just wanted to make sure there was no misunderstanding. Guess since we’re stuck together until the storm passes, we should probably do introductions. I’m Bruce.” I didn’t mention my last name, Milner, in case she recognized it.
She hesitated before saying, “Nicky.”
“I’d say nice to meet you, but I think we’re way past that point. And let’s be honest, neither of us wanted or expected to be caught in this situation.”
“I do appreciate your aid, and worry not, as soon as the road is clear, I’ll leave.”
“Or you can stay until you get some kind of plan in place.” I couldn’t believe the words emerged from my mouth. I didn’t want some doe-eyed skittish woman and her kid living with me. I had a book to write and a deadline fast approaching.
“Why are you being so kind?” she blurted.
“Kind?” My brow arched. Not a word usually associated with me. “Think of this more as me not being a dick. You’re obviously in a tough spot. I have the room. So long as you take care of yourself and the child, then I can handle a few days of having my space invaded.”
A hint of a smile tugged her lips and for a moment. I could see beyond the frailty to the beauty in her features. The delicate line of her cheekbones. The thickness of her lashes. The creamy smoothness of her skin.
Whoa. Nope. Single and staying that way. I wasn’t going to be one of those guys sucked into drama because of a pretty face trying to indulge in a savior complex.
“Thank you. I promise we won’t get in the way.”
Doubtful. “I’m going to fetch some firewood in case the power goes out.” Despite my leg being stiff and throbbing, I bundled up and headed out into the storm, needing a moment of frigid to clear my mind. The early afternoon might as well have been night with the storm bringing in a roiling, dark mass of clouds and flurries that rendered visibility to only a few feet in front of me. Despite the shitty conditions, I carried and stacked several loads of split logs by the chalet door and found myself wondering about the asshole that sent Nicky fleeing.
Her husband. Fucking dick, hitting a woman I could bench press with ease. And then for her to fear he’d smack the baby? I already hated the fucker. I’d been raised by a man who believed in spare the rod, spoil the child. I’d seen what constant berating and intimidation could do as my mother cowered before my father’s constant rages. He was a waste collector who came home daily and sat in his armchair, expecting to be served beers and even his dinner, complaining nonstop, never having a kind word or even praise no matter how well I did. Decent grades. A star player on sports teams. Never good enough. The moment I graduated and turned eighteen, I escaped that life. I enlisted in the army and never looked back.
When my father died, my mother tried reaching out, her letter short and lacking apology for the abuse she allowed to happen. I called her and had the most awkward conversation of my life. I understood it would have been hard for her to leave. Hard for her to stand up. But she’d not once even protested. She’d taken the beatings. Watched as I received the same. Never once consoled me when I sobbed as a youngster. Nothing. I found it hard to forgive especially when she told me she missed the asshole who used to hurt us both. We lost contact after that.
The woman inside the chalet, though, she’d found the courage to do what was right.
Eventually.
While she’d not said so, I got the impression she’d suffered through several beatings but when she saw the asshole turning to her child, she escaped. For that alone she deserved my respect.
By the time I’d stacked a waist-high pile of wood by the door, the snow reached past my ankles and kept coming. Of more concern, the lights inside flickered. Good thing I’d bought those candles.
I entered to the smell of something savory steaming on the stove.
Nicky held a wooden spoon in hand as she said, “Thought I’d make some stew to warm your belly.”
“You didn’t have to cook.”
“I wanted to. Call it my small way of repaying you for your kindness. We’d have likely frozen to death out there if you’d not come along,” she admitted.
They would have. “If the lights go out, we can use candles, but we should be careful where we put them.”
“I won’t leave anything in Zaza’s reach.”
“We gotta watch for Percy too,” I added. “Little bugger can climb.”
“Does your lizard travel with you everywhere you go?” she asked.
A snort escaped me. “Percy and I only recently met. The bugger joined me in the hot tub only last night and then, once it realized I had food, decided to stick around.”
“It eats people food?” Her brow scrunched.
