“What about us?” Talbot asked, indicating himself and Scott.
“You two take the garages on the east side of the house.”
“On it.” Talbot and Scott nodded in near unison.
“Oh, wait. Hey, guys,” Joel yelled, rushing into the hall, grabbing the dudes before they exited. “Watch out for the wolves, especially now you’re in lower numbers. And stay on this side of their den.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem with the shed locations,” Devon said.
“You guys be safe. While you’re out in them, I’ll search inside for supplies.”
“Andcanoodlewith Cassie,” Heath chuckled, using air quotes.
Was the guy twelve or outright mocking him? He and Cassie were clearly not together, as painful as it was to admit. “Excuse me?”
“I saw that look between you two.”
What look?Had there been a look when he’d said ‘good job’?”
“Let’s go.” Brady yanked Heath by the jacket collar, and out the door the four guys went.
Joel headed back to the parlor as a bracing draft swooped in upon the guys’ exit.
“Close the door. It’s freezing, remember?” Penelope gripped a thin throw blanket around her shoulders and sat in the burgundy armchair.
When he was a kid in that very chair, he’d thought he was so grown up at afternoon tea, but his feet couldn’t even touch the floor. He’d always wanted to bring Cassie here with it playing such a large part in his childhood adventures, but Stan had built the new lodge before they got together two years ago—a year together and now a year apart, but he couldn’t dwell on that. Though once they made it safely out of this—and they would; he’d see to that with everything in him—he had to tell her how he felt. He’d nearly lost her again today. Nearly lost the chance to sayI love youone last time. Even if nothing had changed on her end ... he needed to let her know. He wasn’t going to live with regrets any longer.
A bang nailed the window by Penelope’s head. She swung around on a jump and screamed.
Heath stood at the window with the lantern eerily lighting up his face, and a snarl across his features.
Her scream continued, and Heath cracked up.
“Not cool, dude,” Devon hollered from behind him. “Come on, we have a job to do.”
“What? It was funny.” He waved and stepped off the porch and back into the fierce blizzard.
Cassie stood up, wobbled, but regained her balance.
“What are you doing?” She should be in the chair with her leg propped up.
“Going with you to search the house.”
“That’s thoughtful of you”—and he’d cherish any alone time with Cassie no matter how it was spent—“but I should check out your leg, then you should rest.”
“It’s fine. Well...” She scrunched her lips in that thinking way of hers. “Not fine, but it’s just a twisted knee. It hurts, but if Ibalance right and hold on to rails, I’ll be good to go. It beats just sitting and waiting around.”
“All right.” Sitting and waiting wasn’t in Cassie’s wheelhouse. “But let me take a look first.”
She exhaled. “Fine.”
He smirked at her stubbornness. It should annoy him but, heaven help him, he still found it adorable.
Taking off her boots, he gripped her wet socks. “This isn’t good.”
“We get a fire going, we can hang them by it. Besides, I’m sure everyone is in the same boat.”
He peeled the sock down, expecting terrible frostbite, but there was just the first hint of it.
