Wind cut across Holden’s upper half. He shivered.
“Make it quick, Scout!” he whisper-yelled.
The moon was full, swathing the landscape in silvery-white light. It was beautiful, the night even clearer without the power on. Streetlamps and porch lights no longer competed with the galaxies overhead. Stars shone more brilliantly. The landscape almost appeared to glisten.
He inhaled a frigid breath that seared his lungs but was invigorating all the same.
Scout trotted back to stand by his side on the porch. “Wipe your paws,” he reminded. “And if you need to shake off, do it out here and not inside.”
The dog gave a little wiggle, knocking bits of clumped snow from her underbelly and shaking it free from her tail.
“Good girl.”
Holden pushed on the handle to the front door. It didn’t budge.
With more force, he leaned into the wooden door and tried again. Still nothing.
“This isn’t good.”
He tried once more with the same result. Even Scout standing on her back legs with her front paws pressed to the door did nothing, but Holden appreciated her effort.
“I really don’t want to do this.” He pulled his cell phone from his back pocket.
Another cold whip of air drew his shoulders clear up to his ears. He shivered so hard it looked like a ridiculous dance move.
Scrolling until he found her number, he was grateful something had prompted him to store it in his phone earlier. But he wasn’t grateful for waking her. There had to be another way. A quick pass over the porch came up empty. No hidden key. He thought about going around to the garage, but distinctly remembered locking it behind him when he returned with the firewood that evening.
If they were going to get back inside, they would need to be let in.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he recited as he pressed his finger and the phone dialed her number. He could hear it ringing even from outside. It would be a startling, unwelcome alarm, to say the least.
“Hello?” Rachel’s voice cracked from sleep.
“I’m locked out.”
“Who is this?” The gravel worked its way out of her tone. He could see her figure lift from the couch and into an upright position.
“It’s Holden. I stayed over to wait out the storm, remember? I needed to let Scout out, and it appears the door locked behind us.”
Holden heard her footfalls over the hardwood, and when she came up to the window with her phone pressed to her ear, they locked eyes. A small smile curled the corner of her mouth.
The lock turned over. “Get in here. It’s freezing.”
Scout jumped up and left a kiss on Rachel’s cheek.
“Down, girl,” Holden scolded, but Rachel didn’t seem to mind.
They moved to the family room where Holden quickly put another log on the fire. He bent down and opened his palms to the flames. He’d only been outside a few minutes, but he didn’t think to bring his jacket and his flannel shirt provided little protection against the elements. Even with the crackling warmth from the hearth, it would take a good half hour before his temperature got back to normal. Chills iced up his spine again.
He didn’t anticipate the sudden weight of a blanket draped over his shoulders, nor the kind, caring gaze Rachel gave when he lifted his head to meet her eyes.
“Take this,” she offered. “It’ll help you warm up faster.”
It was the wool blanket she’d been tucked under the last few hours, sleeping soundly on the nearby couch. Her perfume permeated the fibers with rich notes of vanilla and mint, and Holden inhaled deeply, nearly drowning in the intoxicating mixture. Had she always smelled this good? He didn’t know if he’d ever gotten close enough to tell.
“Thank you,” he said. “I appreciate it.”
She lowered to his level, tucking her legs beneath her. “Of course. And I don’t know if I said it earlier, but thank you for stopping by.” The smile that challenged her lips earlier spread into a full grin. “And thank you for the fire.”
