He stayed cool and focused, moving with ease and seeming perfectly in control. Gina normally kept her guard up around people without stable lives, yet Nick’s competence was impossible to overlook.
Where had that come from?She intended to ignore him. Completely. She was not looking for a relationship. Her life was nearly perfect already, with working at the hospital, volunteering at the blood bank, being a member of the Basin County Search and Rescue, and participating in the Basin County Running Club. All of it kept her busy enough without adding a man to the mix.
Though, if she was being honest—and trapped in a blizzard seemed like a good time for honesty—perfectwasn’t quite the right word.Safewas closer.Controlledwas even more accurate. She’d built a life where she didn’t need anyone, which meant no one could disappoint her.
Watching Nick organize the group made her wonder if safety and loneliness were maybe two sides of the same coin.
“There’s a lot of snow and wind out there,” Kelsey said, a tense edge to her voice. “We should just stay inside.”
“A few supplies will make us more comfortable,” Nick replied. “I have things in my car. Joe? You have anything in your truck?”
He shook his head. “Not much. A blanket under the seat. Maybe another jacket or two. Gina and Kelsey have coats in there too.”
“Let’s go ahead and grab those. Bring your headlamp.” He looked toward Gina. “Will you help us with the door if needed?”
“I’ll go with you.” The words slipped out before Gina fully thought them through. She could have stayed inside where it was warmer, could have let the men handle the supply run. But she wanted to be near him. Working with someone who evaluated and acted instead of panicking or complaining, it felt like she finally had a competent partner.
She glanced at her friends. Brooke was staring at her GPS again, muttering about a lost opportunity. Kelsey had moved to the far end of the hall, peering through the cracks of a boarded-up window at the white world beyond.
“That way we can grab everything in one trip,” she added, trying to sound practical. “Kelsey and Brooke can make sure we get back inside.” She glanced at Brooke. “Right, Brooke?”
“Yeah, sure. We’ll get you back inside.”
Gina followed Joe, and Nick followed her as they trooped back outside into the swirling snow. The wind had picked up, driving the flakes horizontally across the abandoned mining structures.
Gina pulled her hood tighter. As the wind pushed against them, she leaned instinctively toward Nick’s solid frame. For once, she didn’t second-guess it.
Joe’s pickup sat next to Nick’s SUV, both already accumulating serious snow.
“Let’s start them while we’re here,” Nick said. “Give the batteries a chance to charge.”
While the men started the vehicles, Gina dug out the jacket she’d worn earlier. With the pickup running, Joe rummaged through the backseat, pulling out a large coat, a thin blanket, and the coat Kelsey had worn earlier.
“Let’s leave everything in the truck so it stays dry while we check Nick’s supplies,” Gina suggested. Joe was already slipping into the coat he’d worn earlier that morning.
At the back of Nick’s vehicle, Gina stopped short. The entire cargo area was packed with boxes, duffel bags, camping gear, and what looked like every possession he owned.
“Wow,” Joe said, staring inside the trunk. “You live out of this thing?”
Nick’s jaw tightened slightly. “Just keeping my options open.”
Someone obviously living out of their car should set off major alarm bells. But even as they rang, she noticed the order in the chaos. Labeled bins. Secured equipment. Organized tools. Not running from responsibility—just making it portable.
The distinction mattered, even if she wasn’t ready to examine why.
Nick sifted through his equipment, pulling out essentials with the confidence of someone who knew exactly what was needed: a camp stove, food, a couple of mugs, warm blankets, and first aid supplies that went far beyond basic requirements.
“Good thing you’ve got all this,” Joe said, awe in his tone.
“Yeah,” Nick replied as he shot a glance at Gina. “Some advantages to living light.”
As their eyes met, something flickered across his face. Not defensiveness exactly, but awareness. He knew how it looked. Knew what assumptions people made about a guy living out of his car.
She wanted to say something, but the words stuck. Instead, she just nodded toward the supplies. “You’ve got good gear.”
“Thanks,” he said quietly, then went back to sorting through his bins.
“I’ve got a few things,” Joe said. “I brought a box of granola bars, thinking I might be hungry after the run.”
