Kelsey continued her restless monitoring of their surroundings. She’d check one window, move to another, then return to the first as if she expected to see something different.
Not that she could see much of anything with the boards covering the openings. The glass had been removed years ago, either by vandals or by design to prevent vandalism. Even so, her movements had a pattern that suggested she was looking for something specific, not just a general concern about the weather.
She paused at one boarded window longer than the others. When she turned back, her expression was too carefully neutral.
“Everything okay?” Nick asked.
“Fine,” Kelsey said quickly. “Just checking the storm conditions. Wondering if we’re going to be able to leave soon.”
The explanation sounded reasonable, but her body language didn’t match. She carried a tension that felt excessive for the circumstances. Nick noted it and turned his attention to the more pressing issue of group morale.
Being stuck together was hard enough without letting unease and distrust seep in. Joe offered the tent to both Brooke and Kelsey, saying he was finally warm and feeling better.
They both declined. Brooke muttered about needing to be able to get out quickly, and Kelsey claimed she was too keyed up to sit still. At least that part appeared honest.
“Anyone up for some cards?” Nick suggested, pulling a deck from his gear. “Might help pass the time.”
“I don’t really play cards,” Brooke said, still focused on her phone.
“I might take another nap,” Joe added apologetically.
“Cards sound good,” Gina said, settling down across from Nick. “What did you have in mind?”
As they sorted through game options, Nick studied Gina’s profile in the dim light. She had an expressive face, one that showed her thoughts more clearly than she probably realized.
Right then, he could see her concern for the group, her assessment of their situation, and something else—awareness. Of him. Of what had happened in his SUV earlier.
They hadn’t talked about the kiss, hadn’t had a chance with the storm forcing them back inside and the group needing attention. But it sat between them now, this thing they’d started and couldn’t finish.
“You’re thinking hard about something,” Gina observed as she shuffled the cards.
“Just wondering how long this storm will last,” he said, which was partly true. He was also wondering if she regretted kissing him. If she was already building walls again, convincing herself it had been a mistake driven by crisis and proximity.
“Weather services aren’t exactly reliable out here,” she replied. “Obviously. Mountain storms have their own rules.”
They settled into an easy game, and Nick tried to relax. Gina was easy to talk to, with a quick wit and the kind of practical intelligence he’d always found attractive. She asked good questions and listened to the answers instead of just waiting for her turn to talk.
“So, you’ve been doing construction work around here?” she asked as they played.
“Mostly remodeling jobs. Kitchen renovations, bathroom updates, that kind of thing.” Nick drew a card and tried to keep his tone casual. “Brooke connected me with a friend of hers who needed help. There’s decent demand for skilled work in the smaller towns.”
“That’s good. Steady income.”
Nick almost laughed at the irony. “When I can find it. Winter tends to be slow, and a lot of the work is seasonal or project-based. I try to find things to do inside then. Kitchen or bath remodels, that kind of thing.”
He didn’t mention that he’d been taking whatever jobs he could get, often for less money than his skills were worth, because beggars couldn’t be choosers. Or that he’d been turned down for several permanent positions because employers wanted stability and references that he couldn’t provide.
Not after the falling out he had with Sara’s dad and brother, the way he left in a huff and them being happy to show him the door.
“Still, it’s good work,” Gina said. “There’s something satisfying about building things, fixing things that are broken.”
The way she said it made Nick wonder if she was talking about more than just construction. There was something in her tone that suggested personal experience with things that needed fixing.
“What about you? You mentioned working in Denver before moving to Irma. What made you choose ER nursing?”
She was quiet for a moment. “My mom. She had a lot of health issues. Some physical, mostly mental. Depression, alcoholism. I spent years taking her to doctors, dealing with emergencies, trying to get her help.”
Gina adjusted in her camp chair. “By the time I graduated from high school, I’d spent more time in hospitals than most people do in a lifetime. Figured I might as well make a career of it.”
