Page 9 of Stuck with My Bossy Protector

Mia nods, though she still looks apprehensive. “I hope so. I’ve never been so scared in my life. I’ve been on other rough rides, but I think this is the first time I’ve been this close to death.”

I want to tell her it wasn’t such a close call, but that was a lie. Things had been very, very sketchy there for a few minutes.

“Hey,” I say softly, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “We’re alive and in one piece. That’s what matters most. We’ve got supplies, and we have each other. So long as we remain calm and think things through, we’ll survive this.”

She gives a shaky laugh, her lips twitching into a small smile. “You’re good at this, aren’t you? The whole survival thing.”

I shrug modestly. “Just comes with the territory. Being prepared is half the battle.”

As the night drags on, our conversation fades into a companionable silence. Mia eventually closes her eyes, her breathing evening out as she succumbs to exhaustion. I’m not far behind, my own eyelids growing heavy as the adrenaline of our emergency landing finally wears off. That is the thing about adrenaline. You can be running a hundred miles an hour one second, and the next, you are so drained you can’t stand up.

But despite the letdown, I can’t bring myself to close my eyes. I told her things would be fine, but honestly, I am more than a little worried. I know the many different scenarios that are at play here. If this storm dumps too much snow, there is no way to clear enough ground to take off. The temperature is another factor. I can feel the cold. If it gets too far below freezing, the wings could end up coated in ice.

But I’m not going to share those thoughts with her. Her head lolls against my shoulder, her chest rising and falling in the rhythm of deep sleep. I catch myself watching her for a few minutes, noting her peaceful expression and the soft sweep of her hair against her pale skin. She looks so small and vulnerable—yet resolute. She’s tough. I’m impressed. Not many women would be comfortable doing what she did. Hell, I’m not sure I would be cool with facing off against animals that would like to prove they should be at the top of the food chain.

My eyes drift to the bag she’s been protecting since we landed. Given the way she’s been holding the thing, I’m curious to see if there’s more than just a camera in there.

However, my professionalism stops me from peeking into her belongings without permission. Instead, I pull my jacket closer, attempting to shut out some of the chill creeping in from outside.

I rest my eyes for a while, attempting to get some sleep. But every sound outside—be it harsh wind, crackling ice, or what sounds like twigs and pine needles pelting the plane, keeps me awake. I realize we are in a precarious position.

I take a deep breath and push aside the thoughts of potential dangers. There is no point worrying about what may or may not happen. We just have to get through the night. Then we make a move.

Chapter five

Mia

Iwake up instantly, straight from dead asleep to confused and afraid. That’s when I feel the hard chest under my cheek and the strong arm around my body, holding me close. Everything that happened floods into my brain, terrifying me all over again. I realize I’m snuggled up to Noah. My initial reaction is one of horror, but I try to mask it as I move away. He’s already awake and looking at me, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” I ask, crankiness seeping into my voice. “We need to go.”

He shrugs. “I just woke up myself. Besides, I was waiting for the sun to rise nice and high. No sense stumbling around in the dark.”

I hate that I was so cozy with him. And if I’m being honest, I’m attracted to the guy. I chalk it up to the situation. There’s no way it’s real. It’s just the adrenaline and the proximity, nothing more.

“Right,” I say, running a hand through my tousled hair. “Too dark to travel. Got it.” I try to shake off the feelings creeping up inside me, but it isn’t easy.

I casually glance at his shirt, praying I didn’t drool on him. I don’t see a wet spot, which is a small victory, but I’ll take it. I rub my eyes, glad I hadn’t bothered with make-up yesterday. The last thing I need is mascara smudged around my eyes. Despite the seriousness of the situation, I can’t help but think about what I must look like.

It is stupid—vapid. I am in a life-threatening situation, and I am worried about impressing the hot guy I’m trapped in a plane with. I give myself a mental shake and try to think rationally. I look at Noah once again. He doesn’t seem worried. On the contrary, he seems fully at ease, like we aren’t stranded in an unfamiliar location with no one else around to come to our aid.

“How are you feeling?” he asks simply.

Tiredness weighs on me, but adrenaline refuses to let me rest. “Scared,” I admit softly, giving him a weak smile.

“It’s understandable,” he says, his voice deep and slow, which for some stupid reason excites me. “But we’re doing okay so far.”

“How cold do you think it is?” I ask. “I don’t feel like I’m hypothermic.”

“It’s probably below freezing.”

“That’s not good.”

He slowly shakes his head. “No, it isn’t.”

“It’s quiet.”

“The wind died down a couple of hours ago.”

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