Page 3 of A Not So Silent Night

He’s just about to grab the door handle when the door pushes open.

“Oh my God. I thought I was going to fucking freeze to death out here,” a shivering feminine voice comes from within the large, tightly bound coat climbing from the car. Loosening the coat as she speaks, she pushes back the hood, and her long, curly black hair cascades down her back.

Fuck. She’s stunning.

“You look like you’re freezing,” I step closer toward her.

She shivers, and her teeth chatter as she responds, “I ran out of gas about an hour ago.”

“Let’s get you in the truck,” Nick reaches for her, “Get you warmed up.”

She steps out of his reach and eyes us both suspiciously before asking, “Are you serial killers? Rapists?Or going to leave me for dead out here in the middle of the woods?”

“I’m not.” I smile back, “But Nick here is part of the local PD, so the jury is probably still out on him.”

CHAPTER 3

Olivia

Nick opens the door to the truck and climbs inside before reaching out a hand to help me in. Hesitating for a moment, I spend a second weighing my options.Take the chance with them, or definitely freeze to death on the side of the road.I slide my hand into his and let him hoist me into the truck.

How many serial killers are charming anyway?

Besides Bundy.

“Sorry, Jersey. There are only the two bucket seats,” he smiles as he pulls me onto his lap, “We’re going to have to share.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls,” I respond as he reaches between the two of us and unzips his coat. He pulls it as far around me as he can while wrapping his arms around me. Squeezing them tightly, he pulls me into him and holds me against his chest.

“We’ve got to get you warmed up,” his deep voice against my ear sends chills down my spine unlike any I felt in the cold car. I would argue, but his warmth radiating against me feels amazing.

It’s just a short ride into town. What harm could come of this?

“I see you’ve met Nick,” the other guy climbs into the driver's side of the truck with a smirk on his face, “I’m Kris. Kris Kringle.”

“Olivia,” I chatter back, “Really fucking happy to meet you both.”

Kris reaches for a knob on the dash and cranks the heat to high as Nick’s hands rub over the sleeves of my jacket to warm me.

If they’re going to kill me, at least I’ll be warm before I die.

“Where are you headed in this weather?” Kris’s voice has a tinge of concern to it.

“Into town.”

“Town is the other way,” he replies in a joking yet condescending tone.

“Thank you, Captain Obvious. My tire blew, and I spun out.” I shiver a little less as I continue to talk, “I was just hoping to check into whatever little hotel there is until this storm passes. Can you tow me into town?”

“I’ve got bad news for you,” Nick sighs from behind me. “The Evergreen Lodge has been full for hours. We’re having some weird influx of Christmas season tourists this year. And a ton of people got stuck here when this storm rolled in.”

“Hilton? Holiday Inn? Super 8? Motel 6?” I question, “I’m not picky. I just need a place to stay until I can get my car fixed.”

“Nope. Just Evergreen Lodge.”

Really? One hotel, and it’s completely booked!

“I’ve got more bad news for you.” Kris shakes his head. “I can’t hook up your car to tow it in this weather. It’s also not a good idea for us to turn around and head back into town. The roads are far too bad to travel that far.”

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