Page 13 of Midnight Clear

“My feet are sweating,” she said. “So hot in here. Open a window.”

She wasn’t looking so good, so he opened the window a crack, just enough to let a breeze in, but not the snow. And then he made short work of her shoes and socks and got her situated on the bed so she lay right in the middle.

He thought she was asleep, so he took the blanket on her reading chair and covered her with it, but she tossed it off immediately.

“Too hot,” she mumbled.

The doorbell rang and he hurried out of the room and back down the hall to answer it before it disturbed her. He opened the front door to see his brother Colt and Colt’s wife, Zoe, standing on the porch.

“Thanks for coming out,” Hank said. “She’s back in the bedroom. She looks pretty rough.”

“See, I told you,” Colt said, looking at his wife and making her grin.

“So you did,” she said, leaning in to hug Hank.

“Told her what?” Hank asked.

“That you were in love,” Colt said. “You sounded like a crazy person on the phone. Only love does that.”

“I’m being a good neighbor,” Hank said, his skin going cold at the thought of love. Was he attracted to Sophie? Yes. Did he want to know everything about her? Absolutely. But love? Surely he would know if it was love.

“I heard you had breakfast with her this morning,” Zoe said, tongue in cheek. “My sources say it looked rather heated.”

Hank felt his cheeks heat, but wanted to protect Sophie and what she’d shared with him. “It was a private conversation.”

“Uh-huh,” Colt said, arching a brow. “And then I heard a rumor that the two of you were walking arm in arm down Main Street. Very cozy.”

“I was helping her get home, you dolt,” Hank said. “Aren’t you here to help?”

Colt grinned and winked at his wife. “Of course. Lead me to her. Maybe I can talk some sense into her and tell her some embarrassing stories about you. She seems a sensible woman.”

“I’ve always liked her,” Zoe piped in, giving him a cheeky grin.

It was a good thing he loved his sister-in-law. She and Colt were having much too much fun at his expense. And there would be retribution that only he as an older brother could give.

“Come on,” Hank said. “I’m worried about that fever.”

He led them back toward the bedroom where she was sleeping, and then he stopped in his tracks when he saw the bed was empty.

Colt’s eyes went to the window. “Dang, brother. You left such an impression that a feverish woman escaped out her own window just to get away from you?”

“Shut up,” Hank said without heat. “She said she was too hot and needed some air.” He stepped into the room. “Sophie?” he called out. “You okay?”

Water was running in what he could only assume was the bathroom, and then the door opened and Sophie came out. She’d changed into a pair of thin cotton pajamas and had a glass of water in her hand. She looked surprised to see three people standing in her bedroom.

“I was only gone a few minutes,” Hank said, shaking his head. “What are you doing out of bed?”

“I was thirsty,” she said. “And hot. Why are you here?”

Zoe snorted out a laugh. “You’re such a charmer, Hank.”

“You shut up too,” he said under his breath.

“Why don’t you let me take a look at you?” Colt asked, cutting in smoothly before things could get out of hand.

“I’m fine,” Sophie said, her eyes clearer than they’d been before he’d left to answer the door. “I just need a little rest and I’ll be fine. I’ve been a little overwhelmed lately and I think it all just caught up with me. Really, there’s no need to worry.”

She took a drink of water, but Hank noticed her hand wasn’t quite steady.

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