Page 20 of Holiday Power Play

"Are th-there any hotels?" Lana stutters out through chattering teeth.

"Unfortunately, I think the inn is at capacity. The nearest hotel is over thirty miles back the way you came, but like I said, roads are closed." He's rubbing the side of his jaw like he's trying to think of something for us.

"Are we s-supposed to just stay in our car?"

"Do you not have a coat?" I ask the shivering woman next to me.

When she ignores me, I shrug out of my jacket and stretch it over her shoulders. She opens her mouth to say something, but then I rub both sides of her arms to warm her, and she shuts her mouth.

"You know what, let me see if there's something we can do for you nice folks. Why don't you come inside the general store while I make some calls."

"Thank God," Lana says, shifting out of my jacket and handing it back to me as we follow the sheriff through the doors.

Chapter 5

Lana

The general store is warm and cozy, and feels like we’ve stepped into an 1800s homestead with modern amenities. There's even a cast iron wood stove burning wood in the far corner.

I head there first, ready to defrost my frigid fingers. But also to get away from Trevor as fast as I can. I'm not falling for his little nice guy tactics even for a second. I don't care how cute his dimples are or how warm his gaze on me feels. And that scent. Don't get me started on how this guy smells like the perfect mix of musk and wood…I need to stop.

It hasn't even been two months since my wedding day went to shit and I'm already cracking.

I step up to the fire and hold my cold hands out.

I can't let myself be taken advantage of again.Never again.

This time, I know better. This time, I'm not a desperate woman trying to get validation from a guy that could never be what I need him to be.

No. Trevor Sincaid won't get access to me. I don't care how much my brother claims to love the guy.

"The sheriff seems to have taken a liking to you," a voice says quietly behind me.

"And you feel the need to mention that to me because…?"

Trevor shrugs, still holding the jacket over his arm that he wrapped me in without asking. It was sweet, but I know better.

"No particular reason, I guess. Just seems to be going out of his way for a group of strangers."

I turn to him. "Maybe if I bat my lashes and shake my ass he'll put us up in a big, fancy cabin. Seems to work for you professional hockey players."

His gentle smile disappears. "I've never shaken my ass to get something. I took my pants off."

I give him a look.

"Besides," he adds gruffly, "I didn't say I liked that he's looking at you."

Wait… what?

Trevor's eyes stay glued to mine and there's a possessiveness in them that takes me by surprise.

"Woah! You won't believe what the sheriff just got us." My brother walks up to us, swinging a set of keys around his pointer finger breaking our locked gazes.

"Are those the keys to his handcuffs?" I balk at him.

"No," he rustles my hair, and I slap his hand away.

"One of the owners of the inn told him we could stay in his empty cabin just up the hill for the night."

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