Page 5 of Trapped with the Growly Rock Star

Her pretty, green eyes go wide as they meet mine.

She doesn’t answer.

“Well?” I add.

“I...um...” she stammers. “I...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean... I was...” But nothing I can work with comes out.

“We don’t have all day, honey. We’ll freeze our asses off out here. Are you okay to stand?”

She nods. “You’re Lennox Steele,” she says suddenly, almost as if in a daze.

I reach under her arms and pull her up on her feet next to me.

“Yeah. And who are you?” I ask, admiring her flaming red hair.

“I-I’m Hallie Owens,” she replies almost automatically.

“Can you walk?”

She nods.

“Then let’s get our butts inside. I can’t feel my goddamn face,” I snap, as a gust of wind cracks against my face like an icy whip. I get a good hold on her with one arm before we hurry back toward the cabin. Her steps are unsteady, and I can hear her teeth chattering.

I tighten my grip around her and hustle us inside. After removing my coat and boots, I help her out of her wet jacket.

I can’t help but glance down at her heaving chest. “Sheriff’s Department?” I ask, seeing the embroidered logo on the right side of her shirt. Whoisthis woman? “Go sit by the fire and grab a blanket from the sofa. Warm yourself up,” I say. “Then tell me what’s going on, Ms. Owens.”

“Call me Hallie,” she replies, heading over to the fireplace.

I notice that her gaze follows me from the room. Luckily, I keep a pot of coffee on all day. I guess I traded my alcohol addiction for one to caffeine. But I wouldn’t be the first to do that, and I’ll take it. I pour a couple of steaming mugs and return to the sofa, handing one to her.

Her hands are so cold, and for some reason I feel an inexplicable need to warm them with my own. But I resist the urge and instead sit next to her.

“Let’s hear it, Hallie,” I say, as she curls into the blanket. “What is someone from the Sheriff’s Department doing out here?”

Her pale skin goes pink and she inhales deeply. “I need your autograph.”

What? Did she just say autograph? You’ve got to be kidding me!

“You risked your life, falling from a fucking tree in the middle of a blizzard, for anautograph?” I grind out. I’m furious.

“Yes, but?—”

“Unbelievable,” I seethe, looking away to keep my anger under control. “Okay, once you get warmed up and finish your coffee, you need to leave. I should report you to the Sheriff himself. He gave me his word no one would know I was even here.”

“Please don’t, Mr. Steele,” she pleads. “He knows nothing of this. I found out on my own. I can be pretty ingenious when I want something.”

“So, stalking then?” I snap. This woman has some nerve.

“Not stalking…” she begins, and I nearly roll my eyes. “Notcompletely.” She scoots herself forward and throws her shoulders back. “I swear, if you want me to leave empty-handed I will. But I had to try. The autograph’s not for me, it’s for my little sister, Ciara. She’s your biggest fan. She has JIA—chronic arthritis—and she’s had areallyshitty year. I overheard you were in town, and I guess I hoped I could make her Christmas special with an autograph from her idol.”

Shit. I didn’t expect to hear that she’s doing all of this for a chronically ill baby sister. My heart aches a bit. Did I also lose my sense of humanity when I lost my way with music?

“I’m sorry she’s had a rough year,” I say, my voice low. I rub the scruff under my chin. “Sure. I'll sign something for your sister. But then you go on your way.”

If she stays here any longer, I’m positive I’ll do something that’ll ruin her sister’s opinion of me. I wouldn’t want Hallie to tell her sister what an asshole I am.

Hallie smiles. “Oh, thank you so much, Mr. Steele! Ciara’s going to flip?—”

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