Page 8 of Shielded Hearts

Sure enough, it hit him and the mechanic at the same time.

“That’s not good.”

“Hydraulics?” Colt asked him.

He nodded. “Yup. Should have been found during the safety check. Let’s have a look.” They ducked under the wing to inspect the landing gear, the most obvious part of a plane that used hydraulics.

The mechanic ran a finger over a streak of fluid leaking down the metal. “We gave this thing a full inspection only a few hours ago. We ran through the checklist, and everything was fine. I don’t understand. But this bird’s grounded until the landing gear gets fixed.”

Colt’s gaze shifted to Aspen. She stood in the open, silhouetted by the big sky and a backdrop of mountains in the distance. The breeze caught her dress, fluttering the loose fabric, and teased her dark brown curls around her collarbones.

She wasn’t going anywhere tonight.

He was stuck finding a place for her to stay until her plane got fixed.

“I’ll break the news to her.”

The mechanic nodded, and Colt took off in long strides toward Aspen. “Bad news.”

He could almost hear the groan of irritation she didn’t voice.

She gave him a flat look. “This day’s just getting better and better. And here I thought dancing the Cupid Shuffle was the real low point. What’s the bad news?” She folded her arms, drawing his attention to her full breasts and a line of perfect cleavage.

“There’s an issue with the landing gear. You’re grounded for the time being.”

“What? How long?”

He directed his focus to the sky and judged the time by the angle of the sun over the mountains. “It’s going to be dark soon. I’d say you’re stuck here until tomorrow. If you get back in the truck, I’ll take you to the nearest motel.”

She released that small groan he knew she’d been holding back and raked her fingers through her soft hair. “I need my luggage off the plane.”

He nodded and returned to speak to the flight crew. Once they were in the truck again, her expensive bag next to his utilitarian duffel, he drove straight to town.

A small motel boasting a whole five rooms for rent lay on the outskirts. When they pulled up, he noticed that the parking lot was filled with big, expensive SUVs belonging to city folk who came every year to spend time in nature and see the autumn foliage.

This didn’t bode well. He put the truck in park. “I’ll go inside and see if there’s a room.”

“Thank you.”

Two minutes later, he exited the small motel office and strode back to the truck. As soon as he jumped in, he turned to Aspen. “Full up. No extra rooms.”

“Is there any other lodging in Willowbrook? Maybe a bed and breakfast? Rentals?”

He shook his head. “I asked the motel clerk. She said dozens of people have stopped here today looking for rooms. There’s no lodging in town to speak of, and this is the only motel for miles.”

He could take her back to the ranch, but he already knew that was a bust. Friends from out of town had already laid claim to the single guest room. Even his humble quarters in the barn had been given to a couple who’d driven in from Colorado. They were gracious enough to agree to sleep in the barn. Colt couldn’t turn them out in the cold for the travel agent.

He worked through his options and finally shook his head. “The next place to stay is about twenty minutes down the road.”

She eyeballed the small, log-sided motel. “Is it bigger than this?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have time to drive me? I know you probably have obligations after the wedding.”

“Christ, I hope not. But no, my family doesn’t expect me back. I planned on taking a weekend away. I’ll just start my vacation a little late.”

Her shoulders slumped. “I hate to be a burden.”

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