Page 62 of Saved By the Boss

She shrugs, standing and brushing her hands off.

“The 9-1-1 operator was surprisingly helpful,” she jokes. “And the rest is just a dash of common sense.”

“Well, you did a good job,” I say, and this time, she smiles. It’s a real smile, small but genuine.

We settle into a more comfortable silence after that, as she gets up and busies herself in the kitchen. A few minutes later, she comes back with two steaming mugs, and I look down to see the warm brown of hot chocolate. I wrap my hands gingerly around the mug and bring it to my lips, blowing slightly to cool it down enough to sip. The moment it hits my lips, I nearly moan. I don’t think I’ve had hot chocolate since I was a kid. It’s divine.

Jade’s back is to me, a small mercy. I’d be beyond embarrassed if she’d witnessed that. She’s across the room in the living room area, turning on the TV. It murmurs softly as she flips through the channels, probably looking for a weather report.

Once she’s found what she’s looking for, she sets the remote down on the coffee table and comes back to me, happily sipping her own mug.

“I hope this is okay,” she says apologetically. “I should have asked what you wanted, I didn’t even think.”

“You have to stop apologizing for being such a consummate host,” I say. “Seriously, this is perfect. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for how you’ve taken care of me today. It’s been a long time since anyone’s been so thoughtful.”

I swallow hard as Cassidy’s face flashes in my mind and I feel the familiar pang of guilt. It isn’t her fault she’s not here to take care of me. The responsibility of her death falls firmly on my shoulders.

As I watch Jade watch the weather report, another, unfamiliar pang of guilt washes over me. She’s a beautiful woman. Somehow, I’d managed to control my inappropriate thoughts when she was at eye-level with my boxers, but in the comfortable quiet of the room, I realize it’s more than just a physical attraction. I like being around her.

She groans and I’m snapped back to reality, tuning in to hear the weatherman confirm what we already know. The storm is getting worse. They’re advising everyone to stay indoors, warning of power outages and impassable roads. I glance at Jade, wondering if she’s worried, but she just sits there, watching the screen with a calm, thoughtful expression.

And then, just as the meteorologist is explaining the storm’s trajectory, the power cuts out.

The room plunges into darkness, save for the faint glow of the fire. The hum of the heater falls silent, leaving only the sound of the wind battering against the window shutters.

“Mierda,”Jade whispers, probably not meaning for me to hear. “Just when I was wondering if this day could get worse.”

I can’t help but chuckle as I take a sip of my hot cocoa and think that this day has actually shaped up to be a lot more interesting than I’d expected.

11

Jade

“What can I do to help?” Declan asks quietly in the darkness, as if he’s trying not to startle me.

“For now, just stay there and try not to injure any other parts of you,” I quip, immediately regretting my word choice. My cheeks flame and I’m grateful for the cover of the darkness.

Because of course I’m thinking of his other parts. When I helped him change into his sweatpants, it took all of my restraint not to stare at his most impressive part. I genuinely had to conjure up memories of helping my abuela get changed just to keep myself from doing something stupid, like reaching out and touching it like it was some foreign artifact.

I cannot be having these thoughts about him. They’re difficult enough in the light of the day, but now that we’re stuck together in near pitch-black darkness thanks to the window shutters, and we only have the fire going, it all feels a little too cozy. Too intimate. Too romantic.

Of course, I’m getting ahead of myself. He hasn’t admitted any interest in me whatsoever. I’m losing my head over nothing at all. It’s not like I haven’t seen a dick before.

As for the power outage, at least I was semi-prepared for it. The fire is going strong, with a nice pile of wood ready to be used if it starts to die down. The gas-powered stove should still work, so we’ll have a warm meal. And if things get really bad, I’ve got the generator out in the shed. Not that I’m thrilled about the idea of trekking through this storm to get to it, but it’s there if I need it. For now, though, I think we’ll be okay.

We.

I glance over at Declan, who’s sitting in the chair near the fireplace, his injured leg stretched out in front of him. He hasn’t said much since the lights went out, and his calmness is almost unnerving. It’s been a hell of a day for him. A tree fell on his car and could have crushed him to death. He’s, at the very least, sprained his ankle, and now he’s stuck with me during the worst storm of the year. I’d be spiraling hard if I were in a similar situation.

Then again, I don’t know him well. Maybe his form of spiraling looks like shutting down and appearing eerily calm. Probably not, though. He doesn’t seem like the type to be rattled by much.

Still, it’s hitting me again that he’s potentially stuck here for the entire weekend. His ankle doesn’t look great, and even if it weren’t for that, the roads are probably a death trap by now. There’s no way he’s making it back to his cabin tonight. Or tomorrow, for that matter.

The thought should make me uneasy, but it doesn’t. Not really. If anything, I feel weirdly relieved that I won’t have to ride out thisstorm completely alone.

“Looks like you’re stuck with me,” he says, his voice low and dry, as if reading my mind.

I glance at him, catching the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, and roll my eyes.

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