Page 113 of Loyally, Luke
“Well, at least I’ll still be able to attend the banquet, even if I look like an ice cream cone.”
“No worries, Princess.” He cooed the words, taking another glance behind them. “We’ll get you up to the cabin and dried off in plenty of time to make the banquet. We just need to get you out of this cold as soon as we can, so let’s walk a little faster, if you’re able.”
She shivered, but he had to get her out of the wind. He pulled her close, trying to push his body heat into her side, and increased their pace a little more. “I have to say, Princess, you’re awfully good at being efficient, aren’t you?”
“Efficient?” She looked over at him, her eyes even brighter when framed by her pale face.
“You can check off fishing and swimming in a lake from your list all at the same time.”
Her laugh shook from her. “Nice.” She shuddered. “I guess we shouldn’t add s-sleeping under the s-stars for tonight? Might be a bad idea.”
He glanced up at the sky, another gust of wind barreling through the forest with such force, the trees creaked their displeasure. He pulled Ellie as close as possible, attempting to shield her as best he could. “I doubt we’d get to see them anyway.”
“How... how did he know where to find me? How do they always know?” Her voice broke a little and he shook his head. The last thing she needed was tears making her face even colder.
“Come on now, Ellie. What do you think he captured?” He urgedher forward, each step a little faster. “Those amazing kisses or your poor princess-on-ice moves?”
Her smile failed to respond. “I don’t know.” Her gaze met his. “But I don’t regret the kisses.”
“I’m glad, because I sure don’t.”
She squeezed her eyes closed, her jaw tightening with another tremble. “I don’t want to think about the possibilities of him being here, Luke, so I’m not.”
“Good call. Let’s think about a nice warm fire and how many social rules I’ll break at the banquet tonight.”
All the way up the hill, he kept her talking, paying attention to her speech, her clarity, looking for any signs of second-stage hypothermia. Near the last leg of the climb, she misspoke a few words and then slipped on the soft layer of snow beneath them, so he took the opportunity to catch her in his arms and carry her the rest of the way.
Despite her weak protests to set her down, he marched through the house to his room and placed her feet down on the floor. She nearly collapsed from shaking.
“You need to get out of those clothes.” Under any other circumstances, the company and that sentence would have set his whole body on fire, but right now, concern eclipsed wishful thinking for his future.
He pulled open a drawer and tossed a pair of drawstring sweats on the bed. “Put these on quick, okay, Ellie?”
She nodded.
He tossed a long sweatshirt next to the pants. “I’m going into the kitchen to get you something warm to drink and eat. As soon as you’re dressed, join me, all right? We need to get you burning calories, as well as warm.”
She slid his jacket and flannel shirt from her shoulders, stumbling down on the bed.
“Ellie.”
His voice jerked her attention to his face.
“No going to sleep, you understand?”
She blinked up at him. “I understand.”
“If you’re not in the kitchen in five minutes, I’m coming back in here after you.” His throat constricted at the idea of finding her in some sort of state of undress in his bed. He shook the image clear. Mostly.
“Is that supposed to be a threat?”
Why did she have to go and get all sultry voiced and delirious right now? “How ’bout I promise to snuggle with you by the fire if you hurry up and”—he waved toward the clothes—“change.”
She rewarded—or tortured—him with a sleepy smile. He closed the door and nearly dashed to the kitchen to put distance between them, brewing another pot of coffee and warming up some leftover potato soup. Just as he added a few logs to the fire, the lights flickered.
At least the soup was warm and they had the fireplace for heat in case...
And off went the power completely.
