Page 84 of The Duke Who Saved Christmas
“I know, but…” I trailed off. “Never mind.”
He put the truck in reverse and looked over his shoulder, then slowly released the clutch.
It didn’t move.
The. Truck. Didn’t. Move.
“Oh, you’re having a bloody laugh,” Thomas said, revving the engine.
The truck shook and the wheels were turning, but it wasn’t reversing. We were most definitely in the same spot.
I swallowed hard. “Now what?”
He put the stick back into the neutral position and got out, and I followed him back out into the snow. I was on the hedgerow side, and when I stepped just a smidge too close to the hedging, I sank several inches into the snow, so I knew what wasgoing on before I even saw the fact his back wheel was off the road.
Thomas’ truck was stuck.
Oh, dear.
I wrapped my arms around myself and looked at him. “What do we do now?”
He took a deep breath in and sighed it back out, his nostrils flaring. Then, slowly, he lifted his shoulders before letting them sag back down in something that vaguely resembled a shrug.
“Is there anyone we can call? Do you think Ryan can come and get us and take us both home?”
“No, and I wouldn’t ask anyone else to drive.” He looked around. “I guess we have no choice but to walk.”
I rubbed my hands up and down my arms again, looking around. It was pitch black other than the headlights of the truck, but it wasn’t illuminating much other than the immediate area that was almost a white-out with snow anyway.
“Well,” I said, still scanning the area. “There’s a spare room at my house. You can always stay there. I’m sure Nana and Gramps won’t mind, and—”
“Sylvie, we’re closer to Castleton Manor.”
I pressed my lips together. I did not want to stay at his place. “My house is—”
“Twice as far as mine at this point,” he continued, and I could feel his gaze boring into the side of my head. “It’s ten minutes to the manor. Almost twenty-five to your house if we walk.”
I swallowed.
“If you’ve got one spare room, I’ve got ten. Mum or Beth will have pyjamas for you to borrow tonight, and we have another car that can handle this kind of weather to tow us out in the morning. It just makes sense.”
I looked in the general direction of my house before I sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Get your bag. I’m freezing my bollocks off over here.” Thomas rounded the bed of the truck and pulled out his phone. He turned on the torch, scanned the flatbed, and then checked the backseat.
I grabbed my bag from the front and checked for anything important. A black wallet I assumed belonged to him was in the centre console, so I picked it up and reached over for the keys from the ignition.
“Here,” I said to him, handing him both of his items.
“Thanks.” He went to pocket his wallet, then paused. “Actually, would you put that in your bag?”
I stared at for a moment. “Sure, I guess.” I took it back from him and tucked it into my bag with my other things, zipped it up, and opted for the long strap instead of the short handles so I could loop it over my head and across my body. “Are you ready to go?” I asked him, brushing snowflakes off the front of my hat.
Thomas nodded. “I’ve hidden my tools the best I can, but I doubt anyone other than an absolute twat will be out here tonight.”
“Like us, then.”
“You were the one who decided to stay to sort out the trees.”
