Page 17 of Her Snowbound Hero

“I’ll do it.” Her voice emerged scratchy so she cleared her throat and tried again. “I don’t want you to go to any more trouble than you already have.”

The melted snow left little diamond drops of water in his dark hair. They sparkled beneath the light.

“We’ll change them together.”

Garret left his briefcase near the couch and carried her suitcase into the bedroom. Within moments he located fresh sheets and they silently made up the bed together. The act was strangely intimate and brought a blush to her cheeks.

“Done. I’ll get out of here so you can rest.”

He grabbed some workout pants from a drawer and his toothbrush from the attached bath, then made one final trip into a walk-in closet where he retrieved a baseball bat. He held it out to her, and when she lifted a hand to accept it, he placed his free hand over hers.

“Sweet dreams, Darcy. To you and Butch both.” He lowered his gaze to her stomach quickly before glancing back up and smiling at her, the look soft and sexy. Her heart raced and lost its rhythm. The feel of his touch, the expression on his face. The man was lethal. Letting go, Garret paused to lock the door on the way out.

She yawned as she donned her cold pajamas in the bathroom, brushed her teeth and climbed into bed, the bat propped within easy reach. The fresh scent of detergent and fabric softener smelled heavenly, but it was the other, more intriguing scent of Garret’s cologne that had her pressing her nose into the pillow.

She slowly relaxed, amazed that the store-bought scent combined so well with the essential oils she’d rubbed on her neck earlier. Within moments she slipped into a cozy, dreamy state.

“So, Butch,” she murmured, her hands on her belly, “what do you think? Is he for real?”

A firm, solid kick was her response—that and the sudden, urgent need to pee.

Chapter 7

GARRET HAD JUST SETa skillet on the stove when he heard his bedroom door open. “In the kitchen!”

Darcy walked in belly-first, dressed in a brown velour track suit that matched her eyes and a blue T-shirt with a sparkly design on the front. Her curls were bouncy and shower fresh, her appearance alert although still more than a bit tired.

A rosy blush bloomed on her cheeks when she saw him. “Um…good morning.” The color on her face deepened to a fiery pink. “I’m sorry I slept so late. You probably needed something from your room.”

“I only just got moving myself. Did you sleep well?” He winced at the inane question. Anything was better than a hospital cafeteria.

“Yeah, I did. Thanks for lending me your room.” Darcy stepped deeper into the kitchen. With a silent, sweeping glance she took in the black granite countertops, the sleek cabinets and stainless steel appliances. “This is nice.”

“Thanks.”

“I didn’t see your brother. Is he still asleep?”

“Ethan’s the surgeon on call this weekend. He left for work about five o’clock this morning because of an accident.”

Darcy pursed her full lips at the news, the move making him want to lean over and brush his mouth across hers to ease the tension. Shock clenched his gut into a knot. Turning until he had his back to her, he planted his feet and swore softly. What was wrong with him? What was he doing? Thinking?

That her mouth would make any man want to kiss it?

“Did you burn yourself?”

“No.” He waved the spatula. “Just forgot how to cook.” Had the stress of his job pushed him off the deep end? Darcy waspregnant.Beyond the baby she carried and the complications that came with it, what about Joss? Harry? One wrong move would screw up everything.

“I hate to trouble you again, but I’ve got my stuff packed up. If you wouldn’t mind giving me a ride to the garage to arrange things with Nick, I’ll get out of your hair. I can take a cab to one of the motels from there.”

Without uttering a word that might reveal his stupefying interest, Garret pointed the spatula toward the window. “Have you looked outside today?”

Darcy gasped. “It’sstillsnowing?”

“Hasn’t stopped all night. And—” he had to stop and inhale “—it’s not supposed to clear up until tomorrow afternoon.” Meaning they were snowbound for the next thirty-six hours—maybe more depending on the road conditions.

“You’vegotto be kidding me.” She released a low, throaty groan. “I had no idea. I got up and saw how late it was and didn’t even look out the window. I was hoping to get my car towed and find a room at one of the motels…”

Garret cracked an egg and muttered when there were more shells in the bowl than yolk. He set that one aside and grabbed another from the cabinet. “The whole town is shut down because of the storm. No one’s going anywhere right now.”

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