Page 43 of Love in the Storm

“He went out and played with some kids in the neighborhood earlier. I guess trudging through snow all day is hard work.”

“How are you?” Asa asked.

“Peachy. I made apple butter today and got those canned for the year. The power came back on around eleven this morning.”

“That’s good. Did you have enough gas for the generator?”

“You know I did. You check that thing like the gas in it might just disappear one day. Oh, here’s Jacob.”

“Hey, Dad.”

Asa rested back against the couch. “Hey. How was your day?”

“Fine. Just hung out with Tyler and Max.”

The kid always got to the point. Short and sweet. “Sounds like a good day.”

“It was. Miss you.”

“I miss you too, bud. Chief said I should be out of here in the morning, but I’ll probably have to go straight to work. Can you take care of Granny until I get home?”

“No problem.”

Jacob had a protector’s heart. It had been ingrained in him from the beginning. Asa had seenhim take up for other kids when he was a toddler, and he still had that same fortitude when standing up to bullies.

“See you tomorrow,” Jacob said.

“You be safe. Love you,” Asa’s mom added.

“Love you too.”

Asa ended the call and started looking for Lyric. He found her in the laundry room starting his shirt in the dryer. “Thanks for doing this.”

She turned to him but quickly looked at the floor. “It’s not a problem. Actually, you being shirtless is the problem.”

Good to know he wasn’t the only one whose attraction was through the roof. “Should I put on the robe?” he joked.

She looked up at him and smirked. “You don’t have to, but maybe keep a healthy distance when you have those muscles on full display.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned a hip against the doorframe. “Noted.”

“Everything okay at home?” she asked.

“All good. Those two keep busy. Is there anyone you need to call?”

Lyric shook her head. “Nope.”

“No one at all?” It was hard to believe she didn’t have anyone who cared about her. She clearly had a heart for helping others.

She fidgeted with her fingers for a moment before sighing. “Okay. I should probably let myneighbor know I’m okay since I haven’t been home.”

Asa handed over his phone and pushed off the doorframe. “I’m going to check on the generator. Take all the time you need. And, Lyric?”

Her gaze lifted to his face, and those dark eyes pierced him like a knife to the gut.

“Thanks for bandaging my head. And everything else you’ve done.”

A small smirk lifted her cheeks. “Happy to do it.”

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