Page 46 of Love in the Storm

She blinked a few times, trying to focus on his question with him standing so close. “Um, I don’t know.”

“You might have to leave it here for a few days. Money? Weapons? Anything you wouldn’t want someone to be able to steal if they decided to break the windows?”

“Oh, I guess I have both of those in there.” The gun had been a gift from Kendra and her husband. They often worried about her living alone where she did, though Lyric had never had any trouble at her apartment and wasn’t sure she could use the thing if worse came to worst.

“I’ll shovel the snow away, then you can tell me where the stuff is.”

“I’ll help,” Lyric said.

“You don’t have to. It won’t take me long. To be honest, I just need a distraction.”

Lyric bit her lips between her teeth. He was trying to be a gentleman, and the realization had her heart warming. Abstinence was one of the values she’d adhered to since getting sober and finding Christ, and despite the circumstances that allowed for plenty of temptation, Asa’s will was stronger.

Who knew self-control was so attractive? As if she needed another reason to like him. There were already so many.

“I insist. I want to help,” Lyric said.

“I think I saw an extra shovel around back. I’ll grab it and meet you in the front.” He started to walk out of the laundry room but turned to face her. “And please bundle up before we go out there. The wind is brutal.”

Lyric nodded, stunned by his thoughtfulness. “Got it.”

The icy coldstung in Lyric’s chest as she tossed another pile of snow away from her car. The vehicle was completely hidden, and they’d been shoveling for nearly a quarter of an hour without a sign of it.

Lyric rested the scooper end of the shovel on the ground. “I’m not sure it’s here.”

Asa didn’t stop shoveling. “It’s here. We just got way more snow than I realized.”

She looked up at the dark sky where tiny flakes were still falling, mocking her as they gradually added to the pile she and Asa were trying to move. Her teeth rattled together as she turned to inspect the pile of snow they’d relocated. Yep, still a huge pile, just in another place.

“Please go inside. I can handle this,” Asa said.

Her words were shaky as she said, “I’m fine.”

He stopped and studied her for a few seconds before stabbing his shovel into the ground and walking toward her. He took her shovel and did the same before bending down to lift her into a cradle hold.

“What are you doing?” she said, hanging onto his shoulders.

“Taking you inside. I can’t watch you shiver any longer.”

“Asa, I really don’t need?—”

“Shoveling snow is not important. You are.”

She stared at him as he carried her onto the porch and inside the cabin. Her desire to help came from a deep need to prove herself, but Asa had touched a need she hadn’t even known existed.

He thought she was important. He thought she had value. She buried her face in his neck, unsure ifthe moisture in her eyes was from the stinging cold or Asa’s sweet gesture.

Once they were inside, he didn’t stop at the door. He carried her to the couch before resting her on her feet. He pulled off her jacket and grabbed a nearby blanket, wrapping it around her. When she was seated, he knelt in front of her and pulled off her boots.

“Asa,” she whispered.

He looked up at her with a softness in his eyes that melted the cold that had settled in her skin. “Yeah?”

There were too many thoughts running through her head. A whirlwind of appreciation and kindness that she didn’t understand tangled her words in her throat.

“Thank you.” She mouthed the words, but they didn’t make a sound.

Asa must have understood. He stood and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’ll be finished shortly. Just get warm.”

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