BRETT made quick work of assessing possible injuries. As he made his way back toward the front of the line—Lance talking in his ear about sharing space—his gaze swayed to the black Acura.
“Nine vehicles. Sixteen people.” Lance made scribbles in a notebook.
Hard snow squeaked and crunched under their feet as they hiked the uneven, narrow footpath the group had trampled out over the time they’d been stuck here. He couldn’t imagine what they’d been through during the night hours, especially that woman, who seemed to be traveling alone.
Brett forced his gaze from the black sedan. The woman had said her name. He’d gone and forgotten his. All he’d absorbed were sultry eyes and full lips on creamy dark skin. She was exotic looking, liquid dark irises, high cheekbones, all framed in the leopard print fur of her hood. Nothing special for him to lose his memory over though.
“…tight. But it’s only three days, tops, right? We’ll make it work.”
He turned to Lance. “What? Yeah. Three, four days. Yeah.” He forced his gaze to the vehicle ahead of Sultry Eyes. “We’ve got the kids and a pregnant lady. Let’s take them first.”
“This is a wreckage for the history books. And no serious injuries. Never knew you lived such an exciting life, brah.”
They stopped at the family’s car, and since it was at an awkward V-angle with the other one, he risked a peek into the dark interior. Darker eyes peered right back.
Turning, he knocked on the clear glass of the family car, and waved at the folks inside before opening the door to lean into the gap. “Sir, my house is about a fifteen-minute walk from here. We can take you and your family over first so they can get warmed up.”
A cold wind whipped around him into the vehicle. Instead of the day getting warmer, the temperature had dropped.
“Can we get your family out of here, sir?”
The man seemed reluctant. The driver from the first rig approached. Ace was his name, who seemed to have a rapport with the bunch. “Hey, Mohammed. What’s going on?”
Brett stepped back with Lance to let them talk. “This is going to be hard. I don’t think he wants any of the other men near his wife.”
“You think?” Lance gave him a vacant look with the sarcastic, exasperated tone before he continued. “Maybe we could take the men to the cabin. Leave the women in the house. It’s about an even split.”
“Cabin?” Mohammed stepped from his car. “We’ll take your cabin.” He gestured to his family.
Brett laughed. “No. No. It hasn’t been used as housing in…over a year. It’s a five-minute walk in good weather. Everything works, but there’s a lot of storage junk. Not a lot of space. The kids—”
“We’ll take it!”
He exchanged a look with Lance. “Mr. Mans—”
“No. It’s good. We’ll take it.”
“Um.” Beside him, Lance consented with a nod. “Okay.” Maybe it would be for the best. Neither Mohammed nor his wife and kids presented any evidence of injury. “We’ll take you to my place first. Then when everybody’s in, one of us will take you out back. Fair enough? We want to make sure all of these people have a place to stay tonight.”
That brought a smile to Mohammed’s face.
Settled. He turned to his dark interest. “Jada, is it?” He knew good and well her name. “You go with them. We have an extra pair of snow shoes. Or skis.”
“Did you just order me?” The level of her head and the frosted glass left him with only her humorous tone and view of squinted eyes.
He was too used to giving orders in high-trauma situations, but glad she didn’t take his routine in offense.
Lance walked by and knocked him on his back. “He’s always bossy. Don’t take it personally.”
Brett’s gaze remained on Jada. Hers moved with Lance as he walked away, but narrowed in what looked like a smile. The door opened and Sultry Eyes stepped out in boots, jeans, and an interesting mix of shirts and sweats bunched up under her half open winter jacket.
She pointed a red mitten with white polka dots at him. “I’m watching you, bossy. All you have to do is say please.” The black wool cap on her head kept her shoulder-length hair in place during the next gust of wind, before she clambered up the small step of snow from the ditch.
Well, there was a problem. Jada stood at least six inches shorter than him. He had no idea why he thought she’d be as tall as Christina. His ex’s unused wedding gift skis would be too long for her to use.
“Wear the snow shoes. It’ll be easier.” He gestured her to follow him to the sled.
“Did you just boss me again?”
He glanced over his shoulder to where she trailed behind in all her mix-matched garb. “I can’t help what you infer, Miss.” Switching to walk backwards a couple of steps, he gauged her face to ensure his words weren’t taken in a mean spirit.
Brett had to face forward again, smiling to himself at her receptive smirk. He couldn’t get over the amazing dark chocolate of her eyes through the thick curtains of lashes. She captured his attraction more and more every passing second. Impossible.
Some of the men unpacked what was left of the emerg kit, and loaded on Mrs. M. and the luggage. When he turned, Jada was nowhere in sight. She backed out of her car a minute later hefting a mid-size suitcase. “Oh.” More luggage.
“How long will we be gone?”
“The Interstate’s closed.” He checked out her car from where they stood beside Ace’s jack-knifed rig. The first few vehicles were trapped in the ditch. “None of you are going anywhere for a few days.”
The corner of her mouth quirked. “I have a couple of these. But this’ll do.” She dragged the case closer.
“Um. Going far?” Two suitcases, plus the overnight bag slung over her shoulder? This lady was on a journey.
“Headed to my sister’s for my Christmas vacay. First day.”
He laughed. “Mine, too.”
“You don’t say.” The surprise on her face and bright smile…aww, he could just as well remember his name tomorrow.
He found his manners when saw her heft the case. “Here. Let me get that for you.”
“Ooops. Sorry.”
She’d let go before he got a hold, and he chased it to the ground… Her face…it appeared right there…close enough to kiss. Not that he would.
Why was a kiss his first thought?
He reached for the handle again as she did the same, coming in way to close at the halfway point for two strangers. She tried to straighten while he leaned over once again, the body dance as awkward to live as it must have been to watch for anyone who glanced in their direction. But boy, if that little exchange didn’t bring them closer. Her hair, the only veil between his lips and her cheek, saved them a little embarrassment as the last up and down motion brought them a skin’s breadth away.
“Please. I’ll get it.” He lifted the suitcase packed with bricks and loaded it onto the sled. Now he only hoped the snowmobile could move the thing. To his utter surprise, after Jada strapped on the last pair of snowshoes, she bent down and grabbed hold of the securing rope as if to help pull.
Lance rushed in. “Why don’t you just make sure nothing falls off while we’re moving it?”
She glanced around. Her gaze fell on him, and Brett heard nothing, saw nothing but the bright sun on this glorious crisp, cold morning. Her eyes drew narrow—loved it when she did that—but, yeah, he’d begin to wonder what he was staring at, too.
“Sure you can manage?”
Since her question came directed at him and not in response to Lance, Brett smiled to know he wasn’t the only one caught in this curious web. He wouldn’t fly into a snare like Christina’s again though. The thought sobered him as he walked forward. A part of him wanted to jump in with both feet, while his rational side explained this was no more than friendly exchange with a nice looking woman.
Unfortunately, Jada’s peepers didn’t get that memo. Her gaze never wavered in their innocent question and challenge. They did him in
. As he continued closer, he couldn’t break away. Behind the dark eyes, something called him to search deeper. Gave him permission to go there.
But the reason he remembered mistakes was so he could learn from them. Fortified by a shot of boldness that had hidden away since leaving Christina behind, he had a challenge of his own to give. “Philippians four, thirteen.”
The surprised confusion on her scrunched face, the blink, and soft snort with perplexed shake of her head, disappointed him. But when she burst out in a hearty laugh that drew the attention of everyone, he knew he got it right.
“Go in this thy might.” She stepped back and waved a hand with a flourish for him to continue, before words drifted to his back. “Mighty man of valor.”
He grinned. Wide. He’d love to accompany her and continue the banter on the trek home, but he knew he shouldn’t. Brett checked out the kids at play around the sled. They still displayed no signs of distress. Neither did Mohammed’s wife. He turned back to Jada.
“Thanks, but I’m staying here.”
She glanced at the lineup of vehicles. “Why?”
“It’s a miracle no one is seriously hurt, but I need to make sure everyone’s all right before they move.”
Her head shook slowly side to side. “Who are you?” she asked with enough humor to belie the awestruck trace in her voice.
“Just someone who sees people need help.”
Her lips pursed as she checked out the sled. “Maybe I should stay, too, then? You might be one of those people who need help.”
Nice comeback. “Naw. Mrs. Mansouri may want the company.”
“Do you remember everybody’s name?” She looked once more down the line. “Neat trick, but you still haven’t told me who you are.”
“Doctor?”
Brett glanced around Jade to the approaching older woman and her husband. They’d avoided getting hit by other vehicles and seemed to be fine. At the moment, they carried skis.
“We’re on our way from the resort, but if we can use these, it would help with the migration.”
“Great idea.” One more glance at the sled told him it carried more than enough weight. “We may have to take your luggage on the next round.”
The woman, in a bubblegum pink ski suit, chortled as her husband passed her his skis and started jogging back to their Buick. “We travel light. Chuck’s getting our backpacks, then we’re all set.”
“Excellent.” Two less people to worry about. That made nine of the sixteen stranded motorists. More than half. Chances were good they’d have everyone back at his place in two trips. Smiling and nodding at the prospect of a warm home and a warmer fire sooner rather than later, his attention veered back to Jada to share the delight.
Raised eyebrow in question, those eyelids narrowed again as she posed with crossed arms. “Doctor?”
“Yeah. I never mentioned?”
The second eyebrow rose to meet the first. Guess not.
“Wow. That must have made me seem extra bossy.” He held out his hand.
“No. Still regular bossy.” Arms folded, she didn’t do the automatic reaction of also extending her hand. Her gaze dropped to his waiting winter glove before returning to his.
“Brett. Heathrow. At your service.”
She smiled like he’d done the right thing. Glove met mitt in a muffled handshake. “So, more than just a Good Samaritan, Doctor Heathrow.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” He waited, but no return introduction loomed on the horizon. “And you?”
She huffed a laugh and dropped his hand as she started to walk. “You kept me waiting. You can find out my last name later.”
“Ah…” He set his voice at a low timbre, loud enough for her alone to hear. “So conversation is forthcoming. I like.”
Where did that confident growl come from? Mighty proud he’d managed it, he didn’t wait to find out her reaction when he strode in the opposite direction.