“Doesn’t look like I got a scratch. We got lucky.” He winks and backs toward his car. “How is Ty?”
“Good. He’s engaged to Lauren Cunningham, you know.”
“I had no idea. Speaking of brothers and dating, I heard you and Brad went out a couple months ago.”
“Yeah, once. We decided we’re better at being friends.” Because I’m a dating failure and I have too much damn baggage.
“Sounds like there’s lots of news to catch up on.”
“Be careful, they haven’t sanded that road yet. I’ll see you later!” We wave and I climb back into my car, soaked through from the quarter-sized flakes. I shake my head and send snow spraying through the interior, put the car in drive, and make my way home.
I slide several times while turning corners, and curse myself for not replacing my tires before the snowy season arrived.
Truth be told, I should just get a new car. A bigger one, with all-wheel drive. Especially since I show homes all over this valley, which means I drive through snow, mud, and the elements every day. It hasn’t been a matter of not being able to afford a new vehicle, it’s been a lack of time. Between the move home, starting the new job, and my soon-to-be sister-in-law’s horrible attack at the hands of her ex-husband, there just hasn’t been time to car shop.
As I approach the little house that I rent from my best friend, Cara, I see the snowplow has thankfully been down my street already, but they blocked in my driveway.
I hit my fist on the steering wheel and curse a blue streak as I pull my car to a stop at the side of the road, jerk my ballet flats off my feet, and toss them in the passenger seat, then reach into the backseat for my boots and stuff my feet in them.
I have to shovel the goddamn driveway.
It’s almost dark now and it’s only 4:00 p.m. The days are so short this time of year.
I trudge through the knee-high snowbank that is currently blocking my driveway, grab my snow shovel from the front porch, and trek back, gazing over at Ty’s old house, which now sits empty with a FOR SALE sign perched near the curb.
I miss having my brother close by.
I dig in, shoveling the clumps of snow left behind by the plow, throwing it into my front yard, and when I’ve finished, I pitch the shovel in the snow, standing straight up, and sit in my still-running car.
It takes me three tries to get it into the driveway.
I definitely need a new car.
Finally, I stomp up to my front door, wet, sweaty from the workout of shoveling snow, and bone tired. I knock the snow off my boots and shake my hair and coat out, shedding the snow that’s fallen on me in the last fifteen minutes while I shoveled.
I push inside and frown at the cold air that greets me.
Did I turn the thermostat down that far?
I immediately cross to the thermostat and crank the heat, then rush into the bedroom and strip out of my wet clothes, replacing them with warm sweatpants, a T-shirt and a heavy gray sweatshirt over that.
I pull on some wool socks and rub my arms briskly as I walk swiftly into the kitchen to warm up some soup in the microwave, hoping the heat kicks in sooner than later.
When the microwave dings, I stand over the sink and quickly eat my hot chicken noodle soup.
Damn, burned my tongue.
This day just gets better and better.
I wrap my favorite quilt around my shoulders, grab my laptop, and settle on the couch, ready to type up the paperwork for the Langtons.
The Langtons who can’t keep their hands off each other.
I smirk and rub my cold nose on my sleeve, then sniffle. Damn, it’s really cold in here.
Maybe I need something to help keep me warm, like a dog. Or a cat.
Not a man!
“Why am I in Montana in the middle of winter in a cold as hell house?” I ask the room at large and stomp across the room to check the thermostat again.
Fifty-eight degrees.
No wonder I’m freezing my nipples off.
Maybe the pilot light thingy on the furnace blew out? I have no idea what to do. I dial Ty’s number with numb fingers and curse when I get his voice mail. He’s probably keeping warm with Lo.
Well, that leaves Cara.
“Hello?” she answers on the second ring.
“Hey, I think there’s something wrong with the furnace in your house. It’s fifty-eight degrees in here, and I’ve cranked the heat and nothing is happening.”
“It’s way too cold outside for you to be sitting in a house with a broken furnace.”
“You think?” I roll my eyes and burrow under my blanket again. “I can’t reach Ty. I know the roads are horrible right now, I’m just not sure who to call after 5:00 p.m. around here. Everyone has gone home for the day.”
“I’m sure Josh can fix it,” she replies and I hear Josh laugh in the background.
“It’s a long drive into town in the snow, Cara.”
“Josh can handle the snow,” she replies confidently. “He’ll be there in about a half hour. Are you okay until then?”
“Yeah, I’m bundled up. If need be, I can shovel my driveway again and I’ll be nice and sweaty in no time.”
“Well, that sounds . . . gross,” she replies with a giggle. “No sweating. Just stay warm.”
“I’ll try. Tell Josh thanks.”
I hang up and walk into the kitchen, the brightly colored quilt hugged tightly around me, dragging behind me on the floor, and I fix myself some hot cocoa while I wait. Josh will fix the furnace and everything will be back to normal in no time.
Just as I’m settling back into the cushions of the couch, surrounded by all of my throw pillows and blankets, there’s a knock at the door.
Thank God. I thought I was going to suffocate under all that fabric.
With my trusty quilt held around me, I jog to the door and fling it open.
“I’m so happy to see you!”
The man on the other side of the door offers me a slow grin, allows his chocolate brown eyes to roam from the top of my messy hair to the soles of my wool-covered feet, and then steps inside out of the snow and takes his army-green beanie off his head, uncovering messy brown hair. He stomps the snow off his boots and sets a tool chest on my floor.
My brain has paused. I was ready for Josh.
I wasn’t prepared for Zack and the damn tingle of awareness that zings through me at just the sight of him. The man is a good twelve inches taller than my five foot two and he’s just . . . big.
And the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
“Hey, Jilly.”
Kristen Proby, Seducing Lauren
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