Her eyes bore into mine, and I know she’s thinking about more than just the snowstorm raging outside. “You think so?”
I nod. “Yeah, for sure.” I want to taste her sweet lips again, but my good senses override the urge. “Here—” I grab two of the warmers and shove one in each of her boots. Her eyes follow my movements as I grab another two and put them into her hands. “Put these in your pockets.”
Her eyes flick to mine. “But there’s only one left for you.”
I shake my head. “Nope.” I lean over and unzip her coat, putting the final warmer under her hoodie, against her stomach, holding it there when she starts to swat my hands away.
She shakes her head vehemently. “No, Shawn. We’ll share. I don’t want them all.”
“Shh. Here, come here.” I grab her around the waist with one hand on either side, pick her up, and turn her so she can straddle my lap. I unzip my coat, and she gets the idea right away, pressing her warmer-heated abdomen to mine. “There, see? Sharing just like you wanted. And I can stick my hands into your pockets with yours.”
Madison nods as my hands wrap around hers, and she leans against my chest, tucking her face against my neck. “Yeah, okay.”
“We’re going to be just fine.” I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince—her or me—but I hope like hell I’m right.
We huddle together like that for a few minutes in silence, and have just relaxed, both of us lost in our own thoughts when a sharp voice from my phone says, “You okay still? We’ve got emergency vehicles coming in your direction, and they’ll check out the situation and then give you a ride to safety. There’s a little bed-and-breakfast about ten miles from where you are. Someone will take you there.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Madison stifles a groan.
“Pardon?”
“Sorry, ma’am. We were just having a minor chuckle. That’s where we were staying this weekend.”
“Oh. Well, extended stay, then. I’m just glad you are okay. Stay warm. They’ll be there shortly. I’m going to let you go so you don’t drain your phone battery, just in case.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“You’re welcome.”
I turn off my phone and Madison breathes a huge sigh of relief against my chest.
“We’re okay. We’re going to be safe and sound soon, and when we get back to that teeny-tiny room together, we can talk about whatever else is upsetting you.”
Her body tenses again. “Okay.”
Chapter 21
Madison
To our surprise, fire, police, and rescue had shown up within an hour. It’d been slow-going, with plenty of slipping and sliding on the road, but we’d made it back to the bed-and-breakfast. That was an experience I don’t ever want to relive. The only good part had been that I was with Shawn, and he made me feel safe, like nothing bad would ever happen to me if he was there.
It’s a feeling that I cherish; something I haven’t felt after being taken advantage of by Chase and going it alone for so long. I couldn’t bear to open myself up to anyone else because I hadn’t ever wanted to feel that level of betrayal again—the level of hurt that had sent me into the worst tailspin of my life.
And without really realizing it, Shawn has slowly, carefully crawled right under my skin and snuck his way into my heart, giving me all those things I’d been missing for so long. I’ve craved the security and support having a true partn
er provides. A true partner.
Someone who is loyal and committed.
Someone who puts the needs of the other person first.
Someone who gets me.
Someone like Shawn.
I take a deep breath and blink as the officer who’d driven us back to safety waves at us through his windshield. We stand at the door with our bags and Shawn’s guitar, watching as he reverses his patrol car so he can get back on the road. We wave as he finally takes off, then Shawn pulls me to him and kisses my cheek. “Let’s get on in there. No need to be rescued from becoming popsicles on the side of the road only to do it right in front of a perfectly warm building.” He holds the door open for me and I slide past him, my bag clutched to my chest, pulling my roller bag behind me.
The nice lady at the front desk rounds the corner as we are stomping our feet on the large mat at the door and shaking off snow. She comes to us with her arms outstretched giving me a hug first and then Shawn. “Oh, no! I guess you all had some trouble out there.” She shivers. “You need to get warmed up.”