“To town,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes, Breckenridge. Please tell me that’s where you were heading.” I hated to think she made a wrong turn and didn’t have to travel up the dangerous mountain.
“It is. I just bought a place along the river. Though I imagine this time of year it’s probably frozen.”
“Any chance you bought it from Mason Reid?” I asked.
“Yes, how did you know?” Ariella asked.
“He’s one of my former military buddies, my brother,” I said. “I know exactly where you’re staying. It’s a nice place, small, and was gutted and renovated by yours truly. Well, Aiden and me.”
“Who’s Aiden?” Her eyes crinkled as she stared at me.
“Another one of my military buddies. Declan, Mason, Aiden, and I started a security firm, Eagle Tactical, a few years back.” I couldn’t explain why I was so open to this woman, willing to divulge any secret if she asked. There was something about her. Was it the fact she was fresh meat, and I hadn’t had a taste of her yet?
“All of you served together?” Ariella asked. She grinned and stared at me. My heart fluttering in my chest, demanding to be set free. It had been a long time since anyone looked at me in that rare way.
I laughed, hoping for her not to notice the sexual tension brewing in the truck. As much as I wanted to act on it, I had some measure of self-control. We had just met. “We were all Special Forces with the Army.”
With wide eyes, she grimaced as she removed her gloves. “Wow, a town of heroes.”
I glanced at her long thin fingers. They looked okay, albeit a little red, but there was no evidence of frostbite, which was good news. “That is our motto,” I said joking with her. I returned my attention to the snow-covered road as we headed farther north and made the turn off for Breckenridge. “We don’t have too much farther to go.”
“Okay,” she said. “That’s good. Is there any place local to grab dinner? I’m starving, and I won’t be able to go grocery shopping until my car gets pulled out of the ditch.” Her voice was soft, wistful almost.
“I can take you over to Lumberjack Shack. They’ve got great food.” They were also the only place we could get in at nearly eight o’clock. It was late for the town, the bar was the only place open, and they didn’t serve a decent dinner.
“Lumberjack Shack? I hope the food is better than the name.”
“My buddy owns the place.”
“Shit. I’m sorry,” she said, quick to apologize. “That would be wonderful right now,” she said. She seemed to relax in the front seat and removed the blanket nestled around her body.
“Warm?” I asked. That was a good sign after how cold and out of it she’d been earlier.
“Yes. Do you mind turning down the heat a bit?”
I adjusted the thermostat in the truck, hoping to make her a little more comfortable. It was hot. Warm enough to make me want to strip down to my boxers and nothing else. I couldn’t do that, not while driving and with a young lady in the truck.
“Thank you.”
I pulled the truck down a gravel road and through the thick forest of trees before we slowed down to a crawl. “We’re almost there,” I said.
She reached for her bag and unzipped it to retrieve her purse.
I parked out front. The restaurant would ordinarily be closed on a Monday night, but I had a key. I would help Lincoln out from time to time, not with the cooking but tending the bar. Lincoln lived upstairs above the restaurant. He’d help me out, and well, if he didn’t, I’m sure I could whip up something for her to eat.
“The place looks closed,” she said.
The lights inside were dim, and there weren’t any other vehicles parked around the front.
“It’s after nine. Everything is closed at this hour. I have a key that can get us inside. Don’t worry. It’s not like there’s an alarm system or anything to hack.”
“Good, because I wasn’t looking forward to spending my first night in Breckenridge in lockup,” Ariella said.
“Come on.” I climbed out from the truck and headed up the porch stairs and inside. I tried the door. First, it was locked. Pulling out my key for this very occasion and unlocking the door, I led her inside. “Ladies first.”
She gave me a look, a cocked eyebrow, and a quirked grin. A beat later, she shrugged and stepped inside. “It’s beautiful,” she said, having a look at the décor. “I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I get cranky when I’m hungry.”