"You are my hero, Sam."
I have no idea what to say in response. Nobody has ever called me their hero before, but I can tell Ben means it. He's not being sarcastic or expressing frustration with the fact he needed rescuing. He doesn't seem to mind at all that a woman saved him.
"While you finish whipping up breakfast," I say, "I'll call the county barn to find out if the roads have been plowed yet."
"Sounds like a plan."
I grab my cell phone and dial the number for the county barn. Wayne Hendley answers right away.
"Hi, it's Samantha Lockhart," I say. "Is the road plowed yet? Somebody got bogged down yesterday, and I had to bring him to my place for the night. But I'm sure he wants to get back on the road as soon as possible."
"No can do. I'm afraid the plow's broken down, and it might be tomorrow before it's fixed."
"Oh no, that's terrible." Though I say that, I feel a thrill shivering over my skin. Maybe I want Ben to hang around a little longer, but that's crazy. I barely know him. "My friend had to leave his luggage in his car. Guess I'd better go retrieve it for him."
"I can fetch it for ya. Besides, you don't have a sled to carry the luggage."
"Okay, if you're sure. I don't want to cause you too much trouble."
"No trouble at all. I need to head out that way to check on some of the older folks, anyway."
"Thank you, Wayne. I appreciate your help."
"Sure thing."
We say goodbye, and I turn back to Ben. He's watching me with his brows furrowed while he holds a plate of food in each hand.
"The snowplow broke down," I tell him. "We're stranded here for a while longer. Hopefully, you'll be able to get on your way again tomorrow."
"Oh." He sets the plates down on the bar, on my side. "Sorry to be such a bother."
"You're no bother. It's nice to have some company."
"But you must have work to do." He grabs two mugs of coffee and comes around the bar, perching on the stool beside mine. He hands me a mug. "I don't want you to feel like you need to entertain me."
"No work. I'm taking two weeks off for Christmas." I sip the coffee, which tastes so good this morning. Maybe Ben has a secret coffee recipe, or maybe I just like knowing he'll be here for at least another day. The company of a hot sweetie like him could make the air taste better. "I'm sorry you won't get to spend Christmas in Hartmoor like you planned."
"I'm not sorry." He skims his gaze over me from head to toe. "Starting to like it here."
Why do I get tingly all over when he says that and when he looks at me that way? Oh, who cares why. Ben makes me feel things I haven't felt in a long time. Maybe I've never experienced this kind of attraction before. Instant lust isn't my thing, and I absolutely do not believe in love at first sight. But whatever this is between us, I'd like to keep feeling it for a bit longer.
"Forgot to tell you," I say. "Wayne, the man who runs the county barn, said he'll pick up your luggage and bring it here. He's got a more powerful snowmobile than I do, so he can tow a sled behind it."
Ben glances down at the baggy purple sweater he's wearing. "It would be nice to have my own clothes."
"That reminds me. The outfit you had on last night should be dry now."
"We can get that later. I'm starving."
"Me too."
We dig into our food but don't talk while we're chowing down. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I started eating, and Ben seems like he wasn't exaggerating when he said he was starving. Of course, neither of us ate anything last night. We had sex and went to sleep.
After we've finished our meal, I literally have to pull Ben away from the sink and order him not to do the dishes. He's a guest, for heaven's sake. Besides, he almost froze to death last night. When I say that to him, he laughs.
"A slight exaggeration," he says. "But I surrender. You can do the dishes."
"Thank you."