But then, his phone rings.
He grits out, “Dammit.”
He grabs it off the dash and answers it. “Yeah.”
The voice on the other end sounds official. All I hear is something about a mother and a minivan. His brows knit together in concern. He looks up at me. All thought of kissing me is right out the window, something big is going on.
Chapter 9
Mary
“I think I see the minivan up ahead,” Bear says. “They don’t look stuck though, maybe just broke down.”
“That’s not good. She could be freezing in there if the engine isn’t working,” I agree.
“I was thinking the same thing,” he replies.
“You two do realize you are now on a mission together. This thing between you two is, like, happening. Mmkay?” Violet is finally off the phone with her friends and back to telling us what’s what.
I look over, and Bear is trying to concentrate on pulling over safely but also smirking.
“Would be a great story to tell our grandkids.”
Violet hoots from the back seat.
I can’t even respond. Anybody else saying that to me would send me packing.
His words and that sweet sideways smile as he cocks his head after he says something daring… I just melt.
It’s a little nuts. It’s way too fast.
But I just…feel it.
We pull ahead and come to a stop in front of the minivan.
As we pass, I see that the interior lights of the vehicle are on. There is a man and a woman in the back seat. I can’t make out what is going on, but something inside me is telling me the woman is in trouble.
“Stay put,” Bear says again. Though this time, he squeezes my knee and his voice is reassuring. My skin crackles where he touches my jeans.
I watch him hop out like a damn superhero and I have to remind myself this is a rescue mission on Christmas Eve, not a sexy summer road trip. No matter how much heat I can feel between my legs.
“Don’t think too hard about it, honey.”
I turn in my seat to face Violet.
“That’s all I do is think.”
“You all just make sense. You all are good people and you need to get together and start making more nice, good, helpful people.”
Damn if I don’t get a tear in the corner of my eye. Violet had a way of cutting through the bullshit. The conventions of how long Bear and I have known each other doesn’t seem to matter anymore.
“He is a good man,” I say, my voice cracking.
My head swings around as my door pops open. Bear looks worried. “Coats, blankets, and all hands on deck.”
Violet and I don’t ask any questions. We haul ass out of the truck with all of our bags and emergency kits, with Bear’s help.
We all pile into the minivan and see that the woman is indeed having a problem.