Sophie stared at her phone and seemed to sink in on herself. “Her power’s out too. And I don’t have anyone else’s number.”
The amount of relief he felt was disturbing. But why shouldn’t he care about Sophie’s well-being? Of course he didn’t want her hurt or injured. He wasn’t a monster.
She was tapping away at her phone again.
“What are you doing now?”
“Maybe the shops are closed, but the hotels are definitely open, and they’ll have generators.”
“I’m not sure Wi-Fi will be their number-one priority.”
“That’s what I’m checking on.”
Shaking his head, he went upstairs to fill the bathtub with water. When he was finished Sophie was still on the phone, so he went to the master bath and filled the tub in there too. He tried not to notice the flowery scent of her shampoo hanging in the air or the delicates draped over the towel bar.
Afterward he made his way back to the living room. “The tubs are filled, and we have plenty of candles and flashlights. You should probably unplug your—What are you doing?” A rhetorical question since he could plainly see she was slipping into her raincoat.
“The Marriott still has power and Wi-Fi, and they agreed to let me use it.”
“The Marriott is at least fifteen miles away.”
“Great. I can charge my phone as I drive.” Caught in the beam of his flashlight, she snatched up her purse and laptop.
He imagined all manner of trouble that could happen during the thirty-minute drive. If she got stuck he’d have to go after her. And God help her if anything terrible happened—the emergency crews no doubt had their hands full.
“Stay here, Pippa.” Using her phone to light her path, Sophie whizzed past him on her way to the garage. “Be back soon.”
“I’m going with you.”
She stopped so suddenly he nearly plowed into her.
“I don’t need a babysitter, Aiden. I can take care of myself.”
“I’m going with you,” he repeated in a no-nonsense tone.
They stared each other down, neither giving an inch for a good thirty seconds. Maybe he couldn’t stop anything bad from happening, but he was trained in emergency medical response. That had to count for something.
“Fine,” she finally said. “Suit yourself.”
chapter nine
The pummeling rain was so loud Sophie couldn’t even hear the Tahoe’s engine. She backed out and started down Bayside Drive. Her wipers were on full blast, but it was still hard to see the road. And even though it was only four o’clock in the afternoon, it seemed much later.
Leaves and small branches flew past. A piece of cardboard fluttered by on a gust of wind.
“You realize this is crazy, right?” Aiden called over the noise.
“Nobody said you had to come.”
“Just drive slowly. And watch for downed lines.”
“I don’t remember you being such a control freak.”
“I don’t remember you being such a daredevil.”
Sophie pressed her lips together. He was one to talk. The man jumped out of planes, hang glided, paraglided, and bungee jumped off bridges. In high school he’d never passed up a dare. Driving through a storm should be a walk in the park for him.
“Seth really needs this document.” She wished she didn’t feel the need to defend herself. “He’s just starting this job and wants to make a good impression.”
When Aiden remained quiet Sophie glanced his way. Face set, he stared out the windshield.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“It’s his first grown-up job. It’s a big deal.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to.” Sophie loosened her grip on the steering wheel. She wasn’t normally this prickly, but apparently Aiden brought out the worst in her these days. Besides, he couldn’t possibly understand her devotion. He didn’t even have siblings, much less a twin.
“Watch out.” Aiden pointed out some flooding on the side of the road, and Sophie steered around it.
At this pace the fifteen-minute drive was going to take at least double that, and driving in the storm was making her tense.
She searched for neutral ground to fill the silence. “How’s your dad doing these days? I haven’t seen him in forever.”
“He’s doing well. Still climbing around roofs for a living.”
Dan Maddox was a roofer, an independent contractor. He was also a gem of a guy who’d always been good to Sophie. He had all of Aiden’s good looks and charm, but unlike his son he was a homebody. Aiden must’ve gotten his adventurous spirit from his mother.
“He must miss you.” Aiden was his only child, and as far as she knew, he rarely went home.
“We stay in touch. He’s become a good friend—someone to