“So here’s the deal. I’m going to have to carry your ass to the truck—”
“No! I’m sick of being carried around!”
“Evelyn, don’t even start or I will leave your ass here. I’m freezing and I want to go home. So just shut the fuck up, no chattering, no debating. All right?”
“Whatever. Fine. Let’s just go. And you’re nasty.”
“Good. And we’re going to have to leave our stuff here. I can’t carry you and all the crap, and there is no damn way I’m making another trip. I can barely feel my feet as it is. John is going to come back and get our stuff and bring it to us.”
“Okay.” I know there is no sense in arguing. All that matters is that we are getting out of here.
Storm has to carry me piggyback style up to the road because of the deep snow and the incline of the hill. I’m not too thrilled about straddling his back like a koala bear, but he threatened to dump me into a snowdrift if I didn’t shut up. I am once again impressed at the strength of this man and how he can carry me on his back through the snow and up the hill. I’m pretty sure Michael wouldn’t be able to carry me up this hill.
When we reach the truck, Storm gently puts me down and stomps the snow off his legs and boots. He is completely soaked from the knees down and I am worried about him getting sick. We all have to cram into the front seat of the plow truck, but right now I don’t even care because all I can think about is that I am one step closer to getting home. John, the plow truck driver, is nice, telling us how lucky we are to be alive. It seems that he and Storm know each other pretty well.
“Am I taking you both to Storm’s place or do you want me to take you to that little hotel in town?” John asks. Hmm. That’s a question I didn’t even think about.
I feel Storm’s hand touch mine, between us on the seat. “I was thinking you could stay at my place for tonight. If the phone isn’t working, I’m sure John can call Michael for you when he gets back home, since he lives in civilization, and let Michael know that you’re okay. Tomorrow we can get your car towed into town and get that taken care of. If you go to the hotel, we don’t even know if they have any rooms. It’s a small mom and pop hotel, not a chain.”
Is he trying to tell me he wants me to stay with him? That’s the vibe I’m getting, and I have no idea what to do. He’s right about the hotel— there might not be any rooms. Then I’m screwed. But staying with him at his place? I’m not so sure that’s a great idea. After what happened in the truck, I’m not so sure we should be alone together. He’s ignoring the look on my face though, and just keeps talking.
“I’ll cook us dinner, you can take a hot shower, and I have a nice room you can have. Tomorrow, more of the roads should be cleared off. I’ll take you into town and you can call Michael and have him come pick you up.”
“Um, how are we going to get to town? Both of our cars are stuck.”
He flashes me his grin. “I have another truck at my place. It’s in the garage.”
“Yeah, Storm has a lot of cars,” John interjects and I catch Storm giving him a dirty look.
I let out a big sigh. “All right. I’ll stay at your place then. Thank you.”
When Storm said he had a cabin in the woods, I was picturing a really small, summer cabin where hunters hang out in for the weekend. I was not expecting this modern log cabin with floor to ceiling windows, skylights, and beautiful angles with a three-car garage, and surrounded by pine trees. I stare up at it and wonder how a guy who looks like Storm can afford a swanky place like this. It must be his parent’s place. After John plows the driveway and shovels a pathway for us to walk to the front door, he jumps back in behind the wheel. “I’m going to get your stuff and bring it back. Gimme about half an hour.”
I nod my head at him. “Thank you. I really appreciate your help.”
“No problem at all. Storm and I go way back.”
I figure if things are weird with Storm when we get inside, then when John comes back with my stuff, I can always ask him for a ride to town, and then I can just deal with hotel crap once I get there.