One Snowy Night (Sweet Home, Alaska #1) - Patience Griffin Page 0,84

should’ve been watching where she was stepping instead of dwelling on him. A life lesson she wouldn’t soon forget. As if her ankle would let her anyway.

“We’re not leaving until we get you squared away.” He held out one sack. “Your ice.”

She took out the ice pack and positioned it on her ankle while he dug around in the second sack. He pulled out a new bag of chips and a banana, holding them both out. “Here’s your chance to make good choices.”

She was way beyond making good choices. “It’s no contest.” She grabbed the chips and set them in her lap.

“You have to eat before taking an anti-inflammatory.”

“Yes, Mom,” she said.

Next he produced a humongous bottle of Advil.

“That’s enough to keep a grizzly pain-free for a month,” she grumbled.

He glanced at her ankle again, his brow furrowing even more. “Stop complaining and take your meds.”

“You’re as bossy as Piney.”

“Well, somebody has to push back against your stubbornness. I’m glad you’ve had her all these years,” he said.

He had no idea how much he’d hit it on the head. If not for Piney, Hope wouldn’t have had anyone.

He pulled out a bottle of water. “To stay hydrated. The coffee is just for fun.” He passed that over to her, too, and then put the car in gear.

Hope ate a few chips, took two Advil, and then leaned her head back, closing her eyes. The throbbing in her ankle matched her heartbeat, not letting her forget what a fool she’d been. It was also a great reminder to put Donovan and her attraction for him in a box and leave them there. She felt satisfied with her resolve and drifted off to sleep.

Hope woke up as Donovan pulled into the lodge’s driveway. She sat up and looked around, noticing that the driveway was empty. Surely the crew hadn’t finished for the day.

“Where is everyone?” she asked.

“Look behind you,” Donovan said. “Most of Sweet Home is parked out on the road. They must’ve thought we’d need the driveway to unload.” He smiled at her. “They were right.”

The lodge’s front door opened and Rick and Sparkle appeared, slipping on their coats.

“Sit tight,” Donovan ordered. “I’ll come around to get you. You can’t afford to slip and hurt your other foot.”

He has that right. The image of two casted feet had Hope staying where she was.

Sparkle was beaming at Hope. “Perfect timing. We just got here. I see the car is loaded down.” Her expression turned puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“Twisted my ankle,” Hope said glumly.

“How?”

“Paying attention to things I shouldn’t,” Hope admitted cryptically.

Donovan got to her side of the car. “She fell walking down the steps at that funky grocery store a couple hours ago. Rick, can you get on the other side of Hope and we’ll get her inside?”

Rick seemed amused. “Nah. You carry her in and I’ll unload the car.”

Donovan didn’t even give Hope a chance to protest as he knelt down and scooped her out of the car, his arms under her legs, like a twenty-first-century Rhett Butler.

“No!” But it was too late. He had her halfway to the door.

That was when she noticed all the people around, some with tools in their hands, some with cleaning supplies.

“Stop thrashing about,” Donovan complained. “You’re making a spectacle of yourself.”

“Put me down. This is the last thing I need.” Hope hated being helpless, but what she hated even more was looking helpless. This was giving everyone the wrong idea.

Donovan easily carried Hope over the threshold while she cringed at the image they’d produced for onlookers. Just what the wagging tongues of Sweet Home needed.

“What time is it?” she asked.

“Five o’clock,” Piney said, coming out of the kitchen. She looked as amused as Rick had. “Is there something you need to share with me?” She had a did-you-elope-in-Anchorage twinkle in her eyes.

Hope glared at her. “Stop smiling. I sprained my ankle. And it hurts.” Then she turned to Donovan. “Okay. We’re inside now. So put me down!”

“Take her to Elsie’s studio,” Piney said. “We have a surprise for her.”

“What surprise?” But Donovan was on the move again, hauling her away, and Hope couldn’t keep Piney in her line of sight.

He used his foot to push open the studio door and Hope saw it. Saw them. All of them. It was as if she’d been transported back in time. A familiar gaggle of women were setting up their sewing machines, chatting away . . . until they saw Donovan holding her like a bride. The Sisterhood