“Need anything from the back?” he asked.
“That blue baby bag—” she pointed it out “—and the black duffel…and the car seat, too. I guess.”
He scooped up both heavy bags and slung the straps over his shoulders as if they were empty. Then he picked up the car seat. He locked up the car and they headed back toward the road.
When they reached the snowy slope, he put the bags down and turned to her. “Let’s leave the bags and seat down here. I’ll come back for them. I’ll hold the baby if you like and we can go up together.”
Carey considered his plan for a moment, then remembered going up the hill the first time and nodded. “All right.”
She handed Lindsay over, feeling a tiny, instinctive twinge of concern. It vanished in an instant once she saw the way her rescuer cradled the baby protectively to his chest.
His strong, gentle embrace was reassuring and a much safer way for Lindsay to travel than if she had carried the baby herself.
He stood by and let her go up first. She started to slip and he was instantly at her side, one strong arm cradling Lindsay to his chest and the other suddenly wrapped around her waist, catching her close before she fell.
He looked down at her. Just about all she could see of his face, covered by his parka hood, were his eyes. Brilliant blue of a summer morning, defying the dark night and falling snow.
She focused on getting up the hill, one slippery step at a time. It was hard to ignore the man beside her. His face was suddenly so close she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. She quickly turned away and stared straight ahead. This was the closest she’d been to anyone in over a year, since Tom had died.
“Careful now, I’ve got you. Just go slowly.”
“I can make it.” She tried hard to keep her mind on getting up the hill. The feeling of his arm around her waist and his hard strong body so close next to hers was both distracting…and energizing.
When he reached the top, she gave out a sigh of relief. She was sure he thought she was just happy the trek was over.
He carefully handed the baby over, then went down for the rest of her belongings. She wasn’t sure how he could manage the two large bags and car seat in one trip, but moments later, he emerged on the roadside, with the entire load, not even winded.
She followed him to a dark green SUV that was parked down the road. He tossed her bags in the back then secured the baby’s seat in the backseat. Carey placed Lindsay in the car seat and fastened the strap.
Then she softly kissed the baby on her forehead and stroked her cheek. Carey was sure she must be hungry and need a diaper change. “Poor sweetheart. I’ll take care of you very soon,” she promised.
Moments later, she sat up front and the police officer started the vehicle. He pushed back the hood of his parka and she finally had a good look at his face.
He was handsome. Very handsome. The eyes had been a hint. The rest was even better than she’d expected.
His dark hair was cut short, close to his head though not a crew cut. He’d pushed it back, wet from the snow, off his forehead with his hand, emphasizing his lean cheeks and the strong lines of his face, set in a serious expression, as he steered the SUV away from the side of the road and then made a wide U-turn.
They were once again headed in the direction of town, she realized, the same way she was going before she drove off the road.
She pushed back her own hood and ran her fingers through her long golden hair, damp from the snow and feeling even curlier and wilder than usual.
She put her hands up to the air vents to warm them and realized he was watching her, his glance lingering in a way that made her feel self-conscious.
It was a classic male-female glance, a taking inventory sort of look. The same she’d just given him, though he hadn’t caught her at it. Or had he? she wondered.
“Feel cold? I can turn up the heat.”
Considering the direction of her thoughts, she had to hide a smile. She didn’t need it any hotter in here.
“Thanks, I’m okay.” She pulled off her wet gloves and stuck them in her pocket. “I don’t think you ever told me your name, Officer.”
“Ben Martin. You can skip the officer part. I’m off duty. I didn’t get your name, either.”
“Oh, right. It’s Carey Mooreland. And that’s Lindsay,” she added, glancing at the baby in the backseat.
“She’s adorable. I’m glad she wasn’t hurt. You’re lucky in a way about the snow. It slowed the car down considerably. It could have been a lot worse when you hit that tree.”
“Yes, it could have been,” Carey had to agree. It definitely could have been worse, though the snow had been a major hindrance to her tonight. If not for the snow, she might be in Canada by now. Or close to it. This man had no idea.
“Is there someone you’d like to call?”
He meant a husband or some significant other, of course.
He was just trying to be helpful. But personal questions still made her nervous.
This question in particular was always a difficult one.
“It’s all right. I don’t have anyone…waiting for me.”
He glanced over at her, then back at the road again. She sensed he was curious, but didn’t push her for more information.
“I’m on my way to Portland. To visit a friend,” she said simply.
That was the cover story she’d composed for the trip. Just in case anyone asked. Portland was somewhat south of this area, she guessed. Though she wasn’t sure how far.
He nodded. His silence made her nervous. Did he believe her? Then she realized he was probably just watching his driving in the snow.
“Looks like you’re stuck. At least for the night.”
“I guess so. What do you think about the car? Can I call someone to tow it?”
“I’ll have them call from the station, though I don’t know if the local tow company will get to it tonight. I think all the tow trucks within twenty miles are backed up with calls right now.”
Carey hated hearing about delays, though she knew it was illogical to think her car would be towed during a snowstorm…on Christmas Eve night, no less.
“Where will they bring it?”
“The closest auto body shop is Anderson’s, in town. Honest guy. He won’t rip you off. Though I’m sure he’ll be closed tomorrow. You’ll probably have to wait until the day after Christmas for him to take a look at it.”
Carey’s heart sank. She’d be stuck here two days. Then there would be more time to fix the car. Who knew how long that would take? Every minute seemed precious, to keep a step ahead of her pursuers.
“Is there any other place? Besides the shop in town?”
“There are a few on the highway. But then you’ll be paying a lot more for the tow. And I can’t say how reliable those places are,” he added.
A special radio hung from the bottom of the dashboard, she noticed. He picked up the hand piece and asked someone on the other end to call for a tow truck and told them where to find the car.
Carey agreed to have the car brought to the garage in town. That seemed the easiest solution.
The snow still fell heavily and the drive was slow going.
“You can just drop us off anyplace.