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Snowbound With An Heiress
Jennifer Faye
Stranded in the snow – together! Heiress Serena Winston has gone off the grid for the holidays! She's staying in a remote cabin in the Alps, looking to get away from it all…Since losing his wife, Christmas isn't the same for TV presenter Jackson Bennett. He goes where the work takes him, this time to Austria. But when an American beauty runs him off the road in a blizzard and a storm leaves them stranded, it seems like a disaster. Until their time alone turns into an unexpected Christmas to remember!
Stranded in the snow—together!
Heiress Serena Winston has gone off the grid for the holidays! She’s staying in a remote cabin in the Alps, looking to get away from it all...
Since losing his wife, Christmas isn’t the same for TV presenter Jackson Bennett. He goes where the work takes him, this time to Austria. But when an American beauty runs him off the road in a blizzard and a storm leaves them stranded, it seems like a disaster. Until their time alone turns into an unexpected Christmas to remember!
The kiss meant nothing.
Nothing at all.
That was what Serena had been telling herself ever since last night, when she’d fallen into Jackson’s more than capable arms. What had she been thinking to kiss the enemy?
Who was she kidding? Jackson wasn’t the enemy, even if he was part of the news media. Maybe at first she hadn’t trusted him—with her background, who could blame her? But during the time they’d spent together she’d learned that there was so much more to him than his dashing looks and his news coverage.
He was a man who’d loved and lost. He was kind and generous. He went out of his way for others, even when he’d rather be doing anything else. And he had a sense of humor. The memory of his deep laugh still sent goosebumps down her arms. That was a sound she could listen to for the rest of her life—
Whoa! Slow down.
She knew that this moment of playing house would end soon—just as soon as the avalanche was cleared and they were able to plow the roads. Then they would return to reality. But for now they had their own little world within the walls of this cabin and she intended to enjoy it as long as it lasted.
And if that should include some more kisses…?
Well, she wouldn’t complain. A smile pulled at her lips.
She’d been kissed by a lot of leading men, but none of them could come close to Jackson. That man was made for kissing. Just the memory of his kiss had her sighing. It hadn’t lasted long enough—not even close.
Snowbound with an Heiress
Jennifer Faye
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Award-winning author JENNIFER FAYE pens fun, heartwarming, contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. Internationally published, with books translated into nine languages, she is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award. She has also won the CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award, been named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards.
For Tonya.
Thanks for being there from the beginning…
I am thankful for our friendship
and your unending encouragement. :)
Contents
Cover (#u13150560-7bfe-54a3-8db2-8aa1dfd49c58)
Back Cover Text (#u7a10e903-d4a2-5b67-b97b-155079d370b2)
Introduction (#u9dc12f4e-a5ff-5f38-883f-de7faa1dee58)
Title Page (#udc372e7f-8b9d-56aa-bcbf-f18d3416c1a8)
About the Author (#u43275d25-dbc8-55da-b0e1-c5db28c4ca39)
Dedication (#u08c0e09e-4b2a-543b-a928-75875bd73868)
CHAPTER ONE (#u3b4a7dda-849b-5002-b6e9-5a61acba73f5)
CHAPTER TWO (#u98d17cce-65fa-5303-9f66-ec72eaecc96b)
CHAPTER THREE (#u212a7676-3d56-566a-90cd-3b1cda20fc6d)
CHAPTER FOUR (#u649d2db3-34f7-5ff1-a53a-82d069e3412c)
CHAPTER FIVE (#u04f5afe7-240c-5a05-890a-50e27f2aa748)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINETEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u578dc2b2-6361-578f-a9fd-ea7ed5800a31)
PEACE AT LAST...
Serena Winston paused along the snowy path. Out here in the beauty of the Alps, it was so quiet. She lifted her face up to the warmth of the sun just seconds before it disappeared behind a dark cloud. Shadows quickly spread over the mountainous region of Austria.
She sighed. The sunshine had been so nice while it lasted, but the snow was starting to fall again. But she had to admit that the snowflakes had their own charm as they fluttered to the ground. It was so different from her home in sunny Hollywood.
“Arff! Arff!”
“Okay, Gizmo.” Serena glanced down at her recently adopted puppy. “You’re right. We better keep moving.”
There was already plenty of snow on the ground. Serena’s fondest wish had always been to learn to ski, but for one reason or another, she’d kept putting it off. First, it was due to the worry of injuring herself before filming a movie. Being an actress did have its drawbacks. And then, there just wasn’t time to jet off to Tahoe for a long weekend of skiing—especially now that she’d inherited her legendary father’s vast estate. Selling off some of his holdings was more complicated than she had anticipated.
Realizing the direction of her thoughts, she halted them. She drew in a deep, calming breath. This holiday excursion was meant for escaping her daily pressures and refocusing her Hollywood career. There was yet another reason for this spur-of-the-moment trip, but she didn’t want to think about it, either. There’d be time for problem-solving later.
When she glanced back down at her teddy bear dog, she found he’d wrapped his lead around a bush. The easiest way to fix the situation was to release Gizmo from his lead. It was no big deal. Gizmo was not one to wander off.
Serena unhooked the lead. “Stay,” she said firmly.
Gizmo gazed at her as though understanding what she’d said. He didn’t move a paw.
“Good boy.”
Serena set to work untangling the leash from the prickly shrubbery. It wasn’t an easy task. What had Gizmo been doing? Chasing something?
At last, she freed the leash. She’d have to be more careful about letting him out on the full length of the lead in the areas with rougher terrain.
“Arff! Arff!”
She watched as her little dog took off in hot pursuit after a brown-haired creature. “Gizmo! Stop!”
Serena ran after the dog. She continued calling his name, but he paid her no heed. For a little guy with short legs, Gizmo could move swiftly when he was motivated enough. And right now, he was very motivated.
Serena wasn’t familiar with the terrain, as this was her first visit to the small village nestled in the Austrian Alps. This area had been on her bucket list to visit right after Fiji and right before Tasmania. With her rush to leave Hollywood, it seemed like the right time to scratch another adventure off her list.
The snow grew heavier. Between the snowflakes and trees, she spotted a road ahead. And though it appeared to be a quiet road, the thought of little Gizmo being anywhere near it had Serena pumping her legs harder and faster.
“Gizmo—”
Serena’s foot struck a tree root. Down she went. Oomph!
The collision of her chest with the hard, frozen ground knocked the air from her lungs. She didn’t have a chance to regroup before she heard the sound of an approaching vehicle. With each heartbeat, the sound was growing closer.
Ignoring her discomfort, Serena scrambled to her feet. “Gizmo! Here, boy.”
She continued after the little furbaby who’d captured her heart a few months ago. At first, she hadn’t been so sure about owning a dog. Gizmo was full of puppy energy and in need of lots of love.
But now she couldn’t imagine her life without him. Gizmo made her smile when she was sad and he made her laugh when she angry. Not to mention, he got her up and moving when she thought she was too tired to take another step. He was there for her unlike anyone else in her life.
It wasn’t like Gizmo to take off and not listen to her. She supposed that between the long flight from the States and then the intermittent snow showers that they’d been cooped up inside for too long.
The blast of a horn shattered the silence.
It was followed by the sound of skidding tires.
A high-pitched squeal confirmed Serena’s worst fears.
Her heart leaped into her throat as she came to a stop.
A loud thud reverberated through the air. And then the crunch of metal sent Serena’s heart plummeting down to her new snow boots.
A whole host of frantic thoughts sprang to mind. They jumbled together. The immobilizing shock quickly passed and she put one foot in front of the other. All the while, she struggled to make sense of the tragedy that undoubtedly awaited her.
As if on autopilot, she cleared the overgrown path. She scanned the quiet road. Her gaze latched onto the back end of a dark sedan. Inwardly she cringed.
And to make things worse, there was no sign of Gizmo.
Or maybe that was a good thing. She was desperate to cling to any sense of hope. She held her breath and listened for a bark—a whimper—anything. There were no puppy sounds.
Please let Gizmo be safe.
Steam poured out from the engine compartment of the crashed vehicle. The driver’s side was bent around a cluster of trees. Serena’s mouth gaped. Was that the reason Gizmo didn’t respond? A sob rose in her throat. Was he pinned in the wreckage?
Tears pricked the back of her eyes. Please, say it isn’t so.
Moisture dampened her cheeks. She swiped at the tears. For a normally reserved person who only cried on a director’s cue, Serena wasn’t used to a spontaneous rush of emotions. Realizing she couldn’t just stand there, she swallowed hard and then moved forward, wondering what she would find.
On legs that felt like gelatin, she moved across the road. Realizing the driver’s-side door was pinned by a tree trunk, she approached the passenger side and yanked open the door.
A snapping and popping sound emanated from the car. Serena didn’t even want to imagine what that might be. Still, she glanced around for any sign of fire.
Not finding any flames, Serena knelt down to get a better look. There in the driver’s seat was a man with dark brown hair. His head was leaned back against the seat. His eyes were shut. His dark lashes and brows gave his face a distinctive look. There was something familiar about him, but in her frantic state, she couldn’t make any connections. Right now, she had to get this man to safety in case his car went up in flames.
Even though she’d played a nurse once in a movie, she didn’t know much about first aid. The movie had been a stalker/thriller type. The medical aspects were minimal. She reached for the cell phone in her back pocket. She pulled it out, but there was no signal. This wasn’t good—not good at all.
“There...there was a dog...”
The deep male voice startled Serena. His voice wobbled as though he was still dazed. She glanced up to find a pair of dark brown eyes staring back at her. Her heart lodged in her throat. Was it wrong that she found his eyes intriguing? And dare she say it, they were quite attractive. They were eyes that you couldn’t help staring into and losing yourself.
The man’s gaze darted around as though trying to figure out what had happened. And then he started to move. A groan of pain immediately followed.
“Stop,” Serena called out. “Stay still.”
The man’s confused gaze met hers. “Why? Is there something the matter with me?”
She could feel the panic swelling between them. “I’m not sure.” She drew in a calming breath. Getting worked up wouldn’t help either of them. She drew on her lifetime of acting. “I don’t know the extent of your injuries. Until we know more, you shouldn’t move.” Which was all well and good until the car caught fire. But she could only deal with one catastrophe at a time. “I’m going to call for help.”
“You already tried that. It didn’t work.” His voice was less frantic and more matter-of-fact.
She swallowed hard. So he’d seen that. Okay. Don’t freak out or he’ll panic. Without a cell signal, their choices were diminishing. And the car was still popping and fizzing. She didn’t want to tell this injured man any of this. Nor did she want to admit that the dog that created this horrific event was hers. The backs of her eyes burned with unshed tears. And that her poor sweet puppy could very well be—
No. Don’t go there. Focus on getting this man help.
The man released his seat belt. The only way out for him was to crawl over the passenger seat. But he shouldn’t be moving around until a professional looked at him.
“Don’t move,” she said as he pushed aside the seat belt. “I’ll go and get help.”
“I’m fine.” His voice took on a firm tone.
He was sounding better, but it could just be shock. What if he got out of the car and collapsed in the middle of the road? She certainly couldn’t lift him, much less carry him. Even with him being seated, she could see that he was over six feet tall and solidly built. Why did he have to be so stubborn?
The man leaned toward the passenger seat.
“I’m serious. You shouldn’t be moving.” She swiped her hair out of her face. It was wet from melting snowflakes. It was coming down so hard that she couldn’t see much past the other side of the road. “You could make your injuries worse.”
As though transforming her concerns into reality, he groaned in pain. Serena’s heart lurched. She automatically leaned forward, placing a hand against the man’s biceps, helping to support him.
“What is it? What hurts?” Her gaze scanned his body looking for blood or any possible injury, but she didn’t spot any.
His breathing was labored. “It’s my leg.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“I can’t move it.”
Not good. Not good at all.
And as if matters weren’t bad enough, a white cloud billowed out from under the hood. Her heart pounded. What was she supposed to do now?
CHAPTER TWO (#u578dc2b2-6361-578f-a9fd-ea7ed5800a31)
SERENA CRAWLED OVER the passenger seat, making her way to the driver’s side. “We have to get you out of here. Quickly.”
“Don’t worry,” the man said. “It’s just steam.”
She wanted to believe him. She really did. But she wasn’t sure if the man was totally lucid. For all she knew, he could have a head injury or be in shock or both.
She refused to abandon him. She prayed the car didn’t explode into flames before she freed him. With the man slouched over, he was in her way.
With her hand still on his shoulder, she pushed with all her might. He didn’t budge. The man was built like a solid rock wall.
“I need you to sit up,” she said.
“What?” His voice was a bit groggy. His gaze zeroed in on her. “What are you doing?”
“I need you to move so I can see what’s going on with your leg.”
“You don’t know what you’re doing. You’re going to make it worse. Go away!”
His harsh words propelled her back out of the car. What was up with this guy? Maybe it was the shock talking.
“I’m trying to help you. Now quit being difficult.” She took a calming breath and knelt down again. “Move! Now!”
The man’s dark brows rose.
It appeared her brusque words had finally gained his full attention. The man muttered something under his breath. At last, he started to move. He was almost upright when he let out a grunt of pain.
“Is it your leg?”
He nodded as he drew in one deep breath after the other.
She glanced between him and the dash. There just might be enough room for her to wiggle in there. It’d help if she had a flashlight. And then remembering her cell phone, she grabbed it from her pocket and turned on the light.
Her gaze met his. “I’m going to try not to hurt you, but we have to free your leg. Can you work with me on this?”
The man’s eyes reflected his uncertainty, but then he relented with a curt nod. “Just do it. And quickly. I smell gas.”
He didn’t have to tell her twice. On her stomach, she moved across the butter-soft leather upholstery. When she got to the man’s body, she did her best to focus on the task at hand and not the fact that when she placed a hand on his thigh, it was rock hard. The man was all muscle and—and she had work to do. At last, she was wedged between him and the dashboard with barely any room for her to move her arms.
“Can you move the seat back?”
His body shifted. “It’s not working. The electrical system must have shorted out.”
“Okay. I’ve got this.”
She had to get this man free of the car and then find out what had happened to Gizmo. Her poor sweet furbaby could be hurt or worse—
Stop. Deal with one problem at a time.
Hands first, she repositioned herself. She flashed the light around. The side of the car had been smashed inward. His ankle was pinned between the car door and the brake pedal. It looked bad—real bad.
Serena drew in an unsteady breath, willing herself to remain calm when all she wanted to do was run away and find someone else to help this man. But there wasn’t time for that. She could do this. She could. Serena placed her hand gently on his leg and paused. When he didn’t cry out in pain, she proceeded to examine the situation. She ran her hand down his leg, checking for any major injuries. She didn’t feel any. There was no wiggle room on either side. The brake pedal was digging into his flesh.
Knowing that she was going to need two hands, she held up the phone to him. “Can you hold this for me?”
He took the phone. The light was angled too high.
“Tilt it a little lower. I’m going to try to move the brake pedal. Are you ready?”
“Yes. Just do what you need to do.”
Serena pressed on the brake. The pedal became stuck on his black leather dress shoe. She tried moving his foot, but it wouldn’t budge.
She felt his body stiffen. Serena released his foot. He was really pinned in there. And it frightened her to know that she might not be able to free him before the car went up in flames.
She swallowed hard. “I’m going to take off your shoe and see if that will help.”
“Do what you need to do. You don’t have to keep updating me.”
Just then she inhaled the scent of smoke. Her pulse quickened. They were almost out of time. And this wasn’t the way she planned to leave this world.
Her fingers moved quickly. The shoe tie pulled loose.
He cursed under his breath.
She stopped moving. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Keep going.”
“But I’m hurting you.”
“It’s going to hurt a lot more when that fire reaches us.”
“Okay. Okay. I’ve got it. I’ll try to do this as quickly as possible.”
“Do it!”
The melting snow on the top of her head dripped onto her nose. With her arm, she brushed it off. All her focus needed to be on freeing this man, and in essence herself, from this smashed-up, gasoline-leaking, smoldering car.
Serena once again worked to free his shoe from his foot. It didn’t move easily and she suspected he had a lot of swelling going on. She reminded herself to focus on one problem at a time. However, at this moment the problems were mounting faster than she could deal with them.
The smoke caused her to let out a string of coughs.
“Are you okay?” Not even waiting for her answer, he said, “You should get out of here.”
“Not without you.”
When she moved his foot again, she heard the distinct hiss of his breath. He didn’t say anything and so she continued moving his foot. At last, his foot slipped past the brake pedal.
She pulled back. “You’re free.”
There was perspiration beading on the man’s forehead. It definitely wasn’t hot in the car. It was more like freezing. Her maneuvering his foot must have hurt him more than he’d let on. She felt really bad adding to his discomfort, but she had no other way to free him.
“Now,” she said, “let’s get you out of here.”
She eased out of the car and attempted to help him, but he brushed her off. The smoke was getting heavier.
“I’ve got it,” he said. “Just move away from the car.”
“Not without you.” She stood just outside the car.
“Quit saying that. Take care of yourself.”
She wasn’t backing away. If he needed her, she would be there. The popping and fizzing sounds continued. Her gaze darted to the hood where the smoke was the heaviest. Her attention returned to the man.
Hurry. Please hurry.
She wondered how bad the damage was to his left leg. It suddenly dawned on her that he most likely wouldn’t be able to walk on it. But what choice did they have as they were stuck in the middle of nowhere. It was becoming increasingly obvious that no one used this road—at least not in the middle of a snowstorm. And who could blame them, she thought, glancing around at the snow-covered roadway.
Right now, she just wanted to find Gizmo and head back to the cabin. Gizmo. Where was he? Her heart clenched with fear. Please let him be safe.
It took her assistance to get the man to his feet. Or in his case, his one good foot. He’d finally had to relent and lean on her shoulder. Between hopping and a bit of hobbling, she got him to the other side of the road, a safe distance from the car.
“Thank you,” he said. “I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t come along.”
“You’re welcome.”
“My name’s Jackson. What’s yours?”
In the daylight, she recognized him. The breath hitched in her throat. He was trouble. Make that trouble with a capital T and an exclamation point. He was Jackson Bennett—the god of morning news. She turned away.
He was on the airwaves for three hours each morning in American homes from coast to coast. People quoted him. And quite often his name trended after a particularly stunning interview.
The producers of his show had been in contact with her agent a few times to set up an on-air interview, but each time the logistics hadn’t worked for one of them. She couldn’t be more grateful about that now. Still, she couldn’t breathe. There was a definite possibility that he’d recognize her.
This was not good. Not good at all.
In her mind, he was the enemy—the press. All of her carefully laid plans were in jeopardy. She was surprised he hadn’t recognized her already. Would her different hair color and lack of makeup make that much of a difference? She could only hope. After all, who came to the Alps and expected to run across an award-winning movie star from the States?
Regardless, there was no way she was voluntarily outing herself. She’d worked too hard to flee the paparazzi and everything else related to Hollywood, including her agent. It was best that she kept their encounter brief. Not only was she over men, but Jackson was a professional newsman. With enough time, he was bound to sniff out her story.
“Mae. My name’s Mae.” It wasn’t a lie. It was her middle name.
“Mae?” He gazed at her as though studying her face. “You don’t look like a Mae.”
Oh, no!
“Who do I look like?” The words were out before she could stop them. She wanted to kick herself for indulging in this conversation that had a distinct possibility of blowing up in her face.
He continued to study her. “Hmm... I’ll have to give that some thought.”
There was a large rock nearby. She brushed off some of the freshly fallen snow. “Sit here and wait. I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
Gizmo’s name clogged in her throat. She’d never be able to get the words out. She swallowed hard. “I... I have to check on something.”
“It’s too late to save the car.”
She turned to find fire engulfing the hood. If Gizmo was there—if he was trapped—she had to help him. Serena quickly set off for the car, before she could talk herself out of her plan.
Jackson was shouting at her to stop, but she kept going. She would be careful—as careful as she could be. She could feel Jackson’s gaze following her. She didn’t care what he thought. If Gizmo was hurt and needed her, she had to help him.
Serena rushed through the thickening snow to the car. She carefully made her way down over the small embankment. All the while, she kept an eye out for any sign of her buddy. Between the snow and the wind, there was no sign of his little footprints.
With great trepidation, she turned toward the place where the car was smashed against the trees. Could he be in there?
She rushed over and bent down. She reached out to sweep away the snow from around the front tire, but for the briefest moment, she hesitated. Her whole body tensed as she imagined the ghastly scene awaiting her.
She gave herself a mental shake. With trembling hands, she set to work. And then at last, most of the snow had been swept away. There was no Gizmo. She took her first full breath. It didn’t mean he was safe, but it was a good sign. And right about now, she’d take any positive sign possible.
She turned in a full circle, searching for him. She even ventured the rest of the way down the embankment. There was no sign of him. The crash must have spooked him. How far had he run? And how long would he last in the extreme conditions? She repeatedly called his name.
Between the thickening clouds and the heavy snow, visibility wasn’t great. With the deepest, most painful regret, she realized she couldn’t help Gizmo. A sob caught in her throat. The backs of her eyes stung. She couldn’t fall apart—not yet. She had to get Jackson to safety and then she’d return to continue her search for Gizmo. The car continued to smoke and smolder, so she scooped up some armfuls of snow and heaped them on the hood, hoping to douse the flames. She then moved to the side of the car and, catching sight of a bag in the back seat, she retrieved the large duffel bag.
She returned to the rock where the man was still sitting. “I need to get you out of this weather.”
“What were you doing?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Just now. You were searching for something.” And then his eyes widened. “That dog. He’s yours.”
Once more her eyesight blurred with unshed tears. She blinked repeatedly. She nodded.
“It almost killed me.” The man’s deep voice rumbled.
Serena’s chin lifted and her gaze narrowed in on him. “And you might have very well killed him.”
As though her pointed words had deflated him, the man had the decency to glance away. His anger immediately dissipated as the gravity of the situation sunk in.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “I tried to miss him.”
“I called him and I searched around, but I didn’t find any sign of him.”
“And just now, when you returned to the car, were you looking under it for your dog?”
She struggled to keep her emotions in check. She nodded. It was the best she could do.
“I’m sorry.” His tone softened. “I’d never intentionally hurt an animal.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I let him off his leash. I should have known better.”
“Maybe he’s okay. Maybe he got lost.”
She shook her head, wishing Jackson would be quiet. He was attempting to comfort her, but it wasn’t working. Aside from seeing Gizmo alive and healthy, nothing would soothe her pain and guilt.
She couldn’t let herself think about Gizmo any longer. She had to take care of Jackson. And the way he was favoring his leg, there was no way she would be able to get him back to her cabin without a little help. Her cabin was a ways from here. And it was situated in a secluded area. That was why she’d chosen it. It was far from prying eyes and, most important, the press.
But now, well, the location wasn’t ideal to obtain medical aid. But she was certain that once she got ahold of the rescue services, they’d send someone to get Jackson medical treatment.
With her thoughts focused on getting help, she turned to Jackson. “I have a place. But I think you’re going to need some help getting there.”
“I’ll make it.” He stood upright. He’d barely touched the ground with his injured leg when his face creased with obvious pain.
“Are you ready to concede now?”
His gaze didn’t meet hers. “What do you have in mind?”
“I’m going to look for a tree branch that you can use as a cane. Between my shoulder and the tree branch, hopefully we’ll be able to limp you back to the cabin.”
“Cabin?”
“Uh-huh. Is that a problem?”
“Um. No. I won’t be there long.”
A smile pulled at her lips at Jackson Bennett’s obvious disapproval of staying in a cabin. He had absolutely no idea that it was a two-story log home with just about every creature comfort you could imagine. But Jackson was right about one thing: he wouldn’t be staying with her for long. Once she had phone service, he’d be on his way to the hospital and out of her life.
CHAPTER THREE (#u578dc2b2-6361-578f-a9fd-ea7ed5800a31)
“ARFF!”
Jackson Bennett glanced around. Was it possible that the dog the woman was so worried about had been unharmed? He hoped so.
He squinted through the heavy falling snow. Where was the dog? Maybe if he caught it, he’d be able to pay the woman back. They could part on even terms. He hated feeling indebted to anyone. If only he could locate the source of the barking.
“Arff! Arff!”
He glanced around for some sign of Mae. Maybe she could find the dog. But it appeared she was still off in search of a makeshift cane for him.
Jackson got to his feet. With difficulty, he turned around. There beneath a tree, where the snow wasn’t so deep, stood a little gray-and-white dog. It looked cold and scared. Jackson could sympathize.
“Come here,” he said in his most congenial tone. “I won’t hurt you.”
There was another bark, but it didn’t move. The dog continued to stare at Jackson as though trying to decide if Jackson could be trusted or not. Jackson kept calling to the dog, but the little thing wouldn’t come near him. Jackson smothered a frustrated sigh. How did he gain the dog’s trust?
He again glanced around for Mae. How far had she gone for the walking stick? A town on the other side of the Alps? Italy perhaps?
He considered shouting for her, but then he changed his mind. If he frightened the dog, they’d never catch it. And it wasn’t fit for man or beast in this snowstorm.
Jackson turned back to the dog. If only he had a way to coax him over, but he didn’t have any dog treats. And then he thought of something. He’d missed his lunch and had grabbed a pack of crackers to eat in the car. Would a dog eat a cracker?
Jackson had no idea. His experience with a dog consisted of exactly seven days. And it hadn’t gone well at all.
Once the dog had made a mess on the floor, chewed one of his mother’s favorite shoes and howled when his mother put him in the backyard for the night, she’d taken the dog back to the shelter. Jackson remembered how crushed he’d been. He’d begged and pleaded for his mother to change her mind. His mother had told him that it was for the best and sent Jackson to his room.
He banished the memories to the back of his mind. Those days were best forgotten. His life was so much different now—so much better. He didn’t have a dog and, for all intents and purposes, he didn’t have a mother, either. It was for the best.
He pulled the crackers from his dress shirt pocket. He undid the cellophane and removed one. It consisted of two crackers with cheese spread between them. He hoped this would work.
“Here, boy.”
The dog’s ears perked up. That had to be a good sign. The pup took a few steps forward. His nose wiggled. Then his tail started to wag.
“That’s it. Come on.”
The dog’s hesitant gaze met his and then returned to the cracker. The pup took a few more steps. He was almost to Jackson.
Jackson lowered his voice. “That’s a good boy.” He laid the cracker flat on his hand and took a wobbly step forward. The dog watched his every move but held his ground. Jackson stretched out his arm as far as it’d go.
And then the dog came closer. After a few seconds of hesitation, he grabbed the cracker. Jackson caught sight of the blue sparkly collar on the dog’s neck. Something told him that this was most definitely the woman’s dog. The flashy collar was in line with the woman’s rhinestone encrusted cell phone and her perfectly manicured nails.
As the dog devoured the cracker, Jackson knew this was his moment to make his move. Balancing his weight on one foot, he bent down. He lunged forward to wrap his hands around the little dog.
The dog jumped back and Jackson lost his balance. He reached out to regain his balance, but he’d moved too far from the large rock. He instinctively put his weight on his injured leg. Wrong move. He swore under his breath.
“What in the world!” came the beautiful stranger’s voice.
It was too late. She couldn’t help him. His injured leg couldn’t take the pressure of his weight. It gave way. He fell face-first into the snow.
Jackson sat up with snow coating him from head to toe. He blew the snow from his mouth and nose. Then he ran a hand over his face. At that moment, he felt something wet on his cheek. He opened his eyes to find the dog licking him. Ugh!
“Aww...you found him.” A big smile bloomed on the woman’s face. If he thought that she was beautiful before, she was even more of a knockout when she smiled. “You’re such a naughty boy for running off. Come here, Gizmo.”
“Gizmo? What kind of name is that?” Jackson attempted to get to his feet. He failed.
The woman’s brows drew together, but she didn’t move to help him. “What’s wrong with his name?”
Jackson sighed. “It’s a bit cutesy for a boy, don’t you think?”
“Cutesy?” Her green eyes darkened to a shade of deep jade.
“Never mind.” What did he care what she named her dog? If his head wasn’t pounding, he would have kept his thoughts to himself. He would have to make a mental note to tread carefully going forward. Without Mae’s help, he hefted himself to his feet.
In the meantime, she picked up the dog and brushed snow from Gizmo. “We need to get you home and in front of a fire. You poor baby.”
As Jackson brushed himself off, he couldn’t help but watch how the woman oohed and aahed over the dog. What amazed him the most was how the dog was eating up the attention as though it knew exactly what she was saying.
Mae turned to Jackson as though an afterthought, holding out a stick. “Here you go.”
He accepted the sturdy-looking branch. Somehow it made him feel like some sort of Paul Bunyan figure. Although his suit and dress shoes would definitely suggest otherwise.
“How in the world did you find Gizmo?” she asked.
Jackson couldn’t actually admit to having done much of anything, but if she wanted to give him partial credit, who was he to reject it. After all, if he hadn’t thought of the crackers in his pocket, the dog might have run off again.
“We sort of found each other. And he likes the same crackers as I do.”
“Crackers?”
“Yes. I have some in my pocket. They were supposed to replace my lunch, but I got distracted when I turned on the wrong road and my GPS wouldn’t work out here. Anyway, I forgot about them.”
She nodded as though she understood, but there were still unspoken questions in her eyes. “I hate to say it, but the snow’s not letting up. If anything, it’s getting heavier.” She frowned as she glanced upward. “I threw a bunch of snow on the fire when I was looking for Gizmo. I think it doused it. If not, this heavy snow should take care of it.” She turned to him. “Are you ready to hike out of here?”
“I don’t see where I have a choice.”
“I’ve got to carry Gizmo because the snow is starting to get too deep for his short legs. And I’ll take your bag as you’ll need all your energy to move on your good leg. But you can put your arm over my shoulder to balance yourself. Hopefully between that and the cane, you’ll be able to make it back to the cabin.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He got a firm grip on the stick and placed an arm over her shoulders, trying not to put too much pressure on her. He felt guilty that he couldn’t even relieve her of his bag, but she was right, anything more would unbalance him. His ankle was really starting to throb now that the adrenaline was wearing off.
She glanced over at him. “Thank you for finding Gizmo.”
“You’re welcome.”
Were those unshed tears shimmering in her eyes? But in a blink, they were gone. And he wasn’t sure if he’d imagined them after all.
At least, they were now even. He glanced over at his snow angel. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid his eyes on. It was hard to miss her stunning green eyes. They were unforgettable and strangely familiar. But that was impossible, right? After all, she was here in Austria and he was from New York City.
But the more he thought about it, he realized that she spoke with an American accent. Now, that he found interesting. What was an American woman doing in Austria at Christmastime? Did she have family here? Or was it something else? Perhaps it was the journalist in him, but he was curious about her story. And then he wondered if she might have an interesting story—something to humanize the holiday segment that he’d flown here to film.
He assured himself that it was professional interest—nothing more. After all, he was off the market. Ever since his wife passed away, he’d kept to himself. No one could ever fill the empty spot in his heart and he had no desire to replace his wife, not now—not ever.
Their progress was slow but steady. He felt bad for holding her back. “Why don’t you go on ahead?” he suggested. “You’ve got to be cold.”
“No colder than you. And I’m not leaving you out here. You don’t even know where my cabin is.”
“I can follow your tracks—”
“No. We’re in this together.”
Boy, was she stubborn. Even though it irked him that Mae was out here in the frigid air on his account, a small part of him admired her assertiveness. She would certainly be a tough nut to crack during an interview. Those were the interviews he enjoyed the most. The ones where he had to work hard to get the interviewee to open up—to get to the heart of the matter.
A lot of his peers would disagree and say that an interview should flow smoothly. But he wasn’t afraid of confrontation—of setting matters straight. But being stuck on the morning news cycle, he didn’t get to do many meaty interviews—certainly not as many as he would like.
They continued on in silence. And that was quite all right with Jackson. His head hurt. No, it pounded. But that pain was nothing compared to his ankle. However, he refused to let any of that stop him.
He clenched his jaw as he forced himself to keep moving. It was very slow progress, but one step at a time, he was moving over the snow-laden ground. The snow had seeped into his dress shoes. At first, his feet had grown cold. Then they had begun to hurt. Now they were numb.
He sure hoped they got to their destination soon. Freezing to death might make a big news story—but he wasn’t that desperate for headlines.
He glanced once more at Mae, but she’d pulled up her hood with the fluffy white fur trim, blocking the view of her beautiful face. “Is it much farther?”
“It’s just over that rise.” She turned her head, sending him a concerned look. “Do you need to rest?”
“No.” If he stopped now, he doubted he’d be able to move again. “I can make it.”
“Are you sure?” There was a distinct note of doubt in her voice.
“I’m sure.” His teeth started to chatter, so he clenched his jaw together.
Attempting to keep his thoughts on anything but the unending cold, he glanced at the woman next to him. He was torn between being angry at her for causing the accident by letting her dog loose and being grateful that she was some sort of angel sent to rescue him.
Then guilt settled in. How could he be upset with someone who was so concerned for him? She may have been irresponsible with the dog, but she’d cared enough to help him. He couldn’t forget that. Perhaps this was the twist in the story he’d come to Austria to tell. Perhaps he could attribute her actions to the holiday spirit. Maybe that was stretching things, but he liked the sound of it. He knew that angle would tug on the heartstrings of his viewers. But it wouldn’t be enough to garner the attention of the television executives—the same people who had passed him over for the evening news anchor role.
He stared straight ahead. There indeed was a slight hill. In his condition, it seemed more like Mont Blanc. But between the thick tree limb that Mae had located for him and her slim shoulders, he would make it.
Hopefully this cabin came equipped with a landline. He had to get out of here. This wasn’t a vacation for him. He was on assignment and his film crew was due to arrive tomorrow. He’d arrived early to scout out some special settings for his Christmas-around-the-world series. This accident would definitely put a crimp in his plans, but by tomorrow he’d be back on track. He refused to let his ankle and various minor injuries hold him back—not when there was work to be done.
He didn’t know how much time had passed when the cabin at last came into sight. He paused for a moment, catching his breath. But only for a moment and then he was moving again—pushing through the pain. Between the snow and his injured leg, this walk was a bigger workout than he normally experienced at the gym.
His body was giving in to the cold and he stumbled. “We need to stop.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Are you quitting on me? Are you a quitter?”
“I’m not a quitter.” What was wrong with her? “Can’t you see that I’m injured?”
“I think you’re being a wimp.”
“Wimp?” He glared at her. Anger warmed his veins. He’d been wrong about her. This woman wasn’t an angel—not even close. She was rude and mean.
He’d show her.
He kept going.
One slow, agonizing step after the other.
CHAPTER FOUR (#u578dc2b2-6361-578f-a9fd-ea7ed5800a31)
AT LAST.
Serena’s gaze zeroed in on the large log cabin. Any other time, she’d stop to admire how picturesque it looked with the snow-covered roof and the icicles hanging around the edges. But not this afternoon. With the thickening snow and the added weight from supporting Jackson, her back ached and her legs were exhausted. Still, her minor discomforts were nothing compared to Jackson’s injuries.
She felt bad for being so mean to him back there. But angering him enough for him to prove her wrong was the only way she knew how to keep him going—how to save his life.
If he’d stopped, she’d have never gotten him moving again. Pain and fatigue were deeply etched on his handsome face. And there was no way she was letting her favorite morning news show anchor become a human Popsicle.
Still, she had to temper her sympathy. If she let herself become too involved with this man, she’d end up paying a steep price. Her last romance had cost her dearly.
Her thoughts turned to Shawn McNolty—Hollywood’s rising star. He’d also costarred in Serena’s latest movie, which was set to release over the holidays. During the filming, their agents had contrived for them to be seen together to get the public buzzing about a potential romance. But as time went on, Shawn had convinced Serena that instead of putting on a show they could start a genuine romance. He had been so charming and attentive that she’d convinced herself that taking their romance from the big screen to real life could work.
And everything had been all right, or so she’d thought, until she overheard Shawn talking to one of his friends. They’d been out to dinner and she was just returning from the ladies’ room while they were standing in the waiting area. Shawn was telling his friend that his arrangement with Serena was working out much better than he’d planned. The longer he spent escorting Serena around town, the more promo he got. The more headlines he received, the more movie scripts came his way. And the best part was Serena didn’t even have a clue. He prided himself on being that good of an actor. The memory still stung.
He wasn’t the first man to date her in order to further his acting career, but she’d soon realized with those other men that the relationship was one-sided at best. But there was something about Shawn that had caught her off guard. Maybe it was his dark, mysterious eyes or his warm laugh that made her stomach quiver or the way he looked at her like she was the only woman in the world for him. Whatever it was, she’d convinced herself to let go of the past. She’d been sure Shawn was different—that he’d truly cared about her.
Maybe that was why she hadn’t suspected something was up when he continually demanded that they go out instead of chilling at her Beverly Hills mansion. He always insisted that they stop and pose for the paparazzi, saying that it was good publicity for their upcoming film. The list of suspicious activities went on—activities that at the time she’d refused to see, but later it had all made sense. The pieces had all fallen into place when she overheard his words at the restaurant. Shawn McNolty had used her for his personal gain.
But he wasn’t the only actor in this relationship. Not wanting a public confrontation, she swallowed her heated words and pretended that she hadn’t heard a word he’d said about her. Serena didn’t even remember what she’d ordered for dinner that last night or how she made it through the meal before she pleaded a headache and took a cab home. The rest of the evening was a blur.
Finding out that her romantic relationship was nothing but a sham was followed by a voice mail from her agent telling her that she’d been turned down for not one but two serious award-contending roles. At that point, she had nothing keeping her in California. She’d needed some downtime. A chance to unplug and regroup. That was the moment when her plan to go off the grid had been born.
With the aid of some temporary hair dye left over from Halloween, she’d switched her honey-blond hair to red. She’d been told by her housekeeper that she was practically unrecognizable without her distinctive eye makeup. Add a ball cap and nondescript jeans, and her disguise had been complete. She’d marched right out the door and jumped in a cab bound for the airport.
And now, even though she had the best of intentions, she knew taking this journalist into her home would end up decimating her serene escape from reality. Jackson may not be on the same level as the paparazzi who would climb the trees outside her Hollywood home, but as soon as he recovered, he’d want something from her—just like Shawn.
Unless she drove Jackson directly to the hospital. It would be what was best for all of them. And her rented all-terrain vehicle was sitting in the driveway. If she could make it to the road, the rest would be slow going, but she was confident she could make it, at least to the nearby village. It may not have a hospital, but there should at least be a doctor. Right?
When they reached the vehicle, she stopped. “Just give me a second.”
“What are you doing?”
“Looking for my keys.” She pulled off her glove and reached in her coat pocket. Her fingers wrapped around the keys. “Okay. Let’s get you seated.” She brushed some of the snow from around the door. When she pulled it open, the man sent her a puzzled look. “Come on. We have to get going before the snow gets worse.”
His gaze narrowed. “You know how to drive in this much snow?”
Not really. A few times, she’d driven when she was in Tahoe, but it hadn’t been in a snowstorm. Still, these weren’t normal circumstances.
“I... I’ve done it before.”
He looked at her, then the vehicle and finally at the rise up to the road. He shook his head. “No way. I’ll wait here until the authorities can get me.”
“But—”
“Arff! Arff!”
Gizmo started to wiggle in her arm. “Okay, boy.”
“I think he agrees with me. We should go inside.”
“We can’t.” When the man’s eyebrows rose, she added, “I mean, you need medical attention.”
“I’ll be fine. Unless we get in the vehicle and end up in another accident.”
She worried her lip. She was out of reasons not to take this journalist into her home. She quickly inventoried the cabin’s contents to make sure there wasn’t anything lying about that would give away her true identity. There were the contents of her wallet, but he wouldn’t see that unless she gave him reason to be suspicious of her—like standing here in the snow, making him wonder why she didn’t just take him straight inside.
Serena inwardly groaned.
Stubborn man.
“I know I’m a stranger,” he said. “But I promise you no harm.”
She wasn’t afraid of him. At least, not in the manner that he thought. But at this point, he was either an excellent actor or he hadn’t figured out her true identity. Perhaps the hair dye, Strawberry Temptation, and lack of makeup worked as well as her housekeeper had said.
“Arff! Arff!”
She couldn’t fight them both. “Well, don’t just stand there. Let’s go inside.”
Serena again let Jackson lean on her shoulder. Trying to get him up the snowy, icy steps was quite a challenge. She wasn’t sure her shoulders would ever be the same again. But at last, they made it.
She helped him into the warm cabin and shut the door on the cold. She normally loved snow. But not this much, this fast. And not when it left her snowbound with a member of the press.
She helped him take off his gloves and wool dress coat. He was totally soaked. And ice-cold. His teeth chattered. The only way to warm him up was to strip him down. She started to loosen his tie.
His hand covered hers. “I... I think you’re pretty and all, but...but I don’t move this fast.”
He thought she was coming on to him? She lifted her chin to set him straight when beyond his bluish lips and chattering teeth, she noticed a glint of merriment in his eyes. He was teasing her. That had to be a good sign, right?
“I’m glad to see your sense of humor is still intact, but if you don’t get out of these wet clothes, you’re going to get severe hypothermia.” She attempted to move his hand, but he wouldn’t budge.
“I know how to undress myself.”
“Fine. Take everything off. I’ll get you some blankets.” Seeing him standing there leaning all of his weight on his good leg, she knew he was close to falling over from pain and exhaustion. “Let’s move you closer to the fire.”
She once again lent him her shoulder. Lucky for both of them, the couch was close by. Once he was seated and loosening his tie, she worked on getting a fire started.
A few minutes later, she returned to the great room with her arms piled high with blankets. Jackson sat on the couch in nothing but his blue boxers and socks. Heat immediately rushed to her cheeks. She was being silly. This was an emergency and it wasn’t like she was a virgin.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
She knew she was blushing and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She averted her gaze. “Here you go.”
She set the blankets beside him. One by one, she draped them over him. That was better. But she couldn’t get the image of his very lean, very muscular body out of her mind.
She swallowed hard. “You forgot your socks and they’re soaked. I’ll get them—”
“No. I can do it.” There was obvious weariness in his voice and his eyes drooped closed. “Stop...”
She ignored his protest and set to work. She removed the sock from his good leg. His foot was scary cold. She held it between her hands, trying to get the circulation going. It didn’t work.
She glanced up at her unexpected guest. His eyes were still closed. Next, she worked the sock from his injured leg. His ankle was swollen and an angry mess of red and purple bruises.
“Is something the matter?”
His voice startled her. “Um, no.” She had to tell him something. “It’s just that your feet are so cold.”
“They’ll be fine.”
“It could be frostbite. You weren’t exactly dressed to hike through a blizzard. Can you feel your toes? They are awfully pale.”
“They have that pins-and-needles sensation.”
Holding his feet in her hands wasn’t going to be enough help. She grabbed a basin of lukewarm water for him to soak his feet in. He put up a fuss, but eventually he gave in to her ministrations.
When Jackson’s feet had sufficiently warmed up, he settled back on the couch. “How does it look?”
The horrible purple-and-red bruise was on both sides of his ankle. The inside wasn’t as bad as the outside, but the ankle was a mess. And it was swollen to the point that she couldn’t see his ankle bone.
“I think it’s broken,” she said as though she had any clue about medicine.
“Are you a doctor?” he asked.
“Me? No.” Heat swirled in her chest and rushed up to her face. She knew where this conversation was headed.
He arched a brow as he studied her face. “I have the strangest feeling that we’ve met before. Have we? Met before, that is?”
“No. I don’t believe we have.”
She knew for a fact that they’d never crossed paths. For the most part, her life was limited to Los Angeles while she knew his work kept him based in New York City. And if they had met, she wouldn’t have forgotten. The man was drop-dead gorgeous, and he had the sexiest deep voice. He was the only reason she tuned into the morning news show.
And now he was here, in her cabin, in nothing but his underwear. But it couldn’t be further from a romantic interlude. He was a member of the press and she was a Hollywood star in hiding. Once he figured out who she was, he’d broadcast it to the world. The thought made her stomach roil, especially after the mess she’d left behind in California.
“Hmm... I don’t know where I’ve seen you, but I’m good with faces. It’ll come to me.”
Not if she could help it.
She retrieved a towel that she’d grabbed while gathering the blankets for Jackson. She called Gizmo over and dried him off. Then she situated him on a chair near the fire with an extra blanket. The puppy immediately settled down. With one eye closed and one partially open, he looked at her as though to make sure she didn’t go anywhere.
“I won’t leave you.” She petted him and then kissed the top of his fuzzy head.
She got to her feet and turned to Jackson. “I’ll call emergency services. They’ll be out in no time to take you to the hospital and deal with your car.”
“I’m sorry to be such a bother.”
“It was my fault, or rather my dog’s. Anyway, everything turned out okay. Except for your ankle...and your car.” She moved to the phone on the desk.
When she’d checked in at the leasing office, they’d warned her that cell service was spotty in the mountains so they’d installed a landline. She picked it up and held the cordless phone to her ear. There was no sound. She pressed the power button on and off a few times, but there was still no dial tone. Great!
She could only hope she’d get a signal with her cell phone. She hadn’t in the couple of days she’d been here, so why would today be any different? But she refused to give up hope.
With her cell phone in hand, she headed for the door. She paused to slip on her boots.
“Where are you going without a coat?” Jackson asked.
“Out on the porch. The phone lines must be down due to the storm, so I’m going to see if I can get a cell signal outside.”
He didn’t say anything more. She noticed this was the first time she’d headed for the door without Gizmo hot on her heels. Today’s adventure had wiped him out. He hadn’t budged from the chair. In fact, at one point she’d heard Gizmo snoring. He was so sweet and she felt so blessed that he was safe.
She paced from end to end of the large porch. There was no signal at all. She held it above her head and craned her neck to see if that helped. It didn’t.
She lifted on her tiptoes and waved it around. Nothing. She leaned out over the large wooden banister. Snow fell on her phone and her arm, but there was still no signal. There had to be something she could do.
Her gaze moved to her rented all-terrain vehicle. Maybe she could go get help. But then she noticed how the snow was piled up around the tires. She glanced into the distance and she couldn’t even see the line of trees at the end of the smallish yard. Who was she kidding? She’d never even get out of the driveway.
With a heavy sigh, she turned back toward the door. Chilled to the bone, she rushed back inside. She brushed the snow from her arm.
“Well?” Jackson’s weary voice greeted her.
“Do you want the bad news? Or the bad news?”
He arched a dark brow. “Is that a trick question?”
“Not at all. So which shall it be?”
Was that the beginning of a smile pulling at his lips? Serena couldn’t quite be sure. And then she conjured up the image of him smiling like he did each morning on television when he greeted the viewers. He was so devastatingly sexy when he smiled—
“Did you hear me?” Jackson sent her a funny look.
She’d lost track of the conversation, but she knew that he was waiting on her news. “The bad news is that there’s no phone service whatsoever.”
“And the other bad news?”
“We’re stuck here. Together.”
His handsome face creased with frown lines. “And exactly how long do you think we’ll be snowbound?”
She shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. They did warn me when I rented this place that should there be a snowstorm, it would be quite a while until they dug me out considering I’m off the beaten path.”
“Just great.” He raked his fingers through his thick brown hair. “I can’t be stuck here. I have a job to do.”
Did he mean reporting that he’d found her? Serena didn’t want to believe he was like the paparazzi. She wanted to believe that Jackson Bennett had integrity and honor. But she couldn’t trust him. She couldn’t trust anyone—including her own judgment. She always wanted to see the best in people. And that had gotten her into trouble more times than she cared to admit.
Still, she didn’t want him to worry. “I promise you that as soon as possible, I’ll get you medical attention. And I’m sure soon people will be looking for you.”
His eyes widened. “Do you know who I am?”
What was the point in keeping it a secret? “You are Jackson Bennett. You’re the face of Hello America.”
A pleased look came over his face. “And I’m here on assignment. I have a camera crew flying in to help me film some Christmas segments.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him if she was to be included in one of those segments, but she caught herself just in time. If he could be believed, he didn’t recognize her. “I can promise you, they aren’t getting through the storm.”
“Is it getting worse?”
She nodded.
He muttered under his breath. “I can’t just sit here.”
He went to stand up. As soon as his injured foot touched the ground, his face reflected the pain he felt.
“Sit back down. First, I think I should bandage your ankle and then you can sleep. When you wake up, help should be here.” She sincerely hoped so, for both of their sakes.
This luxury cabin may come with a fully stocked pantry and fridge, but something told her it would be lacking on first-aid items. She’d have to be inventive.
CHAPTER FIVE (#u578dc2b2-6361-578f-a9fd-ea7ed5800a31)
JACKSON BLINKED.
It took him a moment to gain his bearings. That hike had taken more out of him than he’d expected. After Mae had bandaged his ankle, she’d helped him into a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt he’d packed in his bag, her cheeks pinking prettily all the while, and settled him on the couch with pillows and blankets. She’d then insisted that he get some rest.
As time went by, there were very few spots on his body that didn’t hurt. He didn’t want to think of what would have happened to him if it wasn’t for Mae. The mental image of his car going up in flames sent cold fingers of apprehension trailing down his spine.
Mae tried to act tough, but he’d watched how she fussed over her dog. She was a softy on the inside. In fact, he was willing to bet there was a whole lot more to Mae than being an angel of mercy. So what exactly was her story?
And what was she doing in this isolated cabin?
Jackson’s gaze followed the stone chimney of the fireplace up, up and up until he reached the impressive cathedral ceiling. He took in the balcony and could only imagine what the second story must be like. Okay, this place was much more than a cabin. It was a luxury log home at the least and more like a mansion.
Was Mae staying here all by herself?
The place was much too big for just one person. Oh, and her dog. How could he forget Gizmo? She’d be lucky if the dog didn’t get lost in here.
He gave himself a mental shake to clear his thoughts. He had a lot more important things to worry about than this woman’s extravagance. He had to find a way to salvage his career—his stagnant career.
Ever since his wife passed away, his job was what got him up in the morning and helped him through the days. The nights were a different matter. He was left with nothing but memories of the only woman that he would ever love. When she’d died, he didn’t know how he’d go on. In the beginning, breathing had taken effort. His existence had been an hour-to-hour proposition. And then he’d progressed to day by day. That was when he’d sought refuge in his work—going above and beyond for a good story.
His work was the sole reason he was in Austria. It was the second Christmas since he’d lost his wife, and he couldn’t stay in New York City. He didn’t want to be invited to friends’ holiday celebrations. He didn’t want tickets to Christmas programs in theatres. He wanted to be alone, but no one seemed to understand.
He may not be able to totally escape the holiday, but at least in Austria it would be on his terms. Jackson took in the towering pine tree in front of the two-story windows. And when his gaze landed on the boxes of decorations, he realized that he’d been taken in by a Christmas zealot. He sighed. This was just his luck. The sooner he got out of there, the better.
Speaking of his beautiful hostess, where had she gone? He paused and listened. Nothing. Was she napping? If so, he couldn’t blame her. The afternoon had been horrific and stressful, not to mention the hike over mountainous terrain with him hanging on her shoulder. He’d tried not to lean on her too much, but at times, she was the only thing keeping him from falling face-first in the mounting snow.
He glanced to the spot where the dog had been lying on a blanket. Even he was gone. That was strange. He was just there a moment ago—right before Jackson had closed his eyes to rest them.
Jackson decided it was best that he go check on things. He saw his makeshift cane close by and grabbed it. His gaze moved to his bandaged ankle. He’d be lucky if it wasn’t broken, but he wasn’t going to think about that now.
With a firm grip on the cane, he lifted himself up on his good leg. What he wouldn’t give now for a set of crutches. He turned himself around, finding the cabin even larger than he’d originally imagined. This place could easily fit three or four families.
Just then Mae appeared with her arms full of clothes. “What are you doing up?”
“I was wondering where you’d slipped off to.”
“Well, when you fell asleep, I decided I should move my things out of the master suite to one of the upstairs rooms.”
“Upstairs? But why? I’ll be out of here in no time.”
Mae moved to an armchair and laid her clothes across the back of it. “About that, I don’t think either of us is going anywhere anytime soon.”
“What? But why?”
“The snow hasn’t stopped.”
He half hopped, half limped his way to the door and looked out. The sun was setting, not that it was visible with the snow clouds blanketing the sky. But evening was definitely settling in. And Mae was right. The snow, if anything, had gotten worse. There were several new inches out there since they’d arrived at the cabin.
“It doesn’t look good,” he grudgingly conceded.
“Don’t worry. I have plenty of food.”
She might be sure of that fact, but he wasn’t. It wasn’t like they were in a cabin in a highly populated ski resort. This place was miles from the closest village, and from what he could tell, there were no neighbors close by.
He settled on the edge of the couch. “Um, thanks.” He wasn’t sure what else to say. “But I don’t want to put you out. I can take the room upstairs.”
From across the room, she sent him an I-don’t-believe-you look. “On that leg? I don’t think so.” She started to pick up the clothes again. “I have dinner under control.”
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