Page 65 of Love Under Snowfall

“No.” Benjamin shook his head and secured his last clip. “It . . . it was a lot. That’s all.”

A swirl of amber flowed in his best friend’s eyes, an almost identical match to the set he’d gazed into the night before. “Benji.”

“Johnny. Nothing happened.” At least that’s the way Francesca wanted it.

As the rescue party reached the trailhead with their mission in tow, Benjamin heaved a sigh of relief. A dozen people scurried around in the plowed parking lot under pop-up tents, talking on cell phones, prepping supplies, and folding blankets. An ambulance waited near the road, ready to cart an injured snowshoer to the hospital with the flick of a blaring siren. Miguel had called ahead and relayed the status of the two missing hikers, and having explained that they were both in good shape, the energy was less frantic panic and more casual damage control.

A cheer erupted as they were spotted coming around the bend. Other search and rescue volunteers gathered around to tend to whatever orders their fearless leader, Miguel, directed.

Benjamin accepted a heavy woolen blanket and a hot cup of coffee pressed into his hand. The caffeinated fumes and motor oil consistency warmed him from his belly outward. He watched Francesca accept a cup and snickered as she scowled after a tiny sip. Despite the upheaval between them, he was beyond relieved that she was back in safe and loving arms.

“Frannie!” A deep voice boomed from behind the ambulance.

Frannie?

Benjamin scowled at the massive brute loping across the parking lot. The man’s face screamed relief under his angular, clean-shaven jaw as he scooped up Francesca and held her tightly to him. Before he could reconcile the uniform and holster, Benjamin watched in horror as she intertwined her legs around his hips and arms around his neck, fingers plunging into his surfer-blond curls. One bulging forearm braced supportivelyunder her rear while the other hand settled comfortingly against the back of her neck.

“I’ve got you, princess. I’ve got you,” the sheriff cooed as he swayed with Francesca in his arms.

The few sips that Benajmin had managed prior to theheartwarmingdisplay threatened to come up. He swallowed to keep the coffee and his growing rage down where they belonged. He had no claim to her. In fact, he’d discarded her that very morning, not a handful of hours prior. Still, the sight of her finding comfort in the arms of that Goliath was nearly enough for him to march over to the good sheriff, slap him across the face with his glove, and demand a duel. But seeing as how only one of them had a firearm, and this wasn’t 1833, he clenched his coffee cup and turned away instead.

“Ya have a few minutes?” came the calm, steady voice beside him. Benjamin looked up, face to face with friendly brown eyes and a salt and pepper crew cut. Miguel settled a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “I have a few questions I need to ask; all standard stuff. Figured now would be the best time.”

Benjamin pretended not to notice when the search and rescue lead glanced pointedly over his shoulder at the sappy reunion a few yards away.

With a sigh and a hopefully convincing grin, Benjamin nodded. “My calendar’s wide open.”

Miguel squeezed once more then led the way to the pop-up tent furthest from the scene.

Chapter thirty-six

Thursday, 1 day until the wedding: Frankie

“Ithought my toes would never be warm again.” Frankie sighed dramatically as she allowed the rolling massager of her chair to thump at her sore muscles. At first dip, she was convinced the basin at her feet contained lava, but after adjusting to the scalding swirl of perfumed water, she realized it was that her feet had yet to be relieved of their winter chill.

“If you hadn’t insisted on sleeping for two days straight after the snowshoe incident, we could have done this a lot sooner,” Lucy said beside her, sighing with content as the pedicurist massaged her calves.

“This is my third time here.Merci,Tamera.” Todd flashed a winning smile to the salon’s receptionist as she refilled his champagne flute. “Your lashes are on point this morning.”

Tamera smiled as she topped off Lucy’s and Frankie’s glasses. “Let me know when you’re ready for another bottle on me. A little thanks for showing me how to properly apply the damn things without them falling off halfway through my shift.”

“Aren’t you the sweetest?” As the receptionist sauntered off, Todd leaned over. “My second day in here, Monday, I think it was, she hadn’t noticed that one of her strips had gone rogue and landed on her lip. Poor thing looked like Groucho Marks with that little stick-on mustache.”

“Thank god she had you to save the day.” The bride-to-begiggled and squirmed as the pumice stone destroyed her callouses.

“Wait, Monday?” Frankie scoffed. “That was the day after I went missing.”

“Yes,” Todd said.

“And you went to the nail salon?”

“That is correct.”

“Glad to see you were real torn up with worry for me.”

“Some people stress eat or drink or pace around wildly.” Todd shrugged. “I happen to stress pamper.”

“Why didn’t you invite me?” It was Lucy’s turn to be incredulous.

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