Page 6 of Their Reluctant Catch

“Leave it,” Colton mutters, without looking at me.

I roll my eyes and keep fiddling with the dial, hoping for a miracle. “A little music wouldn’t kill you, you know.”

“Focus on the road,” he snaps.

I open my mouth to retort, but before I can, Colton straightens in his seat. “What’s that?”

“What’s what?” I glance at him, startled, then jerk on the wheel. The van swerves, and I curse, quickly correcting it before I slam on the brakes. The tires skid on the frosty pavement before the van comes to a stop, rocking gently.

“What the hell, Colton?” I glare at him.

He points ahead. “That.”

I follow his finger to a small red car parked at the side of the road, dark and lifeless. No smoke coming from the exhaust, so the engine isn’t running, and it’s too damn cold for anyone to be sitting in a dead car. But there’s a shadow inside. My chest tightens.

I put the van in park and pull on the emergency brake. “Stay here,” I mutter, already unbuckling.

Colton doesn’t listen. Of course he doesn’t. He’s out the door before I can stop him, moving to the back of the van, probably getting the first-aid kit. I shove my hands into my jacket pockets and approach the car cautiously, the frost crunching under my boots. My breath fogs the air, and I must stop myself from shivering. The cold doesn’t usually bother me, but something about this—about what I might find—sends a chill straight to my bones.

The car’s a rental—the plates are a dead giveaway. I lean in closer, cupping my hands against the glass to block the glare of the faint moonlight. A woman’s inside. Blonde hair, slender build. She’s not moving, but her chest rises and falls, faint and steady.

I knock on the window. No response. I try the door, and it’s unlocked.

Getting a full view of her, my body reacts before my brain can catch up. A sharp jolt of awareness hits me low in the gut, and my cock stirs. She’s beautiful, even like this.

“Jesus Christ,” I mutter, disgusted with myself. “She could be freezing to death, and you’re checking her out? Bastard.”

Colton jogs up on the other side of the car, holding the first-aid kit. “What’s the situation?”

“One woman, breathing.” I keep my voice low. “But she’s cold. Too damn cold.”

Colton immediately opens the passenger door and pulls it wide. I carefully assess her condition. Her skin’s freezing, even through her thin jacket. Maine in March, and this is what she’s got on? Stupid. Reckless.

I check her for injuries as best I can, moving my hands gently over her arms and legs. I’m no doctor, but I know enough first aid to recognize when someone’s hurt. Nothing obvious, no blood, no broken bones. Just the cold.

“She’s not hurt, by the looks of it,” I tell Colton, “but she’s hypothermic. We need to get her warm.”

Colton pulls an emergency blanket from the first aid kit and hands it to me. “Wrap her up.”

I drape the blanket over her shoulders and tuck it around her as best I can. She doesn’t stir, her head lolling slightly as I lift her out of the car. She’s lighter than expected, but there’s a solidness to her, too, like she’s fought her way through something and survived. Her body presses against mine, and for a moment, I forget about the cold. About anything else.

“Can you get her luggage and lock up the rental?” I force myself to think rationally. “The car’s not moving on its own. We’ll call the Mitchells to tow it later. Right now, we need to get her safe.”

Colton nods, already reaching into the car for the keys. Leaving the car and luggage to him, I start walking back to the van.

“Get her in the van. I’ll drive.”

I glance at him over my shoulder and raise one eyebrow. “You sure? You hate driving.”

“Just get her in,” he snaps, already heading for the driver’s side, carrying a duffel and a backpack.

I bring her to the van, my boots crunching on the frosty ground. She doesn’t stir as I settle her onto the bench seat, her head resting against my arm. Her hair brushes my cheek, soft and faintly floral-scented, and I swallow hard, feeling like an idiot.

The back door slams and the van shakes. Moments later, Colton climbs in behind the wheel. “Give me the keys.” He holds out his hand.

I roll my eyes but hand them over. “You’re awfully chatty tonight.”

“Shut up and hold her,” he mutters, putting on his safety belt. Before I can respond, he clubs me lightly on the back of the head.

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