Page 83 of The Boyfriend Gamble

“I have to get dressed.”

I turned in his arms and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Come back safe, okay?”

Slowly, he nodded. His gray eyes solemn. “You bet.”

He pressed one more kiss onto my lips and then he headed downstairs to the garage

Five minutes later, I had everything ready. I even threw in several of my protein bars and a couple of chocolate cookies that I kept around because Tanner had a sweet tooth. I held onto the digestive cookies, because they were for June to mash with her gummy mouth.

I headed downstairs to find Jasper bundled.

“Sometimes it gets too hot in the cab, so I might wind up taking my coat off.” He eyed my hands. “You’ve packed me enough to live off for a month.”

“Well, at least until the storm abates.” My stomach roiled. I was so unaccustomed to these feelings of protectiveness. I loved my dad, but I didn’t worry like this. He was in a great retirement community with some good friends he’d made over the years he’d been there. I’d never dated someone seriously and, although I loved Kade, I’d really stopped worrying about him when he’d cut back on his alcohol consumption during his third year at university. He’d gotten his head on straight and moved forward to graduation, then a successful career, a great marriage, and amazing fatherhood. I handed over the cooler and the coffee.

A horn beeped.

I hit the button for the garage door.

As it opened, a cold wind swept in.

As did a huge pile of snow.

“Oh shit.” Jasper winced.

“I’ll put on a jacket and sweep it up. No big—”

He pressed a kiss to my lips. Then he hustled out of the garage, got into the cab of the snowplow, and closed the door.

Both he and Taryn waved before they took off.

I happened to be Taryn’s dentist. She’d switched when hers had retired. Since I used MATH automotive to take care of my SUV, all four women now saw me for their dental needs.

The wind blew in again.

I hustled into the house to shove my feet into boots, put on my coat, and to wrap a scarf around my neck. I went back to the garage, grabbed my broom, and started sweeping the snow back out to the laneway.

More wind.

More snow.

This is a losing battle.

“Hey, Cameron.”

I glanced up to find Rayne and Champ walking. Both were covered in snow.

“Hi.”

“Did I see Taryn and Jasper heading out in the snowplow?”

“Yep.” I continued to sweep, trying to keep up.

“So you’re alone.”

I stopped sweeping. “Uh, yeah.”

“Okay.” He glanced toward his townhouse. “Denali, Ursula, and Everett’s parents all headed out as soon as the snow started coming down. We were going to settle in to watch a movie. Why don’t you grab your phone and join us? Champ would love the company.”

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