Page 90 of The Boyfriend Gamble

“But—”

I disconnected the call.

—It’s fine. I’ll meet you at the door. —

I hustled as fast as I could.

Sorry, Kade. Emergency.

He’d understand.

If I ever told him.

I shoved my feet into my slippers and grabbed my robe just before I hotfooted out the door and then ran down the two flights of stairs. I unlocked the door to the garage and then hit the opener.I should’ve given him my spare opener. Or a key. Why didn’t I just give him a key?

The door opened to reveal an exhausted-looking Jasper. And, beneath his feet, a plowed laneway.

He grinned. “My last job before calling it quits.” He squinted as he looked up to the sky. “I see tendrils of light. Forecast is for no more snow.”

“Come in.” I beckoned him. Not because I was worried my neighbors might see him—we were way past that at this point—but because the temperature was below zero and I didn’t want to freeze my nuts off.

“Yeah. Uh, thanks.” He stepped inside and stomped his boots to get as much snow off as he could.

A truly Canadian ritual.

Although I supposed anywhere that had snow would find people doing the same thing.

Focus.

I hit the button to close the garage door as we entered the house. I took the cooler bag from him and put it on the ground. Again, I bent to untie his laces.

“I can do that.” A feeble protest.

“I know you can. But you’re going to let me because I’m so damn appreciative of what you’ve done over the last twelve hours.” When I was done, I straightened. “And I’m just so glad you’re home safe.”

“That is true.” He toed off his boots, then removed his coat. “I’ve done snowplowing before, but I don’t remember it beingthisexhausting.”

“New town. New roads. People who aren’t used to winter weather.”

He blinked. “Yes. To all of that. Taryn rescued another nine people. Only one had snow tires.”

I shrugged. “I have them. I also have somewhere to store my all-season radials. And can afford two sets of tires. It snows so infrequently—” I stopped. “You don’t need to hear any of this.”

He grinned. “All stuff Taryn told me already. She needed help with a particularly ornery asshole—”

“Seriously?”

“Oh, the dog. The woman was fine, but her dog was being…something. Taryn owns a dog and the women thought it might be the smell…? Anyway, I took care of the dog while Taryn got the woman towed.”

“Right.” That didn’t entirely make sense to me, but I didn’t care. He was home safe. “Omelet? Sorry, I meant to have it ready—”

“I was early. You mind if I have a shower again?”

“Of course not. That’ll time things perfectly. Toss your stuff in the laundry if you need—”

He shook his head. “I stopped by my place to get changed before I started the back half of my shift. I don’t need a shower so much because I smell, but because my shoulders are stiff.”

“I can massage them later.” I flexed my hands. “The benefits of having a physiotherapist best friend.” I bent to scoop up the cooler.

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