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But her smile faded as she remembered why she was here in the first place. Her manic decision to make the trip still made no sense to her. And now she was also going to have to explain why Asher was delivering her to Sofia’s doorstep.
Sofia wouldn’t judge, but she’d worry.
“Ellie?”
It was the first time Asher said her name, and she looked up to meet his gaze in the mirror. “Yeah?”
“You just went about two shades paler. I don’t know why seeing Sofia’s house would do that to you, but you don’t have to stay here. There’s a bed-and-breakfast in town or an extra room at my place. I know you don’t know me…”
She shook her head. She wasn’t about to put him out any more than she had. And besides, she wanted to be at Sofia’s. She just didn’t like the reasonwhy.
“It’s not that,” she said as he slowed the truck, giving her time to explain. “It’s…the reason I decided to come visit Sofia isn’t an easy one. The accident, and talking to you, took my mind off it for a while. Seeing her house just reminded me of why I’m here in the first place.”
The truck was crawling toward Sofia’s driveway now. “Anything I can do to help?”
She smiled at that. “Thank you, but no. You’ve done more than enough.”
“Our capacity to give and to help isn’t a limited resource. Not generally, anyway,” he countered. Proving once again that he really wasnice. Or maybe “kind” was more accurate.
“I appreciate that. Truly, I do. And I’ll keep it in mind. But right now, I don’t think we have a choice.” She nodded to Sofia’s front porch. Both she and Josh were standing in the open door. The light from the house highlighted them huddled together in the cold.
“We always have choices, and you know where to find me if you need me,” he said as he pulled into the drive.
CHAPTER THREE
If you need me.Asher almost shook his head at himself. She seemed nice enough, but sheprobably had teams of people ready and eager to get her anything she wanted. Or needed. The possibility of Ellie Cavanaugh needing him for anything was next to nil.
“Be careful,” he admonished as she opened the back door and slid from her seat. He let out a quiet breath when she held on to the truck to steady herself.
“It feels a little slicker now than it did,” she said as he came to stand beside her. He’d tossed the bags with her things on the floor of the passenger side. He’d round the truck and grab them before heading in.
“There’s a microclimate near the lake,” he replied. “Sometimes it acts as a buffer from the colder temperatures on the mountains. But other times, like now, it’s colder, windier, and overall, a lot nastier. Let’s get inside.”
She’d tugged his hat on again. He considered handing her his gloves, but she’d already started toward the house. He eyed her as she picked her way through the snow. The last thing she needed after the accident was a fall. When he’d assured himself that she looked steady enough, he headed to the passenger door. A few seconds later, he’d hooked his fingers through the handles of the bags and was on his way to join her.
Being more surefooted than she, he caught up to her as she arrived at the bottom of the porch.
Sofia stepped to the side and gestured them in as she spoke. “I don’t know why Ash is here, and I have a feeling I’m not going to like the answer, but let’s get inside,” she said.
Warmth wrapped around him when Josh closed the door. A fire danced in the fireplace, classic jazz played low on the audio system, and if he wasn’t mistaken, the ingredients for hot toddies sat on the kitchen counter.
Sofia bustled around Ellie, helping her with her coat and hat before pointing to the mat where she could leave her boots. Asher had been over enough times that he knew the drill, and he’d already toed off his boots and hung up his jacket. Unsure what to do with Ellie’s things, he held on to them.
“Sit in front of the fire,” Sofia directed. “I’ll get you a drink. Ash?”
He shook his head. He planned to have one later but didn’t want to put anything into his system before driving home.
He and Ellie each took one of the upholstered chairs that flanked the fireplace. She leaned into the warmth, holding her hands out to the flames. He set the bags down then stretched his legs out, hoping the heat would dry his socks and jeans before he had to head out again.
“Now, tell me what’s going on,” Sofia demanded, handing Ellie her drink before taking a seat beside Josh on the sofa.
Ellie’s gaze flickered to his before turning to her friend. “I got a bug about coming to see you. The weather took a turn while I was driving and the next thing I know, it’s a whiteout. A few miles south of town, I went into a spin and slid. I’m fine,” she said, as Sofia opened her mouth to exclaim something. Sofia wasn’t a drama queen in any sense of the word, but she didn’t hide her emotions. Laughter, tears, anger, forgiveness—they came to her as easily as breathing. She was probably the most mentally healthy person he knew.
“My car, on the other hand, is nose-down in an embankment,” Ellie continued. “I’ve always said I’m a lucky woman, and that luck held today. Asher came along shortly after and found me.”
Josh and Sofia’s attention shifted to him. “I thought you weren’t going to be home until tomorrow,” Josh said.
Asher shrugged. “There was a dinner-dance thing tonight and one more breakfast tomorrow. I didn’t feel like staying another day. I’d rather be home. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. But like Ellie, I’m glad I made it.”
