Page 8 of Reindeer in the Headlights
I thanked him, and he sat opposite me. I tucked into the eggs, and Ambrose asked where I’d been headed last night. I jerked my head at that damned sweater.
“The office Christmas party.”
“Sounds like fun.”
My head snapped up because there was laughter hidden behind those three words. “Not at all. I don’t want to think about it, because though I missed this one, next year’s party is already looming on the calendar.”
I filled him in on my job and how hazardous events where alcohol was served were for the HR head. Ambrose nodded, and I wondered if he’d ever worked in the corporate world. But he didn’t offer up any hints of his background. And so I asked him because I’d given him my story.
“I do a little of everything out here. It’s peaceful and far from other people, which suits me just fine.”
That told me nothing, but perhaps that was his intention.
“I’m a city person, but I can see the appeal of being away from the city lights and noise.”
Ambrose’s eyes locked on mine, and I couldn’t look away. It was as though he had some strange power over me, and as hard as I tried, I couldn’t tear my gaze from his.
The second kitten emerged, and Ambrose swiveled his head, breaking whatever that was between us. The pair played with the blanket where Number One was supposed to have slept. They tumbled over one another and pounced on a dust ball. They were adorable, and they were coming home with me.
“I’m on vacation until the new year as of today.” That was the only thing newsworthy about me other than the accident.
It got his attention, and he turned toward me. “Two weeks. Mmmm, anything could happen in fourteen days.”
My hand gripping the fork froze. It was such an odd thing to say, and I thought back to the movies where the creepy guy kidnapped the unsuspecting traveler.
“You might find yourself falling in love.” He paused and continued, “with the peace and quiet of the woods.”
Maybe. I doubted it, though.
As we chatted, I observed his hands and how expressive they were when he talked. When he poured me more coffee, his shirt pulled across his shoulders. Yum, was the word that popped into my head.
“Once the snow clears, I’ll drive you into the closest town, which is about twenty miles from here. There’s a garage with tow service.”
I thanked him. He smiled, and his face lit up. Gods, I was in trouble because my length responded when his lips parted.
“Looks like you’re going to be stuck here a while longer.”
“Huh?” I’d been picturing him lowering his pants and shoving me onto the bed.
“It’s snowing again. The storm has done an about turn.”
I should have been frustrated, but instead, I experienced relief.
“Sorry I have to impose on you a little longer.” I gulped, thinking how I could do that imposing.
“It’s a pleasure.”
6
AMBROSE
Wyndham woke up full of energy. He ate, we chatted, and then the exhaustion hit him again. I wasn’t surprised. Between the injury and his time spent in the cold, he was going to need a lot of rest, much more than what he got on the couch.
“I’ll help with the dishes,” he said, pushing himself to stand with a wince.
“Or I can do the dishes, and you can stay seated.” Like I’d let him stand at the sink with that injury.
He conceded, taking his seat again. “I feel like I should be doing something to help.”
