thing he got was the spinning of the tires as the car slipped sideways, deeper into the snowbank. Although angry with himself, he remained calm. “I’ll go see if I can dig us out.”
“Be careful,” Mia called over the screams of the baby.
Placing his hat on his head, Jarrett got out and made it through the ankle-high snow to the back of the car. He opened the hatch and took out a shovel. He began digging, but soon discovered it was useless. He made his way back to the driver’s side and climbed in. Pulling off his gloves, he took out his phone. “We need a tow truck.” He punched in his roadside assistance. By the time he hung up, he wasn’t happy. “She put us at the top of the list because of the baby, but it still could be an hour.”
“Long as we’re warm, it’s okay,” she said. “Do you have enough gas?”
“Yeah, a full tank.”
“Good. I need to feed BJ. I’ll go in the back.”
“No, stay up here, it’s warmer.” He flipped on the interior light, leaned into the back seat and managed to unfasten the crying baby’s straps.
“Come on, little guy, settle down,” he coaxed. “You’ll have your mama in a minute.” He lifted the small bundle and handed him to Mia who had already removed her coat, leaving it draped over her shoulders.
She looked at him and paused. “Would you mind turning off the light?”
“Oh, sure.” Of course she didn’t want an audience.
In the dark, he could see her tug up her sweater. All at once there was silence. Jarrett looked over at Mia as she leaned over the child at her breast, stroking him.
His chest tightened at the scene. Finally turning away, he concentrated on the snow blowing across the front window, but he could still hear Mia’s soft voice as she talked to her son. Leaning back against the headrest, he closed his eyes and tried not to think about how much he wanted to wrap his arms around both of them and protect them. Yeah, he’d done a great job of that so far.
Restless, he sat up. “Life is pretty simple to him, food and Mama.” He looked at her as she moved the baby to her shoulder and began to pat his back.
“Sometimes it scares me that I have someone who’s so dependent on me,” she admitted.
“You’re a natural at this.”
She paused. “How can you say that when you’ve seen me at my worst?”
BJ gave a burp and she lowered him to her other breast. This time Jarrett didn’t turn away from the silhouette of mother and son. He’d never seen anything so beautiful. Leaning across the console, he reached out and touched the baby’s head. “I’ve only seen a mother who loves her child.” His chest tightened at the sight.
Their gazes met in the dark car. “I do love him. At first I was so frightened, but he’s become my life. I know technically he’s my nephew, but—”
Jarrett placed his finger against her mouth to stop her words. “In every way that counts, Mia, he’s your son. You carried him in your womb, now you nourish him from your body.” His fingers moved and grazed her breasts. “It’s beautiful to watch you with him.”
“Oh, Jarrett.”
At the husky sound of her voice, he shifted closer. He felt her breath against his cheek.
Suddenly a bright light shone through the windshield, illuminating the front seat. He drew his hand away, but continued to hold her gaze.
“It seems we’ve been rescued,” he said, knowing he wasn’t so sure about his heart.
IT was after eleven o’clock by the time the tow truck pulled Jarrett’s SUV out of the snowdrift and they’d driven back to the apartment. The night had been long, but still Mia didn’t want their time together to end.
Jarrett walked her to her apartment door. “I’m sorry about tonight. I never should have taken that back road.” He glanced at BJ in the carrier. “I would never do anything to endanger either one of you.”
“Of course I know that. You didn’t cause the bad weather, Jarrett.”
He watched her a moment, then he finally said. “I probably should let you get some sleep.”
She put her hand on his arm when he started to step back. “Won’t you come in for some coffee?” Did she sound desperate? “I have something for you.”
He looked surprised. “Okay, but let me grab something from my place first. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
With a nod, Mia went into the apartment, leaving the door unlocked. She quickly dressed her son in his sleeper and put him in the crib, knowing in just a few hours he’d be awake and hungry. She checked her makeup and went back into the living area, quickly picked up several baby items scattered around and tossed them into her bedroom.
She’d finished plugging in the lights on her tabletop Christmas tree when there was a soft knock. She tugged on her sweater and brushed back her hair before answering the door.
“Oh, my,” she gasped as Jarrett walked in carrying several presents. “What did you do?”
He set the packages down on the table. “I took Jenna shopping yesterday and she convinced me that BJ had to have all these things.” He raised an eyebrow. “You should have seen what I talked her out of.”
Mia eyed the boxes, but picked up the stuffed bear. “He isn’t even sitting up yet.”
“Then put some away for his birthday.” He smiled and her heart tripped.
She glanced toward the present under her tree. Before she lost her nerve, she grabbed the tissue-wrapped gift and handed it to him. “This is for you.”
He looked touched. “Mia, I didn’t expect anything.”
She shrugged as if it were nothing. “It’s probably silly.”
He tore through the paper and uncovered the charcoal-gray scarf she’d knitted. As he examined it she wondered if he could see the mistakes.
He stared at her, his brown eyes tender. “Did you make this?”
She managed a nod. “Nola taught me while I was on bed rest. I’m not very good.”
She didn’t get to finish as he leaned forward and placed a sweet kiss on her mouth. Chaste or not, she felt dizzy.
“Thank you. I’ve never received anything so nice.”
Jarrett had trouble holding it together. He hadn’t enjoyed the holidays for a long time. His mother’s death only days before Christmas had left a little boy devastated with grief.
“You’re welcome,” she said, her voice hoarse.
He finally stepped back and draped the scarf around
