to his cozy warm house and a family, who was probably waiting for him to celebrate Christmas Eve, she added silently.
“Thanks for stopping.”
“No thanks necessary. Are you all right?”
His voice was deep and even, soothing her ragged nerves.
He took a step closer, staring down at her. “What happened to your car? Did you skid in the snow?”
“An animal jumped out from the woods. I guess it was a deer. I turned, trying to avoid it.”
“Are you traveling alone?”
A logical question. Though the way he said it and the way he was looking at her now made her swallow hard. Made her feel even more isolated…and lonely.
“I have my baby with me. She’s down in the car, but she’s fine. I left her for a minute so I could put out a distress signal.”
The word baby had barely left Carey’s lips and the officer was in motion. He skidded down the hill easily in his heavy boots, taking the last few yards on his side, without a thought for the snow. He reached the car in a few long loping strides and pulled open the door.
Carey ran behind him. She didn’t come down the hill nearly as gracefully and rode most of the way on her bottom.
By the time she reached the car, he had Lindsay out of her seat and handed her up to Carey’s waiting arms.
“She looks okay. You bundled her up well.”
Then he picked up the extra blanket on the backseat and tucked it around the baby. Carey was surprised. She hadn’t even asked him. It was an unexpected, tender gesture.
Lindsay was crying, but he didn’t seem to notice. There was something about him, a centered, calm air that seemed as unshakable as a mountain. The complete opposite of how she felt.
“Need anything from the back?” he asked.
“That blue baby bag—” she pointed it out “—and the black duffel…and the car seat, too. I guess.”
He scooped up both heavy bags and slung the straps over his shoulders as if they were empty. Then he picked up the car seat. He locked up the car and they headed back toward the road.
When they reached the snowy slope, he put the bags down and turned to her. “Let’s leave the bags and seat down here. I’ll come back for them. I’ll hold the baby if you like and we can go up together.”
Carey considered his plan for a moment, then remembered going up the hill the first time and nodded. “All right.”
She handed Lindsay over, feeling a tiny, instinctive twinge of concern. It vanished in an instant once she saw the way her rescuer cradled the baby protectively to his chest.
His strong, gentle embrace was reassuring and a much safer way for Lindsay to travel than if she had carried the baby herself.
He stood by and let her go up first. She started to slip and he was instantly at her side, one strong arm cradling Lindsay to his chest and the other suddenly wrapped around her waist, catching her close before she fell.
He looked down at her. Just about all she could see of his face, covered by his parka hood, were his eyes. Brilliant blue of a summer morning, defying the dark night and falling snow.
She focused on getting up the hill, one slippery step at a time. It was hard to ignore the man beside her. His face was suddenly so close she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. She quickly turned away and stared straight ahead. This was the closest she’d been to anyone in over a year, since Tom had died.
“Careful now, I’ve got you. Just go slowly.”
“I can make it.” She tried hard to keep her mind on getting up the hill. The feeling of his arm around her waist and his hard strong body so close next to hers was both distracting…and energizing.
When he reached the top, she gave out a sigh of relief. She was sure he thought she was just happy the trek was over.
He carefully handed the baby over, then went down for the rest of her belongings. She wasn’t sure how he could manage the two large bags and car seat in one trip, but moments later, he emerged on the roadside, with the entire load, not even winded.
She followed him to a dark green SUV that was parked down the road. He tossed her bags in the back then secured the baby’s seat in the backseat. Carey placed Lindsay in the car seat and fastened the strap.
Then she softly kissed the baby on her forehead and stroked her cheek. Carey was sure she must be hungry and need a diaper change. “Poor sweetheart. I’ll take care of you very soon,” she promised.
Moments later, she sat up front and the police officer started the vehicle. He pushed back the hood of his parka and she finally had a good look at his face.
He was handsome. Very handsome. The eyes had been a hint. The rest was even better than she’d expected.
His dark hair was cut short, close to his head though not a crew cut. He’d pushed it back, wet from the snow, off his forehead with his hand, emphasizing his lean cheeks and the strong lines of his face, set in a serious expression, as he steered the SUV away from the side of the road and then made a wide U-turn.
They were once again headed in the direction of town, she realized, the same way she was going before she drove off the road.
She pushed back her own hood and ran her fingers through her long golden hair, damp from the snow and feeling even curlier and wilder than usual.
She put her hands up to the air vents to warm them and realized he was watching her, his glance lingering in a way that made her feel self-conscious.
It was a classic male-female glance, a taking inventory sort of look. The same she’d just given him, though he hadn’t caught her at it. Or had he? she wondered.
“Feel cold? I can turn up the heat.”
Considering the direction of her thoughts, she had to hide a smile. She didn’t need it any hotter in here.
“Thanks, I’m okay.” She pulled off her wet gloves and stuck them in her pocket. “I don’t think you ever told me your name, Officer.”
“Ben Martin. You can skip the officer part. I’m off duty. I didn’t get your name, either.”
“Oh, right. It’s Carey Mooreland. And that’s Lindsay,” she added, glancing at the baby in the backseat.
“She’s adorable. I’m glad she wasn’t hurt. You’re lucky in a way about the snow. It slowed the car down considerably. It could have been a lot worse when you hit that tree.”
“Yes, it could have been,” Carey had to agree. It definitely could have been worse, though the snow had been a major hindrance to her tonight. If not for the snow, she might be in Canada by now. Or close to it. This man had no idea.
“Is there someone you’d like to call?”
He
