water’s not going down. I’m going to drive
back to Tortilla Flat.” She backed around. “Maybe there’s someplace there you can take a hot shower.”
She
sped down the road as fast as she dared under the slick conditions.
Before
she reached Tortilla Flat, another wash full of water brought her to a skidding
stop. The SUV fishtailed and she fought to straighten it out. Inches before it
skidded off into the waters, she brought it to a crooked stop. Wiping sweaty
palms on her jeans, she said, “We almost went for another dunk.”
“Don’t try to cross,” he warned. “It’s deeper
than it looks.”
She
looked in the rear-view mirror. “We can’t go back. Is there another way
around?”
“No.” He met her eyes. “We’ll just have to
wait it out.”
He
was right. No way would she attempt to ford the water, and he wasn’t up to it.
“How long do you think we’ll be stuck?”
“No telling. The big surge usually comes after
the rain stops.” He looked toward his window. “It’s starting to rain again, so
we’re not going anywhere soon.”
“Will someone come looking for us?” she asked.
“Not until late,” he said. “We better settle
in.”
She
laughed nervously. “Well, we have picnic stuff. Our leftovers
from lunch.”
“We can sleep in here if we have to,” he said.
He looked over his shoulder. “The backseats fold down to make a bed.”
Sleeping
with him, in even an innocent way, would be a bad idea. Mallory swallowed and
her mouth felt like a Vegas sidewalk—hot and gritty. If it came to spending the
night, she was certain she wouldn’t be able to get much sleep being so close to
Mike. But, surely they’d be out of here long before that. The clock on the dash
said 4:27. A couple of hours until dark.
“Are you warming up yet?”
“Some.” he looked at her and his lips weren’t
blue any more, but they weren’t normal either. Even though the blankets covered
him, she could see his shivers.
Mallory
scooted across the seat and lifted the edge of the nylon material and slid
under it. She turned so she half faced him and wrapped her arms around his
neck. “This is supposed to warm you if you have hypothermia.”
“It does, but you have to be naked.” His
breath fanned over her ear.
“We’ll work with this.” A very warm tingle
shot through her. Dangerous ground. “Want to listen to
a CD? What do you have?”
“Whatever’s in the glove box. ”
He didn’t sound interested.
She
looked. Eagles, Destiny’s Child, Van Halen ,
Alicia Keys. Odd variety of selections. Choosing Alicia Keys, Mallory slid the CD in the player and the singer’s
smooth, smoky voice filled the car. She stuffed the blankets under her butt and
snuggled against him again. This time he folded her in his arms. Mallory
attempted to relax, but crushed against his wide chest, stilling her pounding
pulse wasn’t easy.
Her
knees, poking into the side of his leg, ached and she shifted.
“Are you comfortable?” he asked.
“No,” she had to admit.
“Turn around,” he said.
Puzzled,
she did. He circled her waist with one hand. “Move back and sit on my lap.”
After
a moment’s hesitation, she did as he asked. He tucked her under his chin and
wrapped his arms around her middle. His bare legs felt like ice on her butt and
she wiggled a little trying to get comfortable.
“Don’t do that unless you want me to get hot
real quick,” he warned in her ear.
His
deep voice sent a hot-cold flush zipping through her. Though
whether from his words or his warm breath, she wasn’t sure. She squeezed
her thighs together and tried not to move. Gradually, his heart beating against
her cheek and the heat from the vents relaxed her. She closed her eyes.
Pretty
sure Mike slept, his breathing slow and regular, she
focused on Alicia Keys’ music and the steady thumping of rain on the roof. She
didn’t want to think about being stranded in between two raging
back to Tortilla Flat.” She backed around. “Maybe there’s someplace there you can take a hot shower.”
She
sped down the road as fast as she dared under the slick conditions.
Before
she reached Tortilla Flat, another wash full of water brought her to a skidding
stop. The SUV fishtailed and she fought to straighten it out. Inches before it
skidded off into the waters, she brought it to a crooked stop. Wiping sweaty
palms on her jeans, she said, “We almost went for another dunk.”
“Don’t try to cross,” he warned. “It’s deeper
than it looks.”
She
looked in the rear-view mirror. “We can’t go back. Is there another way
around?”
“No.” He met her eyes. “We’ll just have to
wait it out.”
He
was right. No way would she attempt to ford the water, and he wasn’t up to it.
“How long do you think we’ll be stuck?”
“No telling. The big surge usually comes after
the rain stops.” He looked toward his window. “It’s starting to rain again, so
we’re not going anywhere soon.”
“Will someone come looking for us?” she asked.
“Not until late,” he said. “We better settle
in.”
She
laughed nervously. “Well, we have picnic stuff. Our leftovers
from lunch.”
“We can sleep in here if we have to,” he said.
He looked over his shoulder. “The backseats fold down to make a bed.”
Sleeping
with him, in even an innocent way, would be a bad idea. Mallory swallowed and
her mouth felt like a Vegas sidewalk—hot and gritty. If it came to spending the
night, she was certain she wouldn’t be able to get much sleep being so close to
Mike. But, surely they’d be out of here long before that. The clock on the dash
said 4:27. A couple of hours until dark.
“Are you warming up yet?”
“Some.” he looked at her and his lips weren’t
blue any more, but they weren’t normal either. Even though the blankets covered
him, she could see his shivers.
Mallory
scooted across the seat and lifted the edge of the nylon material and slid
under it. She turned so she half faced him and wrapped her arms around his
neck. “This is supposed to warm you if you have hypothermia.”
“It does, but you have to be naked.” His
breath fanned over her ear.
“We’ll work with this.” A very warm tingle
shot through her. Dangerous ground. “Want to listen to
a CD? What do you have?”
“Whatever’s in the glove box. ”
He didn’t sound interested.
She
looked. Eagles, Destiny’s Child, Van Halen ,
Alicia Keys. Odd variety of selections. Choosing Alicia Keys, Mallory slid the CD in the player and the singer’s
smooth, smoky voice filled the car. She stuffed the blankets under her butt and
snuggled against him again. This time he folded her in his arms. Mallory
attempted to relax, but crushed against his wide chest, stilling her pounding
pulse wasn’t easy.
Her
knees, poking into the side of his leg, ached and she shifted.
“Are you comfortable?” he asked.
“No,” she had to admit.
“Turn around,” he said.
Puzzled,
she did. He circled her waist with one hand. “Move back and sit on my lap.”
After
a moment’s hesitation, she did as he asked. He tucked her under his chin and
wrapped his arms around her middle. His bare legs felt like ice on her butt and
she wiggled a little trying to get comfortable.
“Don’t do that unless you want me to get hot
real quick,” he warned in her ear.
His
deep voice sent a hot-cold flush zipping through her. Though
whether from his words or his warm breath, she wasn’t sure. She squeezed
her thighs together and tried not to move. Gradually, his heart beating against
her cheek and the heat from the vents relaxed her. She closed her eyes.
Pretty
sure Mike slept, his breathing slow and regular, she
focused on Alicia Keys’ music and the steady thumping of rain on the roof. She
didn’t want to think about being stranded in between two raging
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