Chapter 4
Outside, the wind had picked up again, rattling the partly closed front door. Rain drummed in a steady fury. Just to make sure, Parker crossed to the window. The storm had definitely intensified once more. Rain came down in sheets. He couldn’t even see his truck parked in the driveway.
Which meant the drive home might be tricky, to say the least. Again, he debated the possibility of simply staying put. If not for the thread of fear he’d heard just now in Genna’s voice, he might have tried to convince her.
While he tried to figure out the best course of action, she joined him. “Wow,” she said.
“See what I mean?”
“Yes.” She turned to face him. “But, honestly, I’d much rather brave the weather than risk being here when the intruder comes back.”
He noticed she said when rather than if.
“I can keep you safe.” He meant every word.
“Maybe so, but even if you stayed here with me, I’d be jumping at every single sound. Best to just go somewhere else, at least until I can get the front door repaired and an alarm system installed.”
Slowly, he nodded. “What about securing your belongings? We can try to put something to block anyone from coming in the front door.”
“And leave through the garage.” She looked around the room. “How about we just pile up a bunch of furniture against it. I know that wouldn’t really stop someone determined to enter, but it might provide a bit of a deterrent.”
“Good plan.”
Once they’d moved everything in front of the front door, he stepped back. “That’ll have to do.”
“It’s better than nothing.”
They went out through the garage. Genna grabbed a spare opener from a hook on the wall. As soon as he used his remote to unlock his truck, they exchanged glances and ran for the vehicle.
Despite the short distance, they both got drenched. Or he did. Genna still wore her rain slicker with the hood up.
Inside his truck, they turned to look at each other. With one hand, he pushed his soaked hair away from his face. “I wish I had a raincoat like yours,” he said.
Her smile made everything worth it. “You’d look good in yellow,” she teased.
“Not as good as you,” he replied, perfectly serious. He noticed she lowered the hood finally, fluffing her wavy blond hair with her fingers.
The mad urge to kiss her went through him. He froze, took a deep breath and waited until it passed. Then he started the truck and drove out of the parking area.
Headed back to his place, Parker focused on getting them there safely. He could not afford to be distracted by the beautiful woman sitting next to him. The wind-driven rain made it difficult to see, even with his windshield wipers on high.
They inched slowly forward, caution over speed. He could feel Genna’s tension, hear it in the quick shallow breaths she took. He didn’t dare take his hands off the steering wheel or his attention from the road, so the only comfort he could offer was words. “It’s going to be all right,” he said.
They rounded a curve and slowed. Ahead, the road was washed out, water coursing over the pavement, making it impossible to tell the depth.
Turn around, don’t drown had been drummed into everyone’s heads since childhood.
Yet, every time they had a flash flood, there were always numerous individuals who ignored that warning and found themselves stuck in several feet of water.
First responders were kept busy saving these people.
Parker didn’t want to become one of them. Yet with an already tense Genna next to him, he didn’t really have a choice.
He stopped the truck and shifted into Park, considering his options.
“Is there another way we can go?” Genna asked nervously. “Driving through all that water doesn’t look safe.”
“There is,” he answered, finally able to look at her. “But not only is it about thirty minutes out of our way, there are several areas of that particular road that are likely to be washed out even worse. This is our best bet.”
Slowly, she nodded. “I trust you,” she said, catching and holding his gaze.
His heart squeezed. “Thanks,” he managed to respond. “With this lift kit on my truck, it sits a bit higher than normal. I feel reasonably confident we can make it through.”
Reasonably confident. He hoped she didn’t ask the odds.
“Okay. Like I said, I know you’ll keep us safe.”
“I’m definitely about to try,” he told her, shifting back into Drive.
One final quick glance at Genna, who’d gone back to gripping the door, and he gently pressed the accelerator, sending them moving toward the water.
Between the swift-moving current, the rain and wind, it took all of his strength to keep the truck on the road. Slow and steady, he reminded himself, using continuous pressure on the gas pedal.
Despite their slow speed, water plumed up, splashing the windows and making it even more difficult to see.
Still, they continued to plow forward. Foot by foot, with the water rising the farther they went.
They must have reached the middle, because just when he thought it might make it to his running boards, it began to recede. And then finally they came out onto the other side, eventually reaching dry road.
Once they had, he coasted to a stop for the moment and looked back. “That was easier than I expected,” he quipped. “Though I don’t want to have to do it again.”
“Me neither.” She gave a sigh of relief. “Hopefully, this storm will pass and the roads will clear up by morning.”
“My house is just a few hundred yards past here,” he said. “We’ll be there in no time.”
When they pulled up into his driveway, he used his automatic garage door opener and got ready to pull in. Since he had to park his truck at an angle due to the length, he only tended to use the garage in the cold months. But this downpour warranted the extra effort.
Genna sat up and watch with interest as he maneuvered his truck inside. He got it parked on the first try.
“Nice,” she commented, smiling. “I’d hoped you’d figured out a way to get this huge truck inside your garage.”
“I’m just lucky there’s extra height in here. Otherwise, being able to fit the length of it wouldn’t matter.”
He got out, intending to make his way to her side to open her door. But by the time he got there, she’d already grabbed her backpack and jumped out.
“I really appreciate you letting me stay here,” she said, her expression earnest. “I promise you won’t even know I’m here.”
Though he doubted that, he simply nodded. Pushing the button on the wall that closed the garage, he opened the door to the house. “Come on in,” he said, gesturing at her to precede him.
Once inside, he flipped the wall switch so they could see. They were in his laundry room, just off the kitchen. “This way.”
He led her past the kitchen, which opened up to the living room, and down the hallway.
The second door on the left had been designated his guest bedroom.
Though it rarely got used, he’d recently put fresh sheets on the bed because one of his old friends who’d moved away had been supposed to come back to Shelby for a week.
The visit had been canceled at the last moment, but everything had been made ready for a guest.
“Serendipity,” he said, telling her the story as he turned on the light. “This will be where you’ll be sleeping.”
She brushed past him on the way in, her body making brief contact with his. That small touch was enough to send desire blazing through him.
His swift intake of breath had her turning to look at him. When she met his gaze, she took an almost involuntary step closer. Then, as if she’d realized what she’d done, she moved away, placing her backpack on the bed with great care.
Of necessity, he moved to the doorway, not wanting her to see the physical proof of his sudden arousal. With effort, he found his voice. “Since we didn’t have dinner, I’m going to look around the kitchen and see what I can rustle up for us to eat,” he said.
Pretending not to notice his voice sounded like rusty nails, she nodded. “If you’ll give me a few minutes to freshen up, I can come help you.”
“Sounds good.” Stiffly, he moved away. He also needed a few minutes of alone time, so he could get his body’s reaction to her under control.
Mentally berating himself, he opened the refrigerator and began inspecting the contents. Since he cooked for himself most nights, he kept it pretty well stocked. A few minutes of perusing the dinner choices and he’d managed to return to normal.
“So, what are you thinking?” Genna asked from behind him. Then, without waiting for an answer, she continued. “I’m thinking you should let me make dinner. It’ll be my way of thanking you for helping me out.”
Since the idea of the two of them cooking side by side now felt too intimate, he nodded. “Okay. The fridge and freezer are stocked up, so is the pantry. The only thing I’m sick of eating is salmon.”
This comment made her laugh. “Isn’t everyone? Honestly, I’ve tried so many different recipes, trying to make it taste different.”
“That’s what happens when something is so plentiful,” he said. “I heard people in Maine are like that about lobster.”
“Not me. I can always go for a fresh lobster tail and butter.” As she smiled up at him, this time his heart did a little flip-flop. “I’m thinking a steak, baked potatoes and maybe asparagus.”
Impulsively, he hugged her, a move he instantly regretted. Releasing her as fast as he could, he stepped back. “That’s my kind of meal. I even thawed a nice Porterhouse, intending to grill it tomorrow. It’s big enough that it should feed both of us.”
“Sounds perfect,” she said, keeping her gaze averted. He found himself wondering if he should apologize for the quick hug, just in case. Good thing she didn’t know how close he’d come to kissing her.
“Genna,” he began. “I’m sorry if—”
“It’s all good,” she said, cutting him off. “Now, I’d better get busy doing my thing. I’ll holler if I need you.”
Dismissed, Parker did the only sensible thing. He retreated.