Chapter 5
Blowing snow created a drift against the chalet door. I kicked out, using the sweep of my feet to clear the threshold so I could open it. The heat from the baseboard heaters hit us in a warm wave that melted the flakes clinging to my lashes.
I handed off the kid to her mother so she could deal with her abominable snowsuit. A squirming inside my coat had me unzipping to set Percy free. I set the lizard on the floor right atop a clump of snow and got a chiding squawk.
“Calm your scales, you’ll be fine,” I muttered as I flipped on some lights. At least the chalet still had power. For the moment. Given the raging of the storm, I didn’t imagine it would last the night, meaning I’d need the supplies in the car.
“Hold still,” the woman chided as she tried to unzip the child.
Rather than cooperate, Zaza reached for Percy. “Mio. Mio. Dinosauro.”
Geezus, what had I done? I’d gone from peace and quiet to having a kid determined to maul my lizard. Percy obviously recognized the danger and scattered.
The wind buffeted the chalet and I held in a sigh because I’d be feeling the brunt of it in a second. “I’m going back to the car to grab the groceries and stuff,” I announced.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? The visibility seems to be getting poorer.” The woman glanced at me with a crease of concern.
“You need the baby’s things and if we get snowed in, we’ll want the food. I’ll be fine. Back in a few minutes.”
I hoped. She’d spoken truly about the intensifying storm. The snow fell thick and fast, already deep enough it almost buried my feet with each step. However, we needed those supplies. Two extra mouths to feed, the bottomless Percy, and a bag that most likely held diapers for the little one.
At least the driveway remained somewhat visible in the sense there were trees that bordered it.
So long as I didn’t go into the woods, I shouldn’t get lost. Once I reached the end of the drive, the car proved easy to find despite the fact the snow did its best to bury it.
Already a thin layer covered the cooling windshield and hood.
Here was hoping it didn’t get smoked by the snowplow if it went by before I could move it.
I loaded myself down, slinging the diaper bag over my shoulder and then hefting as many bags as I could manage. I trudged back to the house where the woman stood waiting close to the door, looking relived at the sight of me.
Soon as I entered, I dropped my load. “That’s most of the groceries and your bag.”
As I turned to head out again, she blurted, “You’re going back?”
“Yeah. There’s still some stuff in the trunk we might need.”
“Be careful,” she called out.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if with all the action I’d seen a snowstorm took me out?
The second trek saw a chill settling in me that had my leg aching something fierce.
The thick falling snow clung to me head to toe, turning me into an abominable monster and not the cute one you saw in classic Christmas movies.
My tracks were only barely visible, the storm doing its best to wipe them out, but I found the car once more, its hump distinctive now that snow covered most of it.
The shovel I’d bought in town got slung over a shoulder and I managed to grab the rest of the items in the trunk before slogging uphill to the chalet, huffing slightly, not from exertion but from the stabbing pain in my thigh.
I’d need a soak in the hot tub to ease the tight flesh, but being a man, and not one to shirk even when in discomfort, tending my injury would wait until the chores were done.
The wood-fired hot tub would stay hot even if the power went out.
It might not have any jets, because those needed the engine to run, but I’d take what I could for relief.
I dropped the shovel just outside the door and brought myself and the last of the supplies inside.
The woman didn’t immediately jump to my aid this time.
She attempted to put a sweater on the kid but ran into a problem given the toddler clutched a cookie in a tight fist. The woman used a stern voice that brought a sulk to the child’s face but also resulted in the cookie being relinquished long enough the arm could be poked through a sleeve.
With the sweater on, mom set the toddler free and Zaza snatched the soggy mess before getting into a staring match with Percy, who sat on its haunches, blocking the way into the living area with crossed arms.
Yeah, crossed. I didn’t know lizards did that.
I hung up my snow-laden jacket and placed my boots on the rubber mat so they wouldn’t leave a puddle on the floor. Then I wondered, what next?
The woman bustled to the kitchen and grabbed a towel. I wondered why until she started drying the floor by the door.
“Here, I’ll get that,” I said, reaching for the cloth.
“It’s the least I can do, seeing as how you had to make two trips in that storm.”
The toddler suddenly went tottering for Percy, chirping, “Mio.” The wise lizard clambered atop the couch out of reach.
“I’m sorry,” the woman murmured, rising with the damp towel. “Zaza is fascinated by dinosaurs and seems to think your pet is one.”
“Can’t blame her. Percy is kind of cool.”
“Thank you for being so accommodating.”
“Bah.” Yeah, they were imposing, but I’d survive. Maybe. “You said you’d been here before. Is the owner your friend?”
She shook her head. “He was my husband’s acquaintance and offered us the use of the chalet a few years ago. When I had to leave and needed somewhere to go, I remembered him mentioning he didn’t rent it out in the winter.”
“Apparently, he’s willing to for the right price.
” I cleared my throat. “Uh, seeing as how you’ve been here before, you know where everything is.
Feel free to use the kitchen and any food you find.
I’m staying in the master upstairs and have the other bedroom set up as an office.
You can have the guest bedroom on the main floor. ”
“Thank you. Just so you know, if I’d have known the chalet was occupied, I would have gone somewhere else.”
I bent down to grab the emergency supplies I’d brought in. “Do you have anywhere else to go?”
She bit her lip before shaking her head. “I’ll figure something out. Staying here was only going to be temporary.”
“Until what?” I didn’t mean to sound harsh, but I had to wonder at her plan. She obviously fled an untenable situation but didn’t seem to have thought through her next steps.
Her shoulders rolled. “Until I found a job.”
“And a sitter, because most places won’t let you take your kids to work,” I pointed out as I began unpacking the candles and placing them on the counter so they’d be in reach if the power went.
“I’m aware that it won’t be easy.”
“Must have been a real shitty situation if you left without a concrete plan,” I casually tossed out, turning away to plug the lantern into a socket and get it charging.
It only came with the battery partially full.
I softened my rebuke with, “At least you took the first step by leaving the asshole hitting you, but now you need to figure out how you and that kid are going to survive.”
Her hand flew to her face as if she could belatedly cover the shiner. “I acted without real forethought, but I had no choice.” She glanced at the toddler who was offering her soggy cookie to Percy, who’d clambered down close enough for a sniff. “I had to protect Zaza.”
My entire body tightened. She worried the child would be abused next. What kind of sick fuck would hurt a baby?
“You’re safe here,” was my gruff reply. “I might not be the coddling type but I don’t hurt women and children.”
Her gaze flew to me. “I never implied you would.”
“Just making that part clear. I’m also not good with kids, so don’t be expecting much help in that area.”
A spark of something lifted her chin. “I don’t need your aid with Zaza. She is my daughter.”
“Good. Just wanted to make sure there was no misunderstanding. Guess since we’re stuck together until the storm passes, we should probably do introductions. I’m Bruce.” I didn’t mention my last name, Milner, in case she recognized it.
She hesitated before saying, “Nicky.”
“I’d say nice to meet you, but I think we’re way past that point. And let’s be honest, neither of us wanted or expected to be caught in this situation.”
“I do appreciate your aid, and worry not, as soon as the road is clear, I’ll leave.”
“Or you can stay until you get some kind of plan in place.” I couldn’t believe the words emerged from my mouth. I didn’t want some doe-eyed skittish woman and her kid living with me. I had a book to write and a deadline fast approaching.
“Why are you being so kind?” she blurted.
“Kind?” My brow arched. Not a word usually associated with me. “Think of this more as me not being a dick. You’re obviously in a tough spot. I have the room. So long as you take care of yourself and the child, then I can handle a few days of having my space invaded.”
A hint of a smile tugged her lips and for a moment. I could see beyond the frailty to the beauty in her features. The delicate line of her cheekbones. The thickness of her lashes. The creamy smoothness of her skin.
Whoa. Nope. Single and staying that way. I wasn’t going to be one of those guys sucked into drama because of a pretty face trying to indulge in a savior complex.
“Thank you. I promise we won’t get in the way.”
Doubtful. “I’m going to fetch some firewood in case the power goes out.
” Despite my leg being stiff and throbbing, I bundled up and headed out into the storm, needing a moment of frigid to clear my mind.
The early afternoon might as well have been night with the storm bringing in a roiling, dark mass of clouds and flurries that rendered visibility to only a few feet in front of me.
Despite the shitty conditions, I carried and stacked several loads of split logs by the chalet door and found myself wondering about the asshole that sent Nicky fleeing.