Home For a Cowboy Christmas(65)

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared out the window to the piles and piles of never-ending snow. She used to like the color white, but the more she gazed at the landscape, the more she came to develop a distinct aversion to it.

The minutes ticked by with agonizing slowness. She felt each one—and the colder she became. She had been dressed for business, not a day in the frozen wilderness. The thin dress pants did nothing to keep her legs warm. Even the stiletto boots she wore felt like she had stuck her legs in a vat of ice water.

She dreamed of her house. Of sitting curled up on her sofa with a glass of wine and a movie, a fire in her gas fireplace, her couch overlooking the magnificent view of Austin. Her home was her refuge. A sanctuary from the hectic and chaotic legal world she had chosen as her profession.

Though she wasn’t so sure her home would be a haven anymore. The tightness that had been in her chest for the past few weeks resurfaced. It had been her home for eight years, and she had shared three of those with Jared.

Cady closed her eyes as she tried not to think of him, but it was too late. She had always sworn never to date another lawyer because she knew the lifestyle. But he hadn’t taken no for an answer and had pursued her until he finally won her over. They had been together ever since. She’d thought they were good. Then, she’d decided to surprise him at his office, only to find him and one of his female colleagues screwing on his couch.

It was the first time she had ever felt nauseated and furious at the same time. She hadn’t known whether to hit him or vomit on him. She should’ve been sick all over him. It was what he deserved.

Cady blew out a breath, pulling her thoughts from the whirlpool of self-pity she had desperately tried not to get sucked into. She had been grasping at the edges of control, and if she let herself think about Jared and what he had done to their relationship, she wouldn’t be able to hold on any longer.

She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. Her expensive Burberry coat was supposed to keep her warm, but her teeth were chattering. How much longer could she stay out here before she froze to death?

Cady wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer. Getting out and walking was out of the question. First of all, she had no idea where she was. Second, she wasn’t certain she was still facing the direction she had been going. Third, she wasn’t dressed to survive such harsh conditions.

The road had looked important. As if it were used often. Surely, that meant someone would drive by soon and find her. She realized that she didn’t have her hazards on and quickly pressed the button. That should get someone’s attention.

Another hour crawled by, and though she hated to admit it, there was no way she would make her flight back to Austin. She had already paid a fortune to get the last seat on the flight—all because she had been determined to be home for Christmas.

“Why? I would be alone at home or here in a hotel. What difference would it have made?” she asked, rolling her eyes.

But she knew the answer. Celebrating the holiday in the comfort of her home was better than in a hotel—no matter where that hotel was, or how many stars it carried.

The sun was sinking quickly into the horizon. A terror she had never known before crept over her. She knew very little about freezing to death, but she didn’t think it would happen quickly or painlessly. How long would it take someone to find her? A day? A week? Why did it even matter? She hated when her thoughts took her down such depressing roads.

A knock on the passenger window startled her enough that she let out a scream and put a hand to her throat, her head snapping to the side. She found herself looking into the most beautiful gold eyes she’d ever seen.

“Ma’am? You okay?” he asked.

A surge of relief poured through her, wiping away her fear in an instant. Cady smiled, happy that someone had found her, even as a part of her brain warned her that this could be a serial killer. Too many episodes of Criminal Minds made her think that everyone was a serial killer. Then again, it had kept her safe.

“Yes!” she hollered through the window. “No. I mean, no, I’m not okay. Please help.”

“My name is Zane. I’ve got a house nearby where I can take you to get warm and get some help with your car.”

“That would be great.”

He dropped his chin to his chest so that his cowboy hat hid his face. Then he looked back at her. “It might help if you open the door.”

She hesitated to unlock it. On the one hand, if she did, she could get out of the weather and somewhere warm with the possibility of getting home. On the other, she could end up as another victim if this was a serial killer.

“Ma’am?”

Cady was cold. So cold, her brain wasn’t working right. She had to get warm. She decided to chance it. She unlocked the door. The minute she pressed the button, he opened the door and squatted beside her.

“Are you hurt?”

My God, his voice was as smooth as velvet. A deep timbre that made something in her go absolutely still. As she stared into his gold eyes, she saw flecks of green and bronze, the iris ringed in what she could only describe as copper. It took her a moment to comprehend that he had asked her a question.

“Uh … No, no. I’m fine. Just cold.”

“How long have you been out here?” he asked, a frown forming.

She shrugged. “Three hours.”

His lips twisted as he got to his feet and took a few steps back to look at the front of the vehicle. “The car is buried too deep in the snow. It’s going to take a tow truck to get it out, and that isn’t happening today.” His gaze swung back to her. “I can’t leave you out here any longer. You need to get indoors quickly.”