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I told myself to calm the hell down. We had fantastic emergency services throughout Jewel Lakes County, including my own brother, Hank, who was a firefighter. I’d just text him after I dropped Remy off to see if he was working, just for my own peace of mind. If he wasn’t, I’d get him to get his buddies at the station to keep an ear out.

It wasn’t exactly calming down, but it made me feel better.

Finally, I spotted lights through the trees. Winding up an ambling path behind one of the older farmhouses, I found it—a ramshackle building that must have once been an outbuilding, now converted into a living space.

I parked my SUV and fought with Remy, but lost, about walking her up to the door.

“Dad, I’m not a child, I’mbabysittingchildren.”

Disappointment ran through me that I wouldn’t get to see Michelle. But that wasn’t what I was here for.

“Fine. But I’m waiting here until you go inside.”

She gave me a quick hug. “Thanks for the ride.”

I was surprised, and touched, that she’d think to do that. Maybe she was doing just fine without my worrying. “Text me when you’re done,” I called after her and she waved without turning around.

When the front door opened, I felt a little jolt in my stomach as Michelle’s figure appeared, illuminated by the light behind her. She lifted a hand at me and I did the same. I fought the urge to get out and run up the path to casually ask her how it was going.

But I’d promised Remy.

I’d promised myself too.

* * *

I’d madeit to the end of the driveway when my phone buzzed. It was Fred texting me for details of a deal that had been passed by Council this week.

“Seriously? On a Friday night?” I very much wanted to get back home and—well, I wanted to say I’d kick back with the glass of chardonnay I’d put in the fridge to chill, but I knew I’d head to my study and catch up on work myself.

I turned onto the main road, so I wasn’t blocking the driveway, then pulled onto the shoulder. I began going through my phone, looking for the information the mayor was after.

“Given any thought to that resort stay?” he texted while I searched.

I swiped the text away, annoyed. Ihadgiven thought to it actually. Late at night fantasizing once again of lying in a giant hotel bed with Michelle, this time going so far as imagining her hand on my cock.

My crotch jumped right there.

Goddammit, Archer.

I was so distracted I didn’t even think to register that the lights behind me had to be from Michelle’s car. Or the sound of the engine.

I only looked up when I heard a soft thud behind me. In my rearview, I saw the glowing red of taillights blurred behind falling snow.

My stomach dropped. I dropped my phone and leaped out of my car into the freezing night air.

Michelle’s hatchback was in the ditch.

7

Michelle

Ican quite honestly say I’d never been so embarrassed in all my life. Not even that time I discovered I’d worked the first hour at my waitressing job with my pants inside out because I’d overslept for my breakfast shift.

No, this was worse. I saw the taillights of Will’s car out of the corner of my eye as I’d come down the slope of the drive. I didn’t know why he was still on my road, but I was thankful it was dark out so I wouldn’t have to do an awkward wave or roll-down-our-windows thing to chat.

But when I turned onto the road I’d been distracted by the strange rattling in my engine. And realized too late that my completely bald tires—which had managed okay on the gravel and dirt drive—were gliding across the asphalt like a pair of ice skates. I couldn’t get enough traction to turn even slightly in the direction of Barkley falls.

“Shit!” I’d exclaimed, pumping the brakes desperately.