Page 12 of Colton On Guard

When he returned with the two battery-operated lanterns, he saw she’d gotten the candles burning. Between their flickering lights and what the lanterns provided, they could actually see each other. Definitely a step up, he thought. And kind of cozy, too.

Outside, the storm continued to rage, rain pounding the metal roof. “That’s really loud,” Genna commented.

“Yes, it is,” he agreed. “Since we’re going to be here awhile, I know we have a bottle of cabernet somewhere, from our last open house. Want to have a glass while we wait this out?”

When Genna didn’t immediately respond, he glanced at her. Shadows danced across her face in the flickering candlelight, making her eyes seem huge in her delicate face. “I’d rather just go home,” she finally said. Then, before he could comment, she strode over to the front door and opened it.

The rush of wind and rain nearly knocked her off her feet. Parker helped her push the door shut.

“I guess not,” she muttered, using the bottom of her shirt to dry her face. “I thought maybe it might have died down a little since you tried to go out.”

Instead of commenting, he went to the small kitchen area. She trailed along after him. He located a bottle of wine and two plastic cups. He had a corkscrew on his pocketknife, so he usedthat to open it. After pouring himself some, he took a sip. “It’s not beer, but it’ll do,” he said. “Do you want some?”

She came closer. “Maybe just a little.”

He poured her some and handed her the cup. To his surprise, she drank all of it in one swallow. “Okay,” she said, a hint of a smile playing on her mouth, “we had wine. How about we try to get home?”

What could he do but smile back? “Let me close this wine up first.”

“If you can do that, do you mind if I take it with me?” she asked.

That made him chuckle. “Sure. No problem.” He located one of the wine stoppers that Lakin always kept lying around. “Here you go.” He handed her the bottle.

“Thank you.”

“It sounds like the rain is letting up,” he said. This time, when he opened the door to check, the wind and rain didn’t beat him back. Though still pouring, the gusts had died down. “I think we can make it home now.”

Plastic cup still in hand, she crossed over to peer out. “Good. As long as no trees are down, it looks drivable.”

“In my truck, yes.” He kept his voice firm. “Please, let me take you home.”

“I just can’t be without a vehicle, even if it’s just overnight,” she said. “How about you follow me instead? That way, you know I get home safely.”

Though he’d rather they just went together in his truck, he nodded. While she blew out the candles, he returned the camping lanterns to the storeroom, using his phone flashlight to make his way back to the front.

Genna waited near the door. She’d donned a yellow rain slicker that she must have grabbed from storage. Since the thing was at least two sizes too big, she’d rolled the sleeves up. Withthe hood up, she looked achingly vulnerable, a fact that he knew she’d hate.

“Ready?” she asked. At his nod, she stepped out onto the front porch that, now that the wind had died down, provide ample shelter from the rain.

Once he’d locked the office up, they both eyed the rain. The damp cold seeped into his bones, making him long for snow.

“Follow me,” she said before dashing out into the deluge.

He waited until she’d gotten into her car before running for his truck. Though he would have preferred to take her home, he had to respect her wishes. He only hoped she remembered how to drive in the mud.

Paved roads or not, this kind or rain brought flooding, which in turn coated some of the roads in mud. Parker had only seen this happen a few times in his lifetime, but he’d never forgotten the indignity of once as a teen having to call his cousin to tow him out when he’d gotten stuck.

As he followed Genna from the parking lot, he kept a tight grip on the steering wheel. He was able to turn his windshield wipers down a bit from high. More proof the rain was slowing.

Driving, he kept his attention on the road, despite the distraction of emotions whirling inside him.

When they turned onto Genna’s street, he shook his hands out one by one. They’d actually started cramping. And when she pulled into her driveway, the last of the tension left his body. He exhaled, more relieved than he should have been.

Pulling up behind her, he kept his truck running. He’d wait unto she got inside before backing out and heading home.

Except, when she exited her car, instead of going in, she stopped halfway. And then she turned and moved toward his truck instead of the house.

She went around to the passenger side, opened the door and climbed in. Her stricken expression made him instinctively reach for her. “What is it? What’s wrong?”