Page 120 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection

Nora watched as Reverend Peters—Rock—hustled about in preparation to tend to her wounds. She wasn’t certain if the dizziness in her head was related to the twitter in her heart, or not—but there was something about Reverend Rock Peters that made her all warm and tingly inside.

She shook away that thought and glanced toward the fire. It was the blow to the head. Had to be. No way could a perfect stranger make her all atwitter inside. Especially in the regions of her heart. No way, indeed.

Generally, she wasn’t like that. Not truthfully. While men were frequently attracted to her, it took her a while to get to know and be comfortable around them. Any man. Especially new-to-her men. And she didn’t throw herself at men either. Well, not usually. Becca would likely disagree. In fact, when Nora had hired Suzie—who was also a matchmaker in addition to being a chef and the owner of Sweet Hart Inn—to find her a date, Nora had handled it all wrong. In all her nervousness, she’d come on way too strong and it had backfired. Big time.

So wrong, in fact, her date, Sam Ackerman, had gone after Becca, instead.

But that turned out great for Becca, right? She and Sam were very happy together and she was happy for them. Her relationship with Sam’s brother, Jack, however, hadn’t fared so well.

Just not meant to be.

She had done her fair share of boyfriend chasing over the years, though. It was just that… Well, after breaking up with Jack, she had sort of laid low and kept to herself.

Nora sighed. Would there ever be a time she would find someone perfect for her?

“I think I’m ready. Are you?”

Nora blinked out of her trance and looked up. Rock stood before her, his eyes twinkling, and his lips smiling. “Ready?”

For love? For you? Stop it, Nora!

“Ready? I, uh… For?”

She saw the puzzled look on his face.

“I’m sorry. My head is still fizzy and I am talking in-co-herently.”

Or thinking incoherently.

He crouched in front of her and stared into her eyes.

“Nora, that’s understandable. Your eyes look a little dilated and you might have suffered a slight concussion. Don’t be concerned if your words don’t come out right.”

What about my thoughts? Can I trust them? She nodded. “Okay.”

He grinned back.

“So, let me see if I can clean that cut up a bit. Hm?”

She agreed with a nod.

“Yes. Of course.”

Rock held the connection between them for a moment and settled down on the floor beside her. He dipped a cloth into the water with one hand, and with the other, pushed back her hair. With careful, gentle motions, he swabbed at her forehead and scalp.

“Let me know if I put too much pressure on this,”

he said, his voice soft and low.

Nora closed her eyes.

“It’s fine. Thank you.”

“Not a problem, Nora.”

She kept her eyes closed, absorbing the feel of his fingertips gently swiping. The hand holding her hair back threaded through her tresses and cupped her head, holding her steady. He dabbed the area softly, slowly.

She let him do whatever he felt he needed to do.

“It’s not a deep cut,”

he said.

“Just surface, busting up the skin a bit on your scalp. There is some bruising and you have a small knot. At least it is puffing outward and not inward. I’ve heard that’s important although I’m not exactly sure why. Head injuries always bleed a lot, too, making the cut look worse than it really is.”

Nora exhaled.

“Oh good. I guess I’ll live then.”

She eased out a slight grin.

Rock chuckled.

“Yes, I think you’ll make it to another sunrise.”

Sunrise meant Christmas morning, here, in this cabin. With him.

“My dad is probably worried sick.”

Rock pulled back and Nora opened her eyes. He searched her face and said.

“He’s waiting on you? Tell me more. Are you comfortable telling me a little about yourself, Nora? After all, it looks like we are going to be stuck here together for a while.”

That panicked her a little. Not the being with him part, because she felt safe with him—but the fact that they were stranded. People didn’t know where they were, the unpredictableness of the storm—it was all a little unsettling.

“Do you think we’ll be here a long time?”

He placed a hand over hers.

“I didn’t mean to alarm you. I’m sorry. I think the answer to that is that we just don’t know, Nora. I wish I had a better response.”

He was as nervous about this as she was, she realized then.

Shrugging, she wet her suddenly dry lips.

“I know. I’m still trying to sort this all out in my head. I’m sorry if I seem a little panicked and scattered.”

“You seem none of the like. This isn’t an everyday situation, so even if you feel that way, it’s normal!”

He grinned then and Nora felt a little more relieved.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For helping me to feel calm. And safe. For taking care of me.”

His smile deepened and for a moment, he studied her face. Was she holding her breath.

“I’m pretty sure you are capable of taking care of yourself, but I’ll take that and run with it. If you feel safe and secure, then my job here is done.”

Nora grinned back and sighed.

“I think you are a good man, Reverend Rock.”

At that, Rock Peters blushed a little.

Nora decided to change the subject.

“I was on my way to visit my father for dinner.”

“He lives out this way?”

She nodded.

“He lives in the house I grew up in, on a small farm outside of Dalton Springs. My Mom died earlier this year so it’s a sad time. Dad wanted to do Christmas Eve dinner. I’m sure he’s worried. And lonely. And…worried.”

Rock rinsed the rag and continued gently swiping at her scalp.

“Holidays without loved ones can be difficult. Depression can set in this time of year for many of us.”

She nodded.

“I think my dad is a little bit depressed. He and my mom were so much in love.”

“Long marriage?”

“Yes, and a happy one. Over forty years. I can only hope to have the same one day.”

Rock dropped his hands and studied her.

“I understand. I’m sure he’s worried about you.”

“Probably. I am their only child and they had me later in their marriage. Truth is I’m worried about him.”

“Do you think he’ll come looking?”

“He might. And he’s not in great health so that’s another concern besides this crazy weather.”

She glanced off toward the fire. Then abruptly, she blurted out.

“What about you? Who is waiting for you to come home?”

He paused and slowly Nora turned back to look at him.

“No one,”

he said after a moment.

“I live alone. I’m the pastor at the Methodist Church in Harbor Falls. Pretty much married to my job. I think they’ll start missing me when I don’t show up for the service tonight.”

Nora thought about that.

“So that means you’re not married.”

The words were out of her mouth before she realized it. Her eyes flew wide—she could feel them stretch—and she wished she could retract the statement. Her words were not a question, but a clarifying response, and an affirmation that she needed confirmed.

“I mean, that was personal.”

She paused for a moment, dragging her gaze away from his and staring back again at the fire.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that ministers are usually married, and both serve the church, and… And I’m making assumptions and being stereotypical and blabbering again. Sorry, it’s none of my business.”

Rock didn’t immediately respond and the silence in the room between them was almost deafening. Finally, Nora couldn’t help but be drawn back to look at him.

He smiled back at her, and she found that she was a little bit intrigued by the way the right corner of his mouth shot up in that little grin.

“No, Nora,”

he said.

“I’m not married.”

Then his face grew serious.

“And you are right, it helps if a minister has a partner but sometimes fate takes other turns. I just happen to still be single.”

“Oh.”

He paused, and then added, “Are you?”

“Married?”

Quickly, she shook her head.

“Oh no. Not me. I—”

She what? She both chased and then skidded away from men who got too close? Swore herself on and off men like she swore on and off chocolate? And diet sodas? Yet, longed for someone to call her own.

“I’m pretty much married to my job too. I own the bookstore in Harbor Falls. Nora’s Novel Niche. Maybe you’ve heard of it.”

Nice way to skirt the subject, Nora, and change the direction of the conversation. Par for the course, actually.

“Ah, yes. It used to be called something else. Right?”

“Yes. Books on Main. It was my mother’s store then. She retired and I took it over after college. I changed the name and the store focus a bit.”

He nodded.

“That’s right. She catered mostly to local authors and regional titles, if I remember correctly.”

“Yes. Poetry, Appalachian lore and history, and the like. The scope of my shop is broader and a bit more contemporary, with a focus on popular fiction as well as local artists and such.”

“I’ve been meaning to stop in there, actually.”

That made her curious. “Really?”

He nodded.

“I try to support local businesses when I can. Probably the only reason I haven’t been there yet is because I’ve been reading a lot online lately, oh and have been trying out audiobooks.”

“We have audiobooks! I can hook you up there too.”

She smiled.

.

“So, Harbor Falls is your home?”

“Yes, in a way. I grew up out in the county on a small farm, but I went to Harbor Falls elementary and high schools. I like living in town now. I made the move into town a couple of years ago after college when I took over the store.”

“I wonder if we know any of the same people,” he said.

“We might,”

she told him.

“Probably.”

Suddenly she was feeling awkward. Rock was a nice man and all, and she was feeling some sort of attraction, but they had just met, and this conversation was beginning to turn more and more personal and.

“Sorry, I grew up in the Catholic church. Not Methodist.”

She sat up a little straighter and rubbed her temple. Her head was starting to hurt again.

“I certainly don’t hold that against you, Nora.”

He grinned again.

“I didn’t think you would.”

“But one day when you are up to debating religion, I can sure hold my own on the subject.”

“Oh. Sure.”

One day? As if in the future.

“I’m just mentioning because if I wasn’t Catholic, I’d probably be Methodist, and I would have met you before now and that’s probably why we haven’t really met, seeing that you do audiobooks and all and where else would our paths cross?”

Nora sighed and closed her eyes.

“Babbling again,”

she said softly.

“I understood every word—and probably some unspoken.”

Nora opened her eyes to find him studying her again.

“Okay, good. Well then. Thank you for taking care of the…well, the blood. I’m sure it was icky and not pleasant, and you really didn’t have to do that. Suddenly, I’m not feeling so dizzy anymore, but I do have a bit of a headache and am sleepy. I wonder… Should I sleep? You don’t think I have a concussion. Do you?”

“Well, I’m not sure…”

“Of course, we were sleeping earlier, and I seem to be okay.”

“Yes, but—”

She glanced about. Why am I talking about sleeping? Not a safe turn of subject. She remembered back to being crowded up against him under the blankets. Hot and sweaty. His aftershave waking her. Would she ever get that scent out of her nose?

She glanced about the room, avoiding eye contact with him.

“Nora, do I make you nervous?”

Her skittering gaze suddenly halted and landed square on his. She gulped and decided to be honest.

“Yes. All of a sudden, you do.”

****

Rock stared and immediately knew he had to change the course of events. Gathering the towel and melted bowl of snow, he pushed back and stood, putting some distance between himself and Nora.

“My apologies,”

he said.

“I didn’t mean to make you nervous with my questions. I was simply trying to ease into some conversation and help you relax a little. But I have made you uncomfortable so…”

Nora stood as well, reached out, and laid a hand on his.

“No. Seriously. It’s me. No apologies, Reverend Peters.”

Reverend Peters. Hadn’t she called him Rock earlier? Maybe that was in his head.

“Are you certain?”

She nodded.

“I’m positive.”

She bit her lip and then added.

“I—well, I, oh…you don’t want to hear about that.”

Rock grinned again. He was beginning to like the cute way she could flip a conversation.

“Maybe I do. I’m a good listener.”

He paused and watched Nora study his face.

“I guess that’s a prerequisite for your job. The listening thing.”

“It certainly helps.”

She stared a little longer into his eyes. Rock rather liked the vulnerability she seemed to be showing him right now. Was trust a part of that too.

“I don’t have a great track record with relationships—with men,”

she began.

“I mean—and so when I start having feelings I generally don’t trust myself.”

Ah, trust.

“Feelings?”

He perked up at that statement.

She drew her bottom lip in with her teeth.

“I mean, well, yes. I find you attractive and it is ridiculous because we are in a crisis here, of sorts, and it is the last thing I should be thinking about, but it makes me wonder if God truly does answer prayers. Oops.”

Nora slapped a hand over her mouth.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

Rock eyed her.

“Of course, God answers prayers, Nora, if it’s God’s will to do so. What did you pray for?”

Her eyes went wide and round.

“I’ll leave that to God and me.”

There was no doubt this woman warmed his heart. She was sweet and honest, and a chatterbox all rolled into one. And he found her darned near irresistible.

Rock swallowed.

“I find you appealing as well, Miss Nora Patterson, and I don’t think it’s ridiculous.”

Her face brightened.

“You don’t?”

Shaking his head, he replied.

“No, I don’t.”

“Oh.”

He stepped closer.

“In fact, once we get out of here, maybe you’ll let me take you to dinner and we can further discuss. But if you want to talk about that prayer now, I do have a little experience in the area. I don’t mind.”

Nora shook her head.

“No. It’s not the kind of prayer that is open for discussion. It’s sort of a private thing.”

She paused and Rock felt so drawn into her eyes he wanted to step right through them and into her heart. Nora continued, “I mean—”

her voice softened, and he moved close.

“—after all, I think in time I will know….”

Rock was lost. And for the briefest moment, as his gaze played deeper into her eyes, and then danced lower over her lips, he wanted to taste her. Just a quick kiss. One, to satisfy his own curiosity, not to mention his lips, and quell the growing need inside of him to be close to her.

But he couldn’t do that. Right? It wouldn’t be the thing to do. It was against his own personal standards of conduct. A minister didn’t go around kissing women he’d rescued just because her eyes mesmerized him so and because her soft voice played him like a siren’s song. No, he couldn’t give in to all of that. Could he?

Besides, what would she think? She’d likely run fast and far. That is, if she could.

No. If he ever kissed Nora Patterson, he wanted it to be on fair ground. Stranded in this cabin was not fair. They were captive here, in many respects. No means of escape for either of them, should the situation go from intriguing to uncomfortable.

No. No kissing allowed. Not here.

If Nora ever allowed him the pleasure of a kiss, he wanted to make sure all of the conditions surrounding that kiss were perfect.

He stepped away. It was nearly painful for him to do so.

But he was powerless to move very far…and stay away. He simply stood there, staring into her soul, her heart it seemed, her eyes gazing back up into his. It was if some sort of magic was happening between them, holding them each spellbound.

“Christmas magic?”

he whispered, surprised the words actually passed from his lips.

“What?”

Nora uttered back.

He paused, his gaze dropping to her lips.

“Did I say that out loud?”

Now who is flipping the conversation?

“You said something about Christmas magic. Do you…believe…?”

Her words trailed off, disappearing into the depths of the dreamlike atmosphere around them.

“Right now, I believe in anything.”

He leaned in, physically unable to keep his distance any longer, his lips grazing hers, and—

Shouting. Outside.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Nora are you in there! Reverend Peters?”

And then the cabin door burst open.