Happily, Hopefully

NN'

tly numb. Suppressing the instinct to kick my legs until I reached the surface, I forced myself to still, le

ch passing second. Quiet surrounded me. Darkness crept in the deeper I sank and I squeezed my eyes s

oating around my face like spiraled kelp. The cold quickly became

s edged its way around my thoughts until it took over entirely -- like the way a slip of p

ielding the face of the angel looming over me. I felt the touch of

d," the a

to take in my new surroundings. "I

N

e in the gut.

on who

not d

thank

madly. "

against the small of my back. "Because I foun

l at once. I rubbed at my eyes and cou

uld see him clearly now. His face looked strained, his bluish-purple lips tr

le shivers. The chills jolted me back to reality. Sudd

the man asked

he swept me into his arms and cradled me against him. Although he shiver

n," I deman

n barel

n't know where you're taki

tightened. "I'm the man w

't ask

'd chosen was deserted -- a fact that had delighted me only a few

repeated. My teeth were chat

have a blanket

and sure enough, a gray car

not going to kidnap

in his chest like a kettledrum. "Have you eve

est. "No, but then they're n

seeing as though I just saved your life. It doesn't m

ouldn't think straight anymore. The winter ai

hen retrieved a thick blanket from his trunk. He wrapp

off and wrap the blanket aroun

ening," I

hitting on you. It wa

ur Boy Scout t

lly, yes. But als

ntly, I

car for a while an

idn't we already establish the fact that I'm not going to hu

nything," I retorted a

tips made me think I may be close to losing extremities. But something

tarted the ignition, turning the heat on full blast. I

d socks. Let the floor

kind of bossy. "Stop try

help but steal a glance at his bare chest, ripped with muscles and hard planes of definition

a change of clothes

ked for a bu

"I hope I didn

ertain

at did I have to apologize for? No

m I'd be late, but I had poor cell reception. I walked up the road

nds. "As soon as I get a little warmer, I'll change th

ary. As soon as I get

the doctor t

ant to see

y n

se I d

g around when I gave you CPR. You should

my bare feet beneath the blanket.

afraid of the

nto a straight line

b his coat. "I'm going to put the spare on.

nd knelt at the rear tire. His dark brow furrowed as he concentrated on positioning the jack underneath the car. He began

him, outlining every bulge of his muscul

t and put the car in gear. He lifted the center console and

or, then you're coming home with me so I

head around.

are. Is there anyone

n. He was very blunt. And very rude.

needs to look after you and it might as well

e," I

d. You're official

business trip? Yo

ure somet

you doin

shoulders in a shrug. "I feel

you'r

ay. It'll only be for tonight and th

become extremely limited. I neede

now your name,"

d Ha

accustomed to people not caring. However, he'd jumped into a freezing river to save me and seem

arming up?

clothes clung to me like a second skin

, but y

sinterest. Life buzzed all around me. People whizzed by in their cars, pedestrians crowded the sidewalks, off