“I think he agrees with me. We should go inside.”
“We can’t.” When the man’s eyebrows rose, she added, “I mean, you need medical attention.”
“I’ll be fine. Unless we get in the vehicle and end up in another accident.”
She worried her lip. She was out of reasons not to take this journalist into her home. She quickly inventoried the cabin’s contents to make sure there wasn’t anything lying about that would give away her true identity. There were the contents of her wallet, but he wouldn’t see that unless she gave him reason to be suspicious of her—like standing here in the snow, making him wonder why she didn’t just take him straight inside.
Serena inwardly groaned.
Stubborn man.
“I know I’m a stranger,” he said. “But I promise you no harm.”
She wasn’t afraid of him. At least, not in the manner that he thought. But at this point, he was either an excellent actor or he hadn’t figured out her true identity. Perhaps the hair dye, Strawberry Temptation, and lack of makeup worked as well as her housekeeper had said.
&nbs
p; “Arff! Arff!”
She couldn’t fight them both. “Well, don’t just stand there. Let’s go inside.”
Serena again let Jackson lean on her shoulder. Trying to get him up the snowy, icy steps was quite a challenge. She wasn’t sure her shoulders would ever be the same again. But at last, they made it.
She helped him into the warm cabin and shut the door on the cold. She normally loved snow. But not this much, this fast. And not when it left her snowbound with a member of the press.
She helped him take off his gloves and wool dress coat. He was totally soaked. And ice-cold. His teeth chattered. The only way to warm him up was to strip him down. She started to loosen his tie.
His hand covered hers. “I... I think you’re pretty and all, but...but I don’t move this fast.”
He thought she was coming on to him? She lifted her chin to set him straight when beyond his bluish lips and chattering teeth, she noticed a glint of merriment in his eyes. He was teasing her. That had to be a good sign, right?
“I’m glad to see your sense of humor is still intact, but if you don’t get out of these wet clothes, you’re going to get severe hypothermia.” She attempted to move his hand, but he wouldn’t budge.
“I know how to undress myself.”
“Fine. Take everything off. I’ll get you some blankets.” Seeing him standing there leaning all of his weight on his good leg, she knew he was close to falling over from pain and exhaustion. “Let’s move you closer to the fire.”
She once again lent him her shoulder. Lucky for both of them, the couch was close by. Once he was seated and loosening his tie, she worked on getting a fire started.
A few minutes later, she returned to the great room with her arms piled high with blankets. Jackson sat on the couch in nothing but his blue boxers and socks. Heat immediately rushed to her cheeks. She was being silly. This was an emergency and it wasn’t like she was a virgin.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
She knew she was blushing and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She averted her gaze. “Here you go.”
She set the blankets beside him. One by one, she draped them over him. That was better. But she couldn’t get the image of his very lean, very muscular body out of her mind.
She swallowed hard. “You forgot your socks and they’re soaked. I’ll get them—”
“No. I can do it.” There was obvious weariness in his voice and his eyes drooped closed. “Stop...”
She ignored his protest and set to work. She removed the sock from his good leg. His foot was scary cold. She held it between her hands, trying to get the circulation going. It didn’t work.
She glanced up at her unexpected guest. His eyes were still closed. Next, she worked the sock from his injured leg. His ankle was swollen and an angry mess of red and purple bruises.
“Is something the matter?”
His voice startled her. “Um, no.” She had to tell him something. “It’s just that your feet are so cold.”