The Midwife's Christmas Miracle (Lakeside Mountain Rescue 5)

‘I’m assuming that the sleep thing will improve once the baby is born, and I happen to like your independent streak.’ He stood up. ‘Let’s leave the clearing-up until later. It’s February and you, of all people, know how changeable the weather can be. The sun’s shining at the moment so we should make the most of it.’

Aware that he’d changed the subject, she followed him to the door, feeling as though the conversation was only half-finished.

‘Jake—’

‘Miranda.’ He turned to face her, his eyes gentle. ‘Are you sure you want to pursue this line of questioning? If you ask me, I’m going to be honest about how I feel and you’ll be obliged to tell me that the relationship isn’t going anywhere and then I’ll argue with you and that will ruin our walk. So let’s drop it for now.’

For now?

He was implying that he still had feelings for her, and yet…

She bit her lip, knowing that he was right. Whatever he said, she was going to back off.

‘Get your boots on.’ Jake pushed them towards her. ‘I’ll do them up for you.’

‘I can do them myself, just about.’ She slipped on another thermal layer and pulled on a jumper and then her coat. ‘I’m boiling.’

‘That’s because you’re in my house. It’s freezing outside. We won’t stay out for long and we’ll do something flat so that it isn’t strenuous.’

‘What do you think I am?’ She frowned as she fastened her boots, determined not to show him what a struggle it was. ‘Pathetic?’

‘No. Seven months pregnant.’ He stepped forward, zipped up her jacket and handed her a hat. ‘Wear that.’

‘I’ll get hat hair.’

‘Women.’ He rolled his eyes and walked towards the door. ‘Better hat hair than hypothermia, sweetheart. Wear it.’

He drove to a lake that she hadn’t visited before and parked the car. ‘We’ll just walk around the shore path. Very gentle and easy.’

It was a perfect clear day, crisp and cold but fresh and invigorating. The snow crunched underfoot and Miranda stamped her foot down into virgin snow. ‘Don’t you just love that?’ She couldn’t hold back the grin. ‘Being the first person to touch the snow?’

‘Just as long as the mark is caused by your foot and not your bottom.’ He took her arm. ‘I know I’ll be on the receiving end of a lecture about your independent nature, but hold onto me or you might slip and break something. Perhaps we shouldn’t have come.’

She lifted an eyebrow. ‘You think I’ve forgotten how to walk?’

‘No. I think the ground is slippery and your weight distribution has shifted.’

‘You’re just looking for an excuse to touch me.’ She was teasing but the look in his eyes made her smile fade.

‘I don’t need an excuse, Miranda,’ he said softly, his eyes burning into hers. ‘When I think the time is right, I’m going to touch you and we won’t be by a frozen lake when I do it.’

Suddenly she found it difficult to breath. ‘Jake—’

‘We agreed not to get serious today.’ He stroked a hand down her cheek and then turned away, adjusting the rucksack that he always carried on his back. ‘Come on, walk. But hold my arm so that you don’t slip.’

Feeling slightly weak and shaky, she did as he instructed, her fingers curling into the solid swell of his biceps. She wanted to ask what he meant but she was afraid of stirring up something she wasn’t able to handle.

They walked for about half an hour and Jake stopped and pulled out a flask. ‘It’s cold today. The temperature is dropping. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have more snow.’

‘Is the lake really frozen?’

‘Only around the edges. It’s very deceptive. The ice is extremely thin. Last year we had to rescue two children who thought it would be fun to skate and fell in.’

‘Oh, my goodness.’ Miranda took the hot drink from him gratefully. ‘How did you get them out?’

‘We balanced logs on the ice and used the ropes from our climbing gear.’ They drank and talked and then Jake stuffed the flask back in his backpack. ‘Have you finished? We probably ought to be making a move.’

‘Let’s go a bit further before we turn back. It’s so lovely to be outdoors.’