Making it to his passenger door, he opened it. She stepped away from his chest, and he moved his hands downward, but her expanded waistline didn’t allow him to have a firm grip. Sliding his hands upward, he grasped her under her armpits and lifted her into his SUV. He grabbed the seat belt and settled it across her body, snapping it into place. As he looked up, their faces just inches apart, both blinked the water from their eyes. Jerking back, he stepped away and closed her door securely.
He hurried back to her vehicle to make sure it was locked and secure. His lungs heaved, the gale-force winds having knocked the breath out of him. Now, completely drenched, he bent forward to stagger back to the driver’s side of his SUV and climbed inside. His door slammed shut easily, and he wiped his hand over his face, careful to not sling water toward his passenger. Glancing to the side, he noted she was only slightly less drenched than he and probably wouldn’t have felt any more water coming her way.
Her gaze had been on the back seat keeping an eye on her daughter when she turned and focused on him. “Thank you for rescuing us and offering us shelter for the next few hours.”
He nodded then jerked slightly, realizing an important step he’d completely forgotten. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a leather case and flipped it open. “I’m sorry. I know I was in uniform and driving a Sheriff's vehicle, but I never showed you my full badge and identification. That was incredibly remiss of me.”
She leaned forward, seeing his photograph as well as his title. Sheriff, Acawmacke County. “I think the hurricane has everyone a bit discombobulated. After all, you thought I was in labor.” Sticking her hand forward, a smile curving her lips. “Well, Sheriff of Acawmacke County, if you’re going to take us to your house, we really should be formally introduced as friends. I’m Amy Carruthers, and this is my daughter, Rosie. We’re pleased to meet you.”
She cocked her head to the side, her hand still held out toward him, and he grinned. Sliding his palm against hers, he wrapped his fingers around her small hand. “Amy, it’s nice to meet you and Rosie. Just call me Liam. Now, let’s get you home.”
5
Amy twisted her neck around so that she could keep an eye on Rosie sitting in the back seat. It dawned on her after she was buckled into the front seat that she should have insisted on sitting in the back with her daughter, but the hurricane seemed to have short-circuited her already-pregnant brain, and she simply hadn’t thought of it in time. Rosie was no longer crying, was safe and dry, and was curiously looking around.
Her chest heaved with a great sigh, and she let it out heavily. Could this day have gone any worse?
Glancing at the handsome Sheriff behind the wheel, she knew her day could have gone a lot worse. An accident. Stalling on the side of the road. The trailer flipping in the wind. An unscrupulous character stopping to help. Oh, hell yeah, this day could have gone a lot worse!
She watched Liam’s concentration focus out the windshield where she hoped he could see further than she could. She’d never been in a hurricane before and couldn’t believe how quickly the weather had changed. Totally unaware of an impending storm when she’d left Ohio, she and Rosie had spent their time listening to children’s books and music, not having the radio on. This morning when she checked out of their hotel was the first time she’d learned of the threatening weather. The receptionist mentioned that the storm had stalled out over the ocean, and she was sure she had time to get to Baytown. While driving, she listened to the radio and heard the forecasters talk about the storm turning and heading directly toward them, but she was sure they’d be able to make it.
Closing her eyes, a shiver ran through her at the thought of the dangerous situation she’d placed herself, Rosie, and her unborn child in. What an idiot I was. I should’ve stopped at a hotel hours ago. But even as they traveled, the radio was also reporting about all the filled hotels and how there were no vacancies available, fueling her desire to get to Baytown, to her friend's bed-and-breakfast.
She felt the blast of heat and opened her eyes. Liam glanced toward her. “I saw you shiver and thought you might be cold.”
“Thank you. Actually, I think I’m just mind-numb over the events of today.”
“We’re almost to my house.”
She looked out the window, the headlights barely piercing the black of the night, mostly illuminating the slanting sheets of rain. A house loomed ahead, the garage door gliding up. He pulled inside, and suddenly, the silence of the rain no longer hitting the vehicle sounded strange, as though her ears had grown accustomed to the constant noise.
Before she had a chance to say more, he alighted from his side. She unbuckled and twisted around, her smile wide as she caught Rosie’s eyes. Her daughter was staring around, holding onto her bunny. “Are we gonna live here?”
“Just for the night, Rosie. Just until the rain stops. Now, let’s get you out of your seat.”
Her door opened, and Liam’s hand held onto her arm, assisting her down. “Your shoes are soaked, so they’ll be slick. Let me get her for you.”
She stared up into his face, his wet, dark hair and five o’clock shadow giving him a devil-may-care appearance, and yet, his touch was so gentle. She nodded, not trusting her voice.
He opened the back door, and she heard him soften his voice. “Hey, there, Rosie. I’m going to get you out of your seat, and then you and your mommy can get inside where it’s dry, okay?”
“Okay,” came the whispered reply as Rosie clutched her bunny. Amy noticed that was the first thing Rosie had said to him, and the smile on his face indicated he’d noticed that, too. With a few clicks, he had her unbuckled and lifted into his arms. Turning toward Amy, he said, “Let me carry her.”
Rosie twisted her head around to keep her eyes on Amy but wasn’t upset. Making a silly face at her daughter, she followed Liam as he walked into his house from the garage, entering a large laundry room.
He set Rosie down and turned to look at Amy. “Um… let’s see… I’ll go back into the garage and get your suitcases so that you two can get into some dry clothes.”
He hustled back through the door, and she looked around at the perfectly organized laundry room. A hamper stood in the corner, clothes neatly placed inside. Folded sweatpants and T-shirts were stacked on shelves next to the door. Looking down, her wet sneakers were creating a small puddle on the floor. Bending, she slipped them off just as he walked back in. His gaze raked over her, and she was aware of how bedraggled she appeared. He was just as wet, and yet, looked virile.
“I’ll take these upstairs to one of the guest bedrooms and let you and Rosie get comfortable. There’s a bathroom that connects, if you need a bath… or you might want a shower… or I guess she’s too little for a shower.”
She smiled, the competent Sheriff now appearing uncertain. “Liam, whatever you want to do is fine. I don’t want us to intrude.”
He gave his head a little shake. “Sorry, I guess I’m not quite sure what you need.”
“If you can show us a place to dry off and get changed, that’ll be fine.” She reached down and took Rosie’s hand. Bending, she tapped her finger on the end of her daughter’s nose, eliciting a giggle. Following Liam, they walked through a large kitchen, equally as pristine as the laundry room. The open floor plan extended through the dining room and living area. As they headed toward the stairs, she noted no books or magazines were lying around, and the television remote was placed squarely in the middle of the coffee table.