Chapter Eleven

“Oh,” she said in a small voice.

“Honey,” he murmured, “you’re worth all that and so much more to me. You were right. I don’t deserve you, Mia, but I do care, very much. I do, Mia. And I am so sorry I made you feel like I didn’t. I just… I want to do right by you. I want to...”

She lifted her head and whispered.

“Tanner.”

“Yes ma’am?”

“Please stop talking and kiss me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He dipped his head down, and as he softly grazed her lips with his, he tasted the salt of her fresh tears.

“Mia. I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry, honey.”

“It’s all right, Tanner. These are happy ones,” she murmured, and kissed him back before sighing and laying her head against his chest again. “Can we talk more in the morning? I’m exhausted.”

“As much as you want. ‘Night, Mia.”

“’Night,” she whispered.

He ran his hand lazily up and down her back as he listened to her breathing become deep and even, and he smiled as he too faded back into sleep.

***

The storm was still raging outside when Tanner woke up and eased out of bed so he wouldn’t disturb her.

He padded to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee, then called his friend Pete with the Prism County Sheriff’s office.

“Any more trouble spots?”

“The weather’s gotten bad enough that they’ve suspended everything county-wide at this point, Tanner.”

“Damn. That is bad.”

“I know, right? That hasn’t happened in at least twenty years. It’s just too risky, even for our emergency crews. Hell, half of us camped out up here last night just so we wouldn’t have to try to drive in today.”

“Well, keep me posted. And if something does come up, let me know. I’ll help if I can.”

“Will do.”

He disconnected the call and set the phone down, then turned toward the refrigerator.

I wonder if Mia likes French toast.

Whistling under his breath, he got out two pans – one for the French toast and another for bacon – and got to work.

***

Mia stretched and yawned, then reached out to her left searching for Tanner.

Did he get another call for help?

She rose, then shivered, and stumbled over to her suitcase to add a sweatshirt and thick socks to her attire before heading to the bathroom. Once she’d freshened up, she brushed out her hair and braided it, then headed toward the living room.

“Good morning, gorgeous,” she heard Tanner say, and she blushed with pleasure.

He set the spatula in his hand down, closed the distance between them, and lifted her off her feet to kiss her sweetly before setting her down again.

“Are you warm enough? I can build the fire back up.”

“It is a little chilly in here,” she admitted.

“I’m on it. Take over at the stove for me?”

“Sure.”

She took a peek at what he was making and smiled.

“French toast! I love French toast,” she called out.

“Good call on my part, then, huh?” Tanner quipped back.

“I’d say so. You want some coffee?”

“Sure, I’ll take another cup.”

“So how many calls do you think you’ll get today?” she asked as she added milk and sugar to his mug, then poured one for herself.

“Zero,” he said as he fed logs into the fire he’d gotten going again.

“Zero? Really? But Tanner, the storm is crazy outside still. People are gonna need help if something happens to their car,” Mia said, her voice full of concern.

He walked back over to the kitchen and stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin lightly on the top of her head as she turned the bread over in the pan.

“I talked to my friend Pete with the Sheriff’s office a little bit ago. According to him, not only are the roads closed, but all services have been suspended until the storm passes, as well. It’s just too risky for anybody to be out there right now.”

“Wow. I don’t ever remember that happening before around here, do you?”

“Nope. Weatherman said this could be the worst winter storm this area has seen in decades. I think he may have been right.”

She scooped the last piece of French toast out of the pan and turned off the burner, then pivoted in his arms and looked up at him with troubled eyes.

“Tanner,” she said, “this should all clear out soon, right? What if Blake can’t get home?”

“I honestly think this storm will blow itself out sometime tonight or in the morning. And I bet the temperatures are back up in the fifties by this weekend, so I’m sure you’ll be able to see Blake for Christmas.”

“I hope so,” she sighed, laying her cheek against his chest. “I miss him so much.”

He stroked her back.

“I know you do. And don’t you dare tell him I said this, but I’m kinda looking forward to seeing his ugly mug, too.”

She laughed.

“You grab the syrup and meet me at the table,” she said, then wriggled out of his grasp to pick up the two plates of food.

Once they were seated, Mia said, “I’d like to talk to you more about last night.”

“Absolutely,” he told her. “Anything you want.”

“I want to apologize for yelling at you.”

“No apology needed. I deserved it.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Yes, I really did,” Tanner replied. “Things between us were getting heated and then all of a sudden I was distant, and I did a really crappy job of explaining why. I can see how that made you think what you did.”

She concentrated on her breakfast for a while before she blurted out, “I still can’t believe I told you all that.”

He grinned as he watched the color rising in her cheeks.

“Caught me by surprise, I’ll admit it,” he told her gently.

“Me too,” Mia admitted with an embarrassed smile. “As soon as I said it and then realized that you didn’t know all that yet, I wanted so bad for the floor to just open up and swallow me.”