Every December [Soon to be Self Published]

Chapter 5

Lydia 

"I don't like hospitals," A.J. clarifies swiftly. It's the same tone people who are familiar with hospitals have in common. His lips sour into a frown that matches the disdain in his eyes.

So, there's pain there. "I get it. I see that look every day at work."

His thoughtful gaze swings back to mine with a hint of cockiness. "If I were in trouble with the cops, I wouldn't be offering to drive you to get help."

"We're not in the car yet. There's still time for you to lock me in your basement." Okay, maybe I shouldn't joke about being stranded with a stranger in the middle of the woods. This isn't a romance novel.

"Come on, before you try to run away and break your other ankle." He winks and removes the ice pack.

"That's not funny," I say with serious angst and remove the blanket. "Really not funny."

He lowers himself towards me, filling my nose again with crisp winter scents, and slides his hand around my waist steadily and comfortably. "Just don't manhandle me this time."

I whip my head in response, catching his mocking gaze. My lips are alarmingly close to his. Warm dustings of gold mix with the brown in his eyes and my heart leaps at the thought of A.J.'s uneven mouth coming down on mine. "That was an accident," I answer, trying to be coy, met with the strong build of his body.

"Uh-huh." He propels me up, taking care with me. His hands are sturdy. Instead of lifting me, I attempt to walk, using his strong body as a crutch down the hallway.

"How long have you lived here?"

"Five years." He nods ahead to the door at the end of the hall, offering me a side-eyed glance, and I'm taken aback by his boyishness and the long lashes and soft, slightly too long hair curled at his ears. "I only come here this time of year. Every December, actually."

"You only come for a month?" I say incredulously. "I would be here all the time with a place like this."

He doesn't answer the question, just squeezes his hand on my waist, splaying his hand wider, making me all the more aware of his touch.

Maybe he's upset because there's another woman. Even though I didn't see a wedding ring, that doesn't mean anything. I make the leap that any logical person would. "Look, if you're married or have a girlfriend, I'm happy to explain this misunderstanding."

He stops walking, though his hands don't move. "There's no one."

"Oh, okay." Stuck in my thoughts, I barely notice A.J. opening the garage door and turning on the light. "You shouldn't be driving since you have a concussion."

"I'd say between the two of us, I'm the safer bet." He flashes me a do-you-have-a-better-idea glance. "But if I pass out while driving, just take the wheel. You'll do fine." His gaze drags down my thigh to my ankle. "Unless you need to brake."

A.J. assists me into the car, which makes us both unbalanced and me winding up with his shoulder in my face and his body flattening against mine like a pancake. My nose crashes into his shoulder and I breathe in his clean scent, so airy and addictive. He buckles me in, not that I couldn't do it myself, but my ankle feels like it's splitting off into fourths. Help is welcomed.

We leave at once. He drives down the hill, at the end of which, the headlights shine on my car, highlighting the angled down front end with snow around the back. "No wonder you couldn't get that thing to reverse. That's impressive."

"I wasn't trying to impress you."

"You just did. And the guys at the tow truck company will feel the same." He keeps a narrowed gaze on my car. "It's like you went over that mound of snow."