Be My Love Read Free

ugly.”
    Brenna pursed her lips. Darkness shrouded her fine features, but a trail of dried blood from her forehead and mouth indicated she’d hit her head. His heart beat heavy in his chest. He couldn’t leave her here. He wouldn’t. But knocking her out and hauling her over his shoulder to get her to the cabin seemed a bit barbaric, even if it was for her own safety.
    “My seat belt’s jammed.”
    “What?”
    She rolled her eyes and spoke slower. “My. Seat. Belt. Is. Jammed. I can’t get it to release the clip.”
    “Oh.” He ducked into the truck and leaned across her body. The aroma of coffee and candy flooded his senses, along with something else, something more subtle. Roses. As if soft flower petals lifted off the warmth of Brenna’s skin. The floral scent caressed his face. He drifted closer, wanting to nuzzle into the heat of her body.
    Brenna stiffened. “Do you plan to sniff the seatbelt into working order?”
    Busted!
    He silently cursed and pulled on the seatbelt. “Sorry, you smell nice, is all.”
    She huffed.
    He pushed the button, and yanked on the belt, but the clip had locked. “Yup, jammed.”
    “No shit.”
    He glanced up. Her gaze matched the coldness blowing around them, but her pouty lips, partially open, spoke of wanting something else. Those lips. So close…
    He cleared his throat. “We don’t have time to fiddle with this. I’ll cut you out.”
    She nodded, and he used his knife to cut through the belt. He ducked out of the truck and picked up his helmet. He held his hand out to help Brenna down.
    She eyed his open palm as if it contained a grenade.
    “Brenna…I know you hate—”
    She snatched the helmet from his hands and stuffed it on her head. She pulled her gloves on and handed him her purple toque and ski goggles. “Here,” she said. “I have supplies in the back.”
    Not one to refuse a toque in the middle of a snowstorm, Eric threw on the rose-scented hat before fitting the goggles.
    After zipping it up, Brenna grabbed the large emergency kit from the passenger seat and hopped out of the truck. Sort of. More like she fell out. She winced and sucked back air. He reached out to support her, but she snatched her arm out of his reach.
    “I’m fine,” she hissed.
    “Obviously.”
    She shuffled to the back door of the extended cab, and yanked on the handle. It didn’t budge, and Brenna went flying back, ass-first in the snow. She yelped.
    “Uh…” He leaned down to help her up, extending his hand.
    She snarled at him.
    Geez! If looks could kill. He snatched his hand back and turned to the door. He ran his knife along the seams as he had with the driver’s side door, and tried to ignore Brenna scrambling to her feet. She stood beside him, her breath coming out in little puffs of white air, as if daring him to laugh or comment. Not happening. Not when she packed a deadly flashlight and looked for an excuse to use it on him. He bit his tongue and tried the handle. The door popped open.
    Brenna huffed and leaned into the truck to haul out a large backpack. When he glanced at the backseat, he spotted another suitcase.
    “Do you need the other one?” he asked.
    “No, that one just has clothes.” She slipped the backpack on and placed the shoulder strap of the emergency kit around her neck so it hung in front of her. “I’m taking the one with food.”
    Brenna had always been practical. Not like any of the women he dated.
    She cast a forlorn look at the second bag before slamming the door shut on whatever it contained. “Let’s go.”
    The gash on her forehead had stopped bleeding, and although she moved a bit stiffly, it appeared her injuries were superficial, not life threatening or seriously debilitating. He glanced back at the truck, and its smashed hood. He sucked in a breath. She’d been lucky. Very lucky. Good thing she’d been driving this old monster of a truck.
    Her worn jeans clung to her legs. They wouldn’t provide much insulation in this weather