Stranded With a Hero Read Free Page A

eyebrows furrowed in concern. He rolled down the window—hey, at least that worked—and she took a step back as if she needed the distance.
    “Your truck won’t start,” she stated rather obviously.
    “Clearly.” Leaning in, he pulled the lever to pop the hood and climbed out of the cab, going to the front of his truck to try and figure out the problem. Vehicles were too damn smart nowadays, hooked up to computers or whatever. He couldn’t see what was wrong, so he let the hood drop with a loud clang , and turned to find Mindy watching him.
    She rolled her eyes. “Call a tow truck and come inside until it gets here.”
    He slowly shook his head, his gaze never leaving hers. Her eyes were beautiful. They got him every time he looked into them. He was such a sucker. “I can sit out here.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Josh.” She rested her hands on her hips, looking pretty despite the bulky jacket and thick scarf wrapped around her neck that made her look like she was wearing some sort of bright red brace. “It’s freezing. Come up to the house with me.”
    “Are the boys there?” He’d always liked Kyle and Chandler. They were good kids. Took after their mom.
    “No. Um, Marty has them for the holidays.” She bit her lip, looking distinctly uncomfortable and he decided to drop the subject. No way was he about to get into the middle of a discussion about their divorce. “I have sugar cookies though.”
    If they were her mom’s recipe, then he couldn’t turn them down. “Well, if you’re making the offer, then I’m taking you up on it, Min. I’ll call a tow when we get inside.”
    The very last place he wanted to be.

Chapter Two
    “So the tow company said they can’t get anyone here for another three hours,” Josh said after he ended the call, setting his phone on the dining table beside him.
    Mindy almost dropped the cup of coffee she was bringing him, the liquid sloshing over the rim and dripping onto her otherwise-pristine kitchen floor. “Three hours ? Are you serious?”
    Noting she didn’t sound too happy about it, he nodded grimly, taking the cup from her when she offered. Their fingers grazed each other’s in the transfer and a zing went straight through him at the innocent contact—unbelievable. “The dispatcher said they’re the only company working at the moment since the other tow truck is helping with the snow plow. I guess everyone’s calling. The roads are a nightmare. Frankly, I think her three-hour estimate was being generous and kind.”
    Meaning he had a feeling he’d be here a lot longer than three freaking hours. All alone with Mindy in her big ol’ house, sans kids, during the year’s worst snowstorm. Whatever could they do to fill the time?
    Yeah, he could come up with quite a few ways to make the hours go by…
    Don’t go there, dude. She’s probably not interested, and don’t you forget it.
    “Wow. Sounds awful.” She turned to look out the kitchen window but it was already dark outside, so she couldn’t see anything. “I’m guessing it’s coming down pretty good.”
    The kitchen was small but looked like it had been completely remodeled within the last couple of years, filled with the latest appliances and granite countertops. The house was old, had once belonged to Marty’s parents before they gifted it to their son and his wife when they retired and moved to Florida—or so Josh’s mom had told him.
    It still blew his mind that Marty had been so hot to get away from Mindy, he’d given up his childhood home just so he could divorce her. The jackass.
    Pushing all thoughts of Marty Fenton from his brain, Josh took a swig of coffee, impressed with how delicious it was. He took another sip, savoring it. Damn, Mindy made a good cup of coffee. The stuff he brewed at home was usually complete swill. “The operator did mention the snow was piling up on the roads at breakneck speed, direct quote.”
    Mindy didn’t say a word as she moved to the back door just