Yes, there was a spare bedroom. Right next to Suzanne’s. Except Suzanne was supposed to be sharing Grady’s room—Grady’s bed—so it could be hard to explain if that little fact were uncovered.

God…she couldn’t wait for her parents to return to New York so this pretense could end.

“When did Grady say he’d be home?” her father asked.

Suzanne shook her head. “He didn’t.” She was trying not to think about him out there in the increasing wind. She hoped he wouldn’t be too much longer. The bureau had predicted the blizzard currently making its way across Kansas and Nebraska to arrive just before midnight.

“Before the blizzard hits, I hope,” he said.

“Me too.”

“Oh, hey.” Her father pulled her in for a hug. “You’re worried about him.”

Yes. She was. Surprisingly. She knew Grady knew what he was doing and that he wasn’t out there alone, but she was still antsy. She supposed seasoned rancher wives/girlfriends were used to this kind of thing. They were probably cool and calm in the face of an approaching biblical-ass storm. Hell, they’d probably be out there among it with their men.

But Suzanne couldn’t help but think of a hundred things that could go wrong. “At least with all these lights, he’ll be able to easily find his way home,” Albie said, attempting to make a joke but hugging her a bit harder.

Suzanne laughed. “Grady does love his Christmas.”

The lie didn’t sit well. She had zero doubt the lights would be gone as soon as her parents hightailed it out of Credence. But her father was right, the lights flashing outside the cabin were visible for miles and, on a night like this, she was relieved to have them blinking away.

She hoped Grady was, too.

“Do you want us to stay?”

Suzanne shook her head and pulled back. “No.” She wanted her parents to spend as much alone time together as possible. They’d been smiling at each other a lot today, and who knew what being snowed in could lead to? “Josh will be home soon. You two go and batten down the hatches while you’ve got the chance. It’s already starting to really blow out there. Just remember you’ll probably lose power and phones, so if anything happens and you need us, either come across or tie the red washcloth around the outside doorknob.”

“We’ll be fine, darling,” her father assured, and, with one last round of hugs, Suzanne opened the door.