The silence grew between them as they sipped on their drinks, which only made Suzanne more and more aware of him, of his brooding presence. What was he thinking about? Was he worrying about the storm? The ranch? That he hadn’t done enough? Or was he thinking about the long hours ahead with just him and her—alone. In this cabin.

Like she was.

“So what happens now?” she asked eventually when the quiet became too much.

He shrugged. “There’s nothing left to do. The blizzard’s upon us, and we can’t go out again until it’s blown over, so…” He turned slightly toward her and smiled. “We just wait it out.”

Suzanne swallowed. Exactly. Just her and him. Waiting it out. How were they going to keep themselves occupied?

“How long do you think it’ll last?”

“Figure it’ll go all night and all day tomorrow and into tomorrow night. We can follow the progress of the storm on the computer.”

Just then, another powerful blast of wind shook the cabin, and the lights flickered out. Had it not been for the fire, they’d have been plunged into darkness. Suzanne shivered and took an involuntary step closer to Grady.

“Or…maybe not.” He pulled his phone from his back pocket and swiped at the screen several times. “No cell or internet, either. Looks like we’ll have to go old-school.”

Draining the last of his bourbon, he placed the glass on the mantelpiece next to Christmas Elvis riding a reindeer and headed for the kitchen. Suzanne didn’t bother to follow him, preferring to stay near the source of light. She wasn’t afraid of the dark, but the howling was really ramping up outside. It sounded like wolves. Rabid wolves.

Suzanne didn’t mind admitting she was feeling quite vulnerable out here in the middle of nowhere with all that frothing, wailing nature just outside the door. She had absolutely no doubt that Grady would be able to handle any calamity that arose and that he wouldn’t let any harm come to her but, despite the solid shelter of four walls and a roof, she suddenly felt every inch the city girl.

And very, very small.

There was some clattering from the kitchen, then the scratchy crackle of static before a tinny voice grew louder and louder but fading in and out as it talked about wind speeds and temperatures. There was nothing but the voice for a minute, and Suzanne assumed Grady was listening attentively, but then there was an “Oh my god” followed by a groan.