Between Strangers by Linda Conrad

it, she realized it was not the baby who was frightened. In fact, Angie seemed to be holding up quite well to this harrowing trip. Marcy had seen plenty of snow while growing up back at home, but this storm and the thought of beinglost in a blinding blizzard was driving her to distraction.
    It was also true that baby Angie hadn’t needed to worry about fighting off both the elements and a nutty desire for the man who was seeing them through. Every minute, every mile brought Marcy closer to falling for the guy. She couldn’t listen to his baritone voice without having a spark of need combust low in her belly. He couldn’t so much as touch her arm without igniting a blaze that made her nearly blind with wanting to have him touch her everywhere.
    It was crazy. It was erotic. She was toast.
    Lance started up the SUV again and made sure the four-wheel-drive system was operational. “There’s no need for Angie to be frightened. This is more of a snowsquall than a real storm.” He shot her a wicked wink, and Marcy felt a shivery tingle begin in the base of her spine.
    â€œThe farm road off the highway that leads to Bobby’s ranch may not have been plowed,” Lance advised. “But we’ll take it nice and slow…so Angie won’t be scared.”
    Marcy ducked her head and looked through the top of the windshield at more tons of falling snow than she’d ever before seen in one place at one time. Some “squall.” They’d be lucky if they weren’t buried in it before they reached the ranch.
    Lance drove on in the silent darkness for about twenty minutes. She watched as he tried to follow the fence posts along the side of the road. But he seemed to recognize different landmarks as they went, and Marcy felt the tension begin to leave her shoulders.
    â€œThe gate to Bobby’s ranch road isn’t easy to find at the best of times,” he muttered. “But it should be right up the way.”
    â€œIs the house very much farther after we turn?”
    â€œNot far. Maybe a quarter of a mile.”
    His answer set her teeth on edge, and she hunched her shoulders again. What if Bobby’s road was already buried in six feet of snow? What would they do?
    Just as she was picturing the worst possible scenario, Lance said with a huff, “There it is.”
    But as he turned the steering wheel, she felt the SUV slide on the icy buildup. Lance smoothly twisted the wheel in the same direction as the slide the way he should’ve, but the SUV did not respond. In a whirling flash of flying snow and the loud crunching of tires on ice, the back end of the SUV swung wild.
    Before she could let out the scream that was building, the left rear of the SUV sank into a deep hole and ground to a halt. Suddenly they were immobile and tipping precariously to the port side. Marcy held her breath, waiting for something worse to happen.
    Lance sat and studied their position for a few moments. Then he turned off the key. “I suspect that’s as far as we’re going tonight. Give me a minute to check how badly the rear end is buried.”
    She didn’t want to be left alone with the baby. “No, wait. I’ll go out with you. Together maybe we can push the SUV out of the drift.”
    Lance stilled, turned to face her and touched her shoulder with his gloved hand. “Trust me, Marcy. I won’t be more than five feet away from the SUV thewhole time. If I find there’s anything we can do together to free us, I’ll let you know.
    â€œStay with Angie,” he admonished. “If she wakes up, you need to be where she can see you. I’ll only be outside for a few minutes…tops.”
    Marcy inhaled deeply and nodded her head. She did trust him and needed to get her fears back under control.
    He unbuckled his belt and shoved open the driver’s door. The SUV listed to that side, but he managed to get the door open far enough to escape into the