Catch Me If You Can by Donna Kauffman Page A

the far side of the truck bed, but between the dark and the snow, he had no idea what he was poking at. His hands, toes and nose were numb as he took the broom and turned back toward his car. Only to stop dead in his tracks. Someone stood not five yards away, heavily cloaked arms folded.
    She motioned to the broom in his hand. “If you were planning on flying out on that thing, I have to warn you, the guarant ee expired last month.” Her softl y accented voice carried easily through the wind. It was strong, and if he wasn’t mistaken, more than faintl y amused. An intriguing combination that got his full male attention, despite the surreal nature of the situation.
    “I think all flights have been grounded due to weather anyway,” he responded. He gestured toward the truck. “Yours? Or are you just out for an evening stroll?”
    She lifted a mittened hand. “That and trying to get a signal on my mobile.”
    He brightened. Maybe the evening wasn’t going to end with him sleeping pretzel style in his compact after all. “Any luck?”
    She brushed snow from her face and it made him wish she’d step closer so he could see her more clearly. She was tall, but that was about all he could tell, with her bundled head to toe. Whatever hair she had was tucked up beneath a tassled knit cap.
    “I suppose the smart answer, given the circumstances, would be to say yes, absolutely,” she told him. “ Two burly men will be here shortl y to tow me out.”
    “Don’t kid a man who’s lost all feeling in his toes.” He could have sworn she flashed a smile. It took a surprising amount of control to keep from stepping closer to find out for sure.
    But rather than follow up with a witty rejoinder, she shifted gears. “Was that my fault?” she asked, motioning to his car. “I didn’t have anything to set out as a warning. I was hoping I was far enough o ff the road.” She laughed a littl e, in what sounded like relief. “Though I was just thankful I was still on enough of it to get out in one piece.”
    “What happened?”
    “Front tire blew coming around the bend. I almost—" She broke off as she looked past him at her truck, hanging so close to the edge. She hugged her arms closer and shook her head .
    T ag was moving closer without even thinking about it.
    She put up a hand, stopping him a few short feet away. “Sorry. Don’t worry. I’m fine, really. I guess I’ve been operating on automatic pilot since it happened and looking at it now, it just kind of hit me how close … ” She trailed off, looked at her truck, then smiled as she shook her head. “Guess it wasn’t my turn. But I’m sorry I got you stuck.”
    Now that he could see her smile, he wanted to see her eyes. Mostl y he just wanted her to keep talking. He wasn’t typically seduced by an accent. Apparen tl y there were exceptions. Or his mind could be going numb along with the rest of him.
    “Not your fault,” he said. “I should have taken the turns more slowly. I guess I was just anxious to get into the next town and find a bed for the night.”
    “Here visiting from the States?”
    He nodded, locking his knees together as the shivers started to set in. He’d been okay when he’d been moving around, but standing in one place wasn’t such a good idea.
    She shook her head. “I’m afraid Durnish, which you probably passed through a ways back, is it.”
    “I was hoping Calyth—”
    She was already shaking her head. “It’s hardly more than a bump in the road, though there are a few little shops right there at the heart of it.” She lifted a shoulder. “I’ve never really stopped there, so I could be wrong.” She cocked her head. “First time out of the city?”
    Now it was his turn to smile, even though he could no longer feel his lips. “Not hardly.” He glanced back at his car. “But, since getting into town isn’t an option, I was planning on clearing out the tailpipe so I could run the heat off and on during the night. You’re