Serena’s sto
mach dipped. Okay, it was official, he was much cuter in person than he was on television. And if she didn’t get him out of here soon, he might worm his way past her defenses. But would that be so bad?
After all, they were on two different coasts. Surely with all those states between them and their busy schedules, they’d never lay eyes on each other again.
She shook her head. Obviously she wasn’t used to the solitude. Everything would be fine. She would stick to her resolution of no men. Soon the plows would open up the road and Jackson would be on his way out of here.
“What?” Jackson’s eyes filled with confusion.
“Hmm...”
“You shook your head. Why?”
“Nothing.” She hunted for a legitimate answer to his question. “I should have figured that you would resort to bribing.”
“It wasn’t my idea.” Jackson said it as though it were the undeniable truth. “Gizmo stole my bread last night and well, I didn’t rat him out and we’ve been friends since.”
“And it only cost you a slice of bread?”
Jackson smiled and her stomach once again did that funny dipping thing. “Yeah, I guess it was worth sacrificing part of my dinner.”
“And that would explain why he wasn’t very interested in his.” She planted her hands on her hips. “I don’t want him eating human food so if you could refrain from feeding him in the future, I would appreciate it.”
“I’ll try, but no promises.” When she arched a brow, he added, “Hey, he’s sneaky.”
“Uh-huh.” Was it possible that this journalist was truly a big softy at heart?
The thought stuck with her as she went to turn off the generator. She really wanted to dislike Jackson. It would make this arrangement so much easier, but the more time she spent with him, the more she liked him.
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE DAY SLIPPED by very slowly.
Jackson didn’t know what to do with himself. He wasn’t good at sitting still and yet his ankle, though most likely not broken, was still severely bruised and swollen.
He picked up his cell phone from the coffee table. He put in his passcode only to find that there was still no signal. So much for them getting the cell tower fixed today...or whatever was causing the disruption in service. He knew he shouldn’t complain. With the avalanche, everyone had much larger concerns.
He tossed the phone back on the coffee table and sighed.
Mae glanced up from her laptop. “Do you need something?”
“Yes. I mean, no.”
“So which is it?”
He limped over to her desk. “I’m just bored, is all. I’m not used to having time on my hands. Usually I don’t have enough hours in the day to get things done. Today I don’t have enough things to do.”
“I understand. My life is usually very hectic. That’s one thing I love about being here. No one can bother me and I can make my own schedule.”
“So what has you so busy on the computer for hours on end?”
“This, oh, well...it’s nothing.”
Was it his imagination or did her cheeks take on a shade of pink? His curiosity grew. She closed the laptop and stood. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she stretched.
“You don’t strike me as a shy woman. So what has you blushing when I asked about what you were working on?”
Her fine brows drew together. “And you are not on the job. I’m not one of your stories. You don’t have to keep pushing until you get all of the answers.”