LITMIR.BIZ

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Devlin to get out of the car and aimed his pistol. He shot and the bullet hit the door frame. Devlin bent for cover. He held his automatic weapon. Lucas could see the barrel sticking up as Devlin held it. He took aim and hit the top, sending it falling from Devlin’s hand.

      Getting back into the car, Devlin started driving. Lucas shot at him again as he passed, hitting his mark but not fatally. He thought he had struck Devlin’s arm, given that Devlin jerked his hand off the steering wheel and swerved a little. He kept driving. Lucas watched until he disappeared from view.

      They walked up the highway and Lucas saw snowflakes begin to fall.

      Tired, cold and hungry, Demi shook off more snow from Wolf’s blanket and checked on him. His cute face sprang into an open-mouthed smile. He’d done that each time she checked on him, as though having fun with a game of peekaboo. Seeing the lighted sign for the inn, a surge of gladness suffused her. It was dark now and the snow had begun to fall more heavily. Lucas repeatedly looked around and she could tell he watched out for them. She could focus on protecting Wolf, which she appreciated.

      As they turned onto the paved road leading to a parking area in front of the inn, bright lights welcomed them. Demi hadn’t seen a sight that washed her with relief more than this. It was a large log structure with a gabled window perched over the double-door entry and white-trimmed windows along the first and second stories on each side. She could see a Christmas tree through one of the windows.

      She couldn’t wait to get settled into a nice warm room and order room service. She hoped they had room service.

      She walked faster, nearly trotting toward the entrance while holding Wolf’s head. Lucas chuckled and jogged to the front door to open it for her. She entered as Wolf began to cry. He had a soft cry, not a screech, but low toned. He also used his hands to get his mother’s attention. She talked to him every time he did that. He so melted her heart. Lucas was beginning to melt it even more whenever she caught him watching. She could tell he was comfortable with his affection. Yes, he wanted to know his brother’s son, but was the boy’s mother another matter?

      Inside, they stood in a small, wood-floored foyer with a desk. Piano music played somewhere in the back. There were no doors other than a wide-open archway that led into a living room. Clanking dishes and running water told her the kitchen must be to the right of that room.

      Demi went to the desk with Lucas, taking in a grand double staircase of dark-stained wood and banisters with white vertical spindles. The two beautiful curving stairways flanked the foyer, rising to a large landing area on the upper level where the Christmas tree twinkled.

      A slightly plump older woman with short gray hair and black-rimmed glasses appeared through the living room archway. “Oh, hello.”

      A man matching her age trailed her.

      “What are the two of you doing out in this weather?” The older woman spotted Wolf. “Oh, and you have a youngster.”

      “We don’t have any arrivals tonight,” the older man said, sounding mildly cantankerous.

      “Oh, stop, Edward. We have plenty of rooms.” The woman waved her hand as though swatting at him.

      “We just put away all the food, Gladys.”

      The woman named Gladys went behind the desk. “Shush, Edward. Let’s put you in room...” She looked up at Demi, the baby and then Lucas. “Let’s give them the west corner. You’ll have lots of room and there’s a fireplace and a nice tub.”

      “Heaven,” Demi said.

      Gladys began processing the transaction on the computer. “What brings you two here at this hour and in a storm like this?”

      “The storm passed.” Lucas handed her a card.

      “The snow hasn’t,” Edward said.

      Was he as grumpy as he sounded? He seemed harmless and even friendly underneath his elderly annoyance.

      “We had car trouble,” Demi said.

      “We can get a tow for you.” Gladys gave Lucas his card back.

      “Don’t bother, it’s totaled. It caught on fire.” Lucas glanced over at Demi with a secretive grin.

      “Oh, my goodness. I am so happy you are all right.”

      Gladys gave him the key—a real key. The charm of this place was already working its way into Demi.

      “Do you have room service?” she asked.

      “We have a kitchen and prepare food for all three meals a day, but it’s all put away now. There’s a restaurant not far from here that delivers to us, though.” Gladys produced a menu.

      Demi took it, thrilled to no end. “Thank you.”

      “Have a good night.”

      “Breakfast starts at seven,” Edward said.

      Lucas led the way up the grand staircase and down the hall to their end room. Only then did Demi realize they’d be sharing it. She hadn’t thought to ask for her own.

      Lucas opened the door and let her go in first. A king-sized bed with a cream comforter that had a thick green stripe running across the foot end was to the left of the door. A white nightstand with a dark wood top was on each side. A counter with a microwave and coffee machine was to the left. There was a small refrigerator below. The bathroom was behind an old-fashioned sage-colored sofa that faced a fireplace and high-backed chair. The walls were sage green and trimmed in white. Tall windows flanked the fireplace, and a larger window was between a dresser with a television and the high-backed chair.

      Demi removed the baby pack and a now-fussing Wolf. Lucas put the backpacks on the sofa and went to the large window, performing his sentinel role.

      After removing her outer clothes, Demi prepared Wolf’s dinner, holding him in one arm. Then she went to the chair and sat, feeding him with a bottle.

      Lucas left the window and checked the taller, narrower windows. When he finished, he turned on the fireplace and sat on the sofa with the restaurant menu.

      “Pizza?”

      Anything sounded good right now. “Sure.”

      He took out his mobile and put it away. There must have been no service because he went to one of the nightstands and used the phone to order.

      Demi looked down at Wolf, with his red hair and closed eyes, as he suckled the bottle. He’d been a real trouper on the long, cold walk here. He’d only started complaining when he got hungry. Maybe he’d grow up to be an outdoor person, like her.

      Lucas finished ordering and sat down on the sofa and watched them. Wolf began making tiny grunting sounds, contented with a full tummy. He opened his eyes and met hers. Their bond was magical. She’d heard other mothers talk of it but hadn’t come close to imagining what it would be like for real. Indescribable. Miraculous.

      Wolf finished his dinner. She needed to get him ready for bed.

      Standing, she walked to Lucas. “Will you hold him so I can get us ready for bed?”

      Lucas looked up at her and then reached out to take the baby. He cradled Wolf in his arms, his size dwarfing the little one.

      Demi dug into her backpack, which she had strategically packed to fit the most items. She found Wolf’s pj’s and a fresh diaper and set them on the counter. In the bathroom, she flattened a towel out on the vanity next to the sink. Before retrieving Wolf, she washed her face and got into her own pj’s—she’d opted for pants and a top.

      When she emerged from the bathroom, Lucas was at the counter with Wolf, changing his diaper and talking to him in a baby voice. She couldn’t hear exactly what he said, something to do with fresh and clean for bed.

      She stopped beside them and saw Wolf’s big smile. He giggled and waved his arms.

      “It didn’t take long for him to latch on to you.”

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