Stretching in bed, I roll over and face the window. Outside the sky is blue and I realize the snow has stopped. There's a sense of stillness as I roll from the bed and look out at nothing but whiteness. All the outbuildings, which I hadn’t seen last night, are covered and are hardly visible. I do notice some deep tracks out front that look as though a tractor, or some other heavy machinery, made them.

Turning my head toward the bedroom door, I hear someone downstairs, maybe in the kitchen as it sounds like pots and pans clattering. Smiling, I feel my heart flutter at the thought of seeing Tanner.

Last night could have been awkward between us, however, I did refrain from teasing the man. The feeling that he’d wanted to lead me toward his room had overwhelmed me. Instead, I’d reached up and kissed his cheek, wishing him a good night’s sleep. I did want to snuggle down into bed with him, but it was safer if we slept apart. For now, at least.

My excitement grows as I quickly put his sweats and over shirt back on before leaving my room. The first thing I smell is freshly brewed coffee as I get closer to the kitchen, except I freeze when I realize its Tanner’s father.

The man turns and I have to blink a few times to hide my disappointment. He smiles and offers me a cup of coffee. “Tanner told me we have a guest.” He leans forward, smiling. “I’m his father, Derek. I do believe we met at a wedding.”

I shake his outstretched hand and then take a sip of the warm beverage that is a welcome from the coolness of the morning. “I’m sorry to barge in like this.”

“Nonsense. You’re more than welcome.” Derek tosses some bacon onto the griddle along with pancake batter. “I hope you’re hungry. Tanner said you’d need feeding when you woke.”

“Thank you.” Curious, I ask, “How did you get here with the storm outside?” because all I can see is vast whiteness as I glance out of the kitchen window.

“Made it into town before the storm and got waylaid. By the time I’d finished up the storm had gotten bad, so I stayed in town. Got a lift on the snowplow first thing.” Derek smiled. “It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden one of them.”

Derek turns to the stove while I take a seat at the breakfast bar and watch him work.

“So,” he grins placing food in front of me, “how is your sister and my friend? Their baby is due soon, right?”

“Sirena is due in about two months.” I smile. “Garrett is beyond excited and spends more time than ever at home with her and their son, Elias.” Sighing, I add, “I’m so glad she found Garrett. He's such a good man and loves her completely.”

He nods. “Garrett is a good man, has been for as long as I’ve known him.” He joins me and looks slightly uncomfortable. “Doesn’t it bother you that your sister is married to my best friend, who happens to be my age, and you’re in love with my son?”

I’m shocked at how outspoken he is, not to mention with the change of subject. “I don’t…”

“He hasn't said anything, but I saw the way you looked at each other at the wedding. He’s been unhappy since he’s been home, and you’re here now. I’m putting two and two together, and getting four.” He grins. “I love my son, Charlotte, and I want what’s best for him.” He pauses as he searches my face, weighing me, and continues, “And, I do believe, that’s you.”

“Thank you for saying that,” I whisper, trying to swallow food around the lump stuck in my throat. “I didn’t know what to say to you, really. I’m usually the confident business woman but here, and for matters of the heart, I’m a wreck.”

“Eat up, need to put some meat on those bones.”

I smile. “Where’s Tanner?” I frown looking out of the front window.

“He’s taken the large tractor up to the main road with the plow attached to help with the clearing. Could take a while, but he’ll be back for breakfast soon.”

“So, you can get into town if you needed to?”

He looks at me closely and adds, “I guess you could, but it’s going to be dangerous going today. I’d leave it until tomorrow. One accident is enough.” He raises a brow.

“Yes it is.”

“Hmm.” He shakes his head and removes our empty plates. “I know you’re probably waiting for me to say something about Tanner and what’s going on with Emma, but it’s not my place. One thing I will say is that she’s never been the right woman for him. She doesn’t love him. Just sees him as a meal ticket. She always has. They’d have been married long before now if Tanner hadn’t kept putting her off… He doesn’t love her either.”

“Thank you for telling me that.” I move toward him wanting the subject to change. “Let me wash the dishes.”

He shakes his head. “Tanner said you were hurt so no dishes for you.” He nods in the direction of the sofa. “Go and watch some Christmas movies while you wait.”

I tilt my head to the side and ask, “Doesn’t it bother you that your son is engaged to one woman but in love with another?”

“If Emma was a lovely girl like you, then yes, it would bother me. The fact is that girl has given my son a lot of grief over the years. She’s been unfaithful to him, which was why the engagement was broken. I didn’t know at the time of the wedding but I confronted him the morning after he’d spent his time with you.” He sighs. “When we came home things were…different. My son has been raised to do the right thing, and I think that’s what he was trying to do when we came home and the engagement was back on. I don’t know what happened but I’m guessing he felt bad for the way the town was treating Emma. It’s in his nature to protect, and that’s what he did.”

I hold his gaze and admit, “I love him, and before I showed up here, I was conflicted. I didn’t want to make a mess of his life if he was happy with Emma. But, at the same time, I couldn’t move on with my life without knowing if what we had was as special as I thought it was.” I offer him a wry smile. “It was special, and I’m glad I’m here.” I wince. “Although, I would have preferred to have the arrival be a little less dramatic.”

“I bet you would.” He shoos me toward the sofa. “Go and get settled, so Tanner doesn’t get annoyed with me for keeping you standing.”

I refrain from adding that I can’t imagine Tanner annoyed with his father while I settle into the sofa. There’s nothing that I fancy watching on the television, so I get comfortable, pulling a blanket over me and wait for Tanner.