Chapter 43

Nicholas frowned down at her. “Care?”

“Nicholas, would you mind giving me some time to freshen up?” she asked as she looked up at him. “This last couple of days, traveling up to Texas and then getting stranded in the snow, has been quite hard.”

Hard? That wasn’t quite the description that Nicholas would have used concerning the last two days. But perhaps to Caroline, forced by circumstances into such close proximity with him, that was exactly what it had been. Perhaps he shouldn’t have brought her to Texas with him at all.

“Fine,” he bit out. “There’s only the one small bathroom, I’m afraid.”

“I’m sure I’ll manage, Nicholas,” she concluded.

He nodded. “It’s just down the hallway on the right. Come downstairs when you’re ready.” He gave another nod before leaving.

Caroline sat down abruptly on the single bed as she heard him returning down stairs, not sure she would ever be ‘ready’ to face him again, let alone the searching gaze of his aunt.