Chapter 4

"Easy… watch your hand…no, no, leave it, I will close the doors", Lucas said, helping Grace to enter his car then closing the doors, he hurried to get to the driver's seat.

His shirt was plastered against his arms, but his torso wasn't affected that much thanks to his vest.

He sat behind the wheel and turned the engine on.

His eyes glanced at a young woman sitting next to him, slightly shivering from the cold.

Something tightened in his chest and he swallowed hard.

She looked up, slightly sniffing.

"You shouldn't burden yourself with this, I'm fine…", she started to talk but was shushed with a gentle touch of his fingers on her upper arm. Swallowing, she glanced at his handsome face.

Were those the dimples showing up on his cheeks?

"I thought we were past that conversation", he silently said, his lips curling up in a gentle smile.

Yep. Definitely dimples.

Oh, Lord.

Grace could feel skin on her neck warming up, sending blood to her cheeks.

What's wrong with me?

Trying to ignore a strange feeling that was waking up inside her Grace tried to take off his jacket.

"Here, put this back on, you will freeze to death…", she spoke softly, trying not to hurt her injured arm and huffing in frustration as the jacket slid only on one side, making it impossible to take it off by herself.

But, before she could react upon that, she felt the warmth coming back into her injured arm as it was once again covered with his jacket.

Surprised, she looked up to find this strange man who woke something inside her gazing firmly into her eyes.

"Keep it", he whispered.

Grace blinked, feeling a lump in her throat as he started to drive.

"Can you tell me which way is the hospital?", he asked as he moved his car out from the parking place.

Grace nodded.

"Go to the left", she waited for a while, then murmured "Again, to the left. And on the next crossroads go to the right", knowing that they had at least 15 minutes to drive, she snuggled into his jacket, trying to keep warm.

He drove slowly, not to miss the crossroads, causing Grace's curiosity to perk up.

"So, you're not from here?", she whispered and felt his eyes back on her for a blink of an eye before he looked back on the road.

"No", he shortly replied.

Grace nodded, falling silent, not wanting to pry.

His voice broke the silence.

"You?"

She shook her head.

"Me either. Moved here a few years ago with my sister for a fresh start", she sadly smiled remembering everything that happened in the last few years and added "We finally fulfilled our dream here".

Slightly creasing his eyebrows, Lucas stole another glance at Grace.

"A dream?", he asked.

She nodded.

"Yes. Helping kids who are left all to themselves, with nobody to take care of them", at his curious gaze she slightly smiled "We opened an orphanage for abandoned and parentless kids. We are trying to make them feel secure and loved until they can find a new home", noticing his surprised glance, Grace nervously shifted, mumbling "Sorry… I talk too much", her eyes looked down to her feet. A little voice that sounded just like her older sister Lillian scolded her in her mind for babbling.

"No", she heard his voice and swallowing, she looked up.

Something warm shone from those brown eyes and she felt her heart racing up as those dimples showed up again and he gently added "I think that's remarkable. You are making this world a better place for living by helping those kids".

A small smile crept up Grace's lips.

In the next moment the car stopped in front of the hospital and Lucas shut the engine down, looking at the building on their right side.

"Is that it?", he asked.

"Yeah", Grace whispered and as he turned to look at her, she could feel herself getting nervous again "Thank you so much for bringing me here, but I can handle it now. I will call my sister from the hospital once I am finished…", she rambled on, trying once again to take off his jacket but failing miserably.

"No need for that. Lets get you to the doctor and then I will take you home", Lucas replied, pulling out the keys from his car.

Grace nervously nibbled on her lower lip, hearing Lillian's voice inside her mind gently scolding her for that annoying habit of hers.

"Governor, I don't wish to impose… You have to go back, Sheriff is probably there already", she rambled nervously.

And that was when she once again felt his gentle touch on her upper arm, causing her to fall silent and get a bit lost in the warmth of his chocolate brown eyes.

"Sheriff can wait", he said silently, but firmly. His lips curled up in a small smile and he added "And, please - it's Lucas".