Chapter 19

Once Noelle had her coat on, Brady opened the door for her. Noelle took her keys, wallet, and phone and headed out the door.

The snow was coming down again, catching the light and twinkling as it fell all around them. Noelle locked up and then headed down the stairs. Brady stayed with her, one hand on the railing, the other out in case she should fall.

The steps were slick already. Had it gotten so much colder in just the few minutes she had been inside that ice had formed? She hadn’t realized how cold it had become.

Noelle had just reached the bottom step and was crossing onto the landing when her foot slid out from underneath her. Having already released the handrail, she felt herself shooting up into the air and then careening backward. The idea that she was about to collide with the ground had her holding her breath, but it wasn’t the icy walkway that met her back.

It was Brady’s