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Why wasn't anyone answering? Oh, God, what if nobody was home? What would she do? Could she manage to pick the lock? She'd hate to have to break a window, letting in the cold. The idea of breaking and entering horrified her, but it was better than freezing to death. She pounded again, leaning into it this time. When the door flew open she pitched forward, landing on a shiny wood floor on her hands and knees. Hard.
* * * *CJ Hall stood stock-still with his mouth hanging open as he stared at the woman in a lacy white puddle at his feet. He'd been busy wrestling with his nephew's diaper when he'd thought he heard someone at the door, but he'd dismissed the sound as an effect of the wind. Nobody was stupid enough to be out on a night like this! Finally, however, the repeated pounding convinced him otherwise, and he hurried down the stairs and across the living room, wrenching open the heavy oak door.
"What the hell?" He automatically stuck out a hand to help the stranger to her feet. "Who the blazes are you and what are you doing here?" He reached around her with his free hand to slam the door shut against the howling wind.
She was just a little thing. When she stood, the top of her head didn't quite reach his shoulders. Still, he had to admit she had pluck. Crossing her arms over her chest she glared up at him, shivering violently. "Al-Allison Kendricks," she stammered defiantly. "I'm lost."
