Chapter Seven

The door slammed shut behind Morgan and I sprang into action. Clearing our plates and heating more tea water. Puttin’ on a little Van Morrison. Making a cozy nest of sleeping pads and bags on the floor in front of the wood stove, and adding a few more logs to the fire. We’d both busted ass today, and we deserved to chill in comfort.

I rocked back onto our nest, hummed along to the music, and imagined the look on Morgan’s face when she orgasmed. It’d be the same look she had after eating a bite of my torte, only better. More blissed out. Yeah, making her come would be ten times better if I got the chance. And damn, I loved watching her eat my cooking.

A gust of cold air shot through the hut, chilling my face after the hot glow of the coals. Morgan took two steps inside and froze.

“What are you doing?”

“I made some more tea. Thought it might be nice to relax for a bit.” I grabbed her mug off the floor beside me and held it up.

Her face went blank. Time stretched, like it does when you catch a ski tip, and you know you’re gonna fall, and there’s not a damn thing you can do other than watch it happen. Even my heartbeats crawled.

After an eternity, she took the mug and sat as far away as possible. My heart went back to normal speed.

We sipped in silence, staring at the fire through the glass door. I pretended to at least. Really, I stared at her profile out of the corner of my eye. Her eyes were more sea glass than pine tree and tilted up a little at the corners, like a cat’s. The wisps of hair floating around her face made her look sweet and fragile, even though I knew she was anything but.

She sucked in her lower lip and gnawed a corner.

So damn hot.

She glanced over and I got busy picking up my mug and taking a sip.

“It’s late. You want help loading your sled?” She nodded toward the boxes on the counter.

“Nah. It can wait until morning.”

“Wait. What?” Morgan’s voice went up about two octaves on the second word. All the way up to what I guessed was the top of her singing range. “Aren’t you headed back to your place tonight? Like usual?”

“Nope. Ethan’s parents are here, so I gave up my room. Figured I’d help you close up the hut for the season instead.”

“Seriously?” Her voice hit that high note again. She cleared her throat. “That’s okay. I can handle it.”

“I don’t mind.” I smiled my most charming smile.

“Oh God.” The corners of her eyes went tight. “You did all this—” She waved a hand around. “Just to get in my pants, didn’t you?”

I squirmed. “No.” My voice came out like a cow bellowing. I tried again. “I mean, not really. Exactly.”

Her eyes narrowed, and her mug came down hard enough tea sloshed over the edge. “You son of a bitch.” Morgan sprang to her feet. She paced back and forth in the aisle between the stove and the counter, talking more to herself than me. “You have got to be kidding me. How could I have been so stupid? Just when I start thinking maybe you’re a nice guy. That I’d read you wrong all season.”

“I am a nice guy.”

Turning on her heel, she glared at me. “Bullshit. Your reputation does proceed you, you know.”

“What reputation is that?” I took a lazy sip from my mug. Like I didn’t have a care in the world.

“That you’re a man-whore who flirts with anything with tits, gets laid, and never sticks around for a second date.”

Something pinched in my chest. I sat up straight. “I like flirting. It’s fun, and it makes everyone feel good. So, sue me.” I met her glare for glare. “I also like recreational sex, but only if the woman is down with it. We have a good time; they aren’t expecting a second date. It’s all cool.”

“You think it’s cool?” She stood over me, hands on hips. “It’s self-centered as hell. You’re playing with people’s emotions. People’s lives.”

“Like I said, I make sure we’re on the same page.”

“Ummmm. Right. Because no woman ever said she was okay with a one-night stand when she really wanted you to call her the next day.”

“I don’t sleep with anyone I’m gonna see again the next day, anyway. Problem solved.”

“So, you admit it.” She crossed her arms. “You were planning to sleep with me tonight because we’re both leaving tomorrow.”

“I’m not gonna lie. You’re gorgeous, and independent, and smart, and one helluva skier. I’d be an idiot if I didn’t want you. Didn’t want to make you feel as amazing as I think you are. Didn’t hope you might want something to happen tonight too.” I leaned toward her, keeping my eyes pinned to hers. Trying not to fall into those deep green pools. “But I don’t expect anything. I had a blast skiing and hanging with you today. I’m happy to help you tomorrow. It’s all good.”

“What would you do if I told you to get the hell out, right now?”

“I’d pack up the sled and drive back to the resort, and be happy we spent an awesome day together. And a little sad we didn’t get to know each other better sooner.”

****

The words I wanted to say died on my lips. I needed him to be an asshole so I could justify being an angry, self-righteous bitch. Anger did a fine job of chasing away any thoughts I had about my hands on his body, or his hands on mine. Thoughts I should’ve been able to escape when he left for the night. Only he wasn’t planning to leave.

“If you want me to go, just say the word.” His expression was open, guileless. Ruby-gold light played on the planes of his face, so handsome it made it hard for me to take his words at face value. Pun intended.

Did I want him to go?

What should have been an easy yes had somehow morphed into a very weak maybe, bordering on no. At the very least, I was definitely in I-don’t-know territory.

The self-centered prick I’d originally pegged him for would’ve come at me with a full court press. Convincing me to let him stay. Convincing me to sleep with him.

Instead, he seemed genuinely concerned about what I wanted. About making me happy, not just himself. I struggled to reconcile the obnoxious pretty boy I thought I’d worked with all season with this guy.

If I was completely honest, I’d been enjoying his company. A lot.

But I didn’t want to be honest—with myself, or him.