If it weren’t for the risk of getting entombed in the rental car by fast-falling snow, I would’ve sat in stunned silence for another hour.
“You’re all I see.”
That’s what Dom said. About me.
Then he says, “Get out of the car, Maddie. You’re not allowed to freeze to death.”
Slightly less life-altering than the former statement.
Dom climbs out from behind the wheel, then circles around to my door, helping me from the car and holding my hand as we trudge through the steadily growing snowdrifts. If our hike had taken longer, I’m not sure even Dom could have driven us back here. We knock the clinging snow off our boots before pushing into the warm house. There’s a real fire burning in the sitting room that I wish I could hurry over to and soak in the smoky heat.
But I follow Dom to the front desk instead.
“Oh goodness! Did you two get turned around by the storm?” Sandra, a gray-haired white woman with kind blue eyes, gazes at us with concern from her spot behind the desk. She co-owns the B&B with her husband, Alan, a soft-spoken Korean American man with hooded eyes and an easy smile.
“It did.” Dom offers Sandra a rueful smile. “Would we be able to book our rooms for an extra night?”
“Oh, well, those rooms are already claimed, unfortunately.”
My stomach dips as I meet Dom’s eyes.
What are we going to do?
Even driving across town would be treacherous at this point.
“But,” Sandra chirps, “don’t you worry. We’ve got space for you all. The Morning Room—we call it that because it has the best light first thing in the morning—is open. You’ll have to bunk together, but there’s a queen bed and a daybed in there. Plenty of room. How’s that sound?”
Dom and I meet stares again, only I can’t read a single thought on his stoic face.
Together.
Sleeping together.
In a room together, I remind myself. Not sleeping together, exactly.
“Yeah.” I croak the word when I realize Dom is waiting for my final say on the matter. I clear my throat. “That would be great.”
It’s not like we have any other choice.
I accept our key as Dom heads out to the car to grab our bags. Like a moth, I’m drawn toward the fire, standing in the radius of its glow. A moment later Dom joins me, his body giving off almost as much heat as the bare flames dancing near my fingers, despite his having just come in from the snow.
“We might not be able to make it to North Dakota tomorrow, either, if this keeps up,” he murmurs.
I follow his gaze to the window, where the snow continues to fall in a white blur. Wind rattles the windows, and I soak in the ambiance of the place.
“We can see how it is in the morning. If it’s still coming down, maybe Sandra will let us book the Morning Room for another night.”
Another night sleeping in the same room as Dom.
You’re all I see.
My skin flushes, but I easily blame the flames.
He nods and we stand beside each other for a stretch until Sandra peeks her head in the sitting area.
“Getting rough out there. Don’t you worry, though. Alan is making sandwiches and I’ve got soup brewing. You come to the dining room once you get settled, and we’ll feed you.”
“Thank you, Sandra,” Dom says, resting his hand low on my back to guide me away from the fire, as if he thinks I can’t be trusted with it if he leaves the room.
Maybe I can’t. I love fireplaces so much I want to curl up inside the crackling flames.
In our room, I take the bathroom first, turning on the hot water in the shower. My skin feels gross, covered in sweat from our hike that’s now dried on my skin. I strip everything off and leave it in a pile in the corner. When I step under the hot water, I groan in relief. The soap is a delicious minty scent, and I suds up my whole body, then rinse off quick. I want to linger, but Dom still needs to take his turn. When I finish, I pat my body dry, then wrap my hair in a towel. Once I have on the complimentary robe, I scoop up my dirty clothes and head back to the bedroom. Dom slips past me the moment I step out, shutting the door between us with a definitive click.
While I wait for him to finish showering, I pull on a clean sweater and leggings, then towel my hair and examine the daybed. It looks plenty comfortable, covered in pillows and soft blankets. It sits under a window that shows the winter wonderland building outside. Overall, a perfectly cozy sleeping spot.
And yet, my eyes track to the four-poster bed. That looks like a mattress someone could sink into and not want to leave for days.
Especially if they’re next to a certain man—
“Stop it,” I mutter, shaking my head.
Dom has held my hand and given me a piggyback ride and said sweet things that could mean more…but he hasn’t mentioned the airport kiss.
We’re pretending it never happened. We’re moving past the wrongs in our past and becoming friends. That’s what is important.
You’re all I see. His words whisper to me. A statement that sounds more intimate than anything two friends share.
But I don’t want to make the mistakes of the past. What if I’m misinterpreting? What if I’m misunderstanding?
I cannot make another move only to be rejected again.
I busy myself with finding a thick pair of wool socks and pull them on. Dom reappears with damp hair and a freshly washed look. He has on a different pair of jeans with a long-sleeved thermal.
“Let’s go eat,” I mutter, suddenly grumpy with how tempting the man is.
Maybe I could sleep on the fainting couch by the fire, so I don’t have to think about him in a bed only feet from me.
In the dining room we find small tables arranged with individual place settings. Two are already occupied by the other house visitors. Dom and I claim one in the far corner near a large window. It’s too dark outside to see far, but an exterior light reveals the flakes are still cascading down relentlessly.
“This is good sleeping weather,” Sandra announces as she approaches our table with a wide smile. “But you’ll want a full belly first. Now, we have chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese, and roast beef sandwiches. What can I get you two?”
After we give her our orders—I get the grilled cheese because that’s the only correct choice—Sandra bustles off toward the kitchen, leaving us alone.
“That was some impressive snow driving you did,” I offer. “Don’t think we slid once.”
Dom grunts and focuses on arranging his silverware just so. He’s not looking at me.
I try again. “Guess since you won our bet, you’ll be wanting to crash at my place when you come out my way. When did you want to do Idaho?”
“Not sure,” he murmurs, his attention sliding from his utensils to the snowy window.
“Have you looked up the coordinates?”
“Yes.” When he doesn’t expand, I try not to grind my teeth in irritation.
“And?” I press.
“It’s another hike.” Dom glances around the room, eyeing the other patrons.
Apparently, I’m boring him. “A hike. Cool. I’ll make sure I’m ready for that.” So you don’t have to carry me again, I silently add.
Dom nods and just then our food comes out. He’s quiet for the rest of the meal, and so am I because I don’t want my attempts at conversation to get shot down again. I seethe quietly, only forcing a smile when Sandra approaches our table again, this time carrying a tray of steaming mugs.
“This is Alan’s special hot toddy. He’s perfected the recipe. Just what you need on a snowy night. Would you like one?”
A drink to help distract me from the tension at this table? “Yes, please!” I hold my hands out for one of the warm mugs. Sandra grins wide, passes me the beverage, and heads off to the next table when Dom gives her a tight smile and shakes his head no.
I purse my lips to blow on the hot liquid, wanting a warm sip but not a scalding one.
A hand appears over the fragrant cocktail, blocking me from taking a taste.
“Wait.” Dom stares at me, determination in his eyes. “Don’t drink that.”
“What’s up with you?” I snap, my temper making a reappearance. I thought I’d started to get over the insecure irritation Dom inspires in me. But his statue act since arriving at the B&B is wearing on me.
I assume he regrets what he said in the car. That he knows I took it to mean more than he meant.
“Could you…just wait? Don’t drink.”
My cheeks heat. “Do you think I have a problem or something? I normally only have a drink one or two nights a week. I’m not guzzling gin to get through the day.”
Plus, a hot toddy sounds so good right now. Warm lemon and honey with a touch of cloves and the sting of whiskey.
“It’s not that.” Dom retracts his hand, and when I don’t immediately toss back my mug, he keeps talking in a rush. “Every time you’ve kissed me, it’s been after you’ve had a few drinks.” His jaw tenses, then relaxes. “And then you run away. I don’t want it to become a pattern.”
I jerk my head back.
He’s not exactly wrong.
Still, it’s not all my fault.
“What don’t you want to be a pattern?” I ask. “Me kissing you? Me getting tipsy to do it?” I cross my arms and glare into his too-handsome face.
“I don’t want it to be a pattern for you to kiss me while in a state where I’m not sure if you actually want to or not.” He leans over the small table, dark eyes holding me immobile. “If you’re inebriated, I’m not about to take advantage of you. No matter how badly I want to suck on that pouty lip you’re sticking out right now.”
Said pouty lip falls open along with my jaw. Then I splutter. “I haven’t been drunk every time we kissed.”
Dom raises a brow. “Gin on the plane. Beer, gin, and tequila in Delaware. And we were drinking that first time, too.”
He’s right. That summer night, I wanted to treat a stressed-out Dom to his favorite beer. I’d convinced a pool lifeguard to buy me a six-pack of Coors Light—Dom was twenty-one, I assume he has more refined taste now—and I split it with him. Two light beers did not equate to drunk for teenage me. More like just tipsy enough to be brave.
But from the anguish on Dom’s face, the detail stuck with him.
“I’ve never, not once, had a sober kiss from you, Maddie. And it kills me.”
I gape across the table at the man I thought I knew. My brother’s best friend who I believed only ever saw me as an obligation. A responsibility. The pitiful little neighbor girl in need of a charity hookup that he immediately regretted.
Ever since Arizona, I’ve been trying my hardest to situate Dom into the friend category.
Trying my best not to resent him.
Trying my best not to fall in love with him.
Friendship. A simple, clear goal.
But he wants a kiss from me so bad it kills him?
“How are you kids doing?” Sandra arrives at our table, unaware of the tense weight of our conversation.
After a bracing breath, I offer her a smile. “Good, only I realized I’m pretty tired. If I drink this, it’ll send me straight to sleep. Thank you, though.” I slide the still-steaming mug toward our hostess.
“Maddie—” Dom starts.
“Oh, no problem. You both had an adventurous day. Remember there are extra blankets in your closet and breakfast is served at eight tomorrow morning. Have a good night.” The innkeeper scoops up my drink and offers a wink only I can see before hustling away.
Across the small table I meet Dom’s guarded eyes.
“Come on.” Standing, I manage to speak with a relatively steady tone. “We’re finishing this conversation upstairs.”