She looks down into the glass cradled between her palms. “Yes, it’s delicious. And it’s even better when I hold the warm glass in my cold hands. I can finally feel my fingers after that last tumble.”
Why did she have to mention her fall? All it does is remind me of the way that damn instructor was holding her to him. It was all way too cozy. I guess if that is more her type, then so be it. I’m not going to get involved in some pissing contest with another guy over a woman I barely know. Even if the woman is turning out to be someone I’m interested in.
“Sounds like you may need some warmer gloves. Snowboarding does mean a lot of sitting around with your hands in the snow,” I say more sternly than I mean to.
“And your butt,” she blurts out, a hand flying up to pinch her lips together. I gather she didn’t mean to say that out loud, as her cheeks flush pink and her eyes drop to her drink on the bar.
“Probably best we don’t talk about your butt,” I say, hoping my throwaway comment will relieve some of her embarrassment. But when her head springs up and she glares at me, I’m instantly regretting my words.
So much for us starting to get along. Madison looks like she’s about to explode or slap me again like she did last night. She bangs her glass down on the bar with such force that the liquid splashes up onto her pristine white turtleneck.
“Dammit,” she grumbles as she scrubs at the bigger of the stains spreading across her right breast. I can’t help staring at her attempts, which are making it worse with the wet fabric sticking to her skin. I look away before my reaction becomes obvious.
She stops rubbing, and with one hand pinned back on her hip, says, “As I was about to say, did you have to mention my butt?” All I can do is stare open-mouthed at her. I have no idea what she’s talking about with my thoughts still on the transparent fabric doing nothing to hide her pebbled nipple. I force my eyes to remain on her face and swallow down the groan that wants to be unleashed.
“And don’t give me that look … like you didn’t mean to remind me that you saw me … naked.”
Oh! That’s what has her all angry again. I rerun our conversation through my head with this new take on it.
A finger shoots out, and she begins to prod me in the chest with it. “You, mister, are not a gentleman. You should not have stared at me yesterday, and … you should not be bringing it all back up again now.”
“Hey, I wasn’t the one who said butt first. You started it … And will you stop poking me in the chest?” I grumble. It’s not fair that I’m being blamed. I gently hold her hand, aiming to stop her from poking me. We both stare silently at our clasped hands, the touch leaving me speechless. It seems to have stopped her in her tracks too. I have a primal urge to pull her close.
She slowly retrieves her hand and turns to face the bar with a soft exhale of air escaping from her lips. She picks up her drink again and takes a delicate sip.
I turn to the bar too, leaning my wrists against the sticky wooden surface and linking my fingers. “Look, Madison … I’m sorry I accidentally saw you naked,” I say in a low voice.
She gives me a sideways look and grinds out, “You said you didn’t see anything.”
I shrug. “Okay, I lied … I saw plenty … And honestly you have nothing to be embarrassed about.”
What is wrong with me? I’m enjoying triggering a reaction from Madison like it’s my new favorite game to play. There is something about firing her up that I find amusing … and downright sexy.
She turns on me again, and the finger is back out and ready for action. But this time, I’m prepared. I hold my hand up as a shield. It doesn’t stop her from poking my hand.
“Just stop right there. That is so rude. Don’t even begin to think about getting another look, you … you peeper.” She really does appear to have no control over sharing her random thoughts. I struggle to hold in a laugh, as I didn’t say anything about wanting another look, which, of course, I do.
“Oh my God. Did you just smile?” she asks, her fingers back over her lips. This woman is as changeable as a chameleon. Quick to anger but just as quick to forgiveness. Or if not complete forgiveness, at least a change of topic.
“I have been known to smile once or twice.” And as I say the words, I feel my smile widen. I’m powerless to resist smiling down at her. With cheeks flushed a pretty pink, the dusting of freckles across her nose becoming more prominent and making her look a lot younger than the thirty years Jasmine said she is. What I would give to be able to pull her into my arms and kiss those pretty pink lips. But I don’t have a death wish, so I keep my arms and lips to myself.
With that thought, I see Jasmine and Scott coming our way through the crowded bar. Unable to resist a parting shot, I duck my head down close to her ear and whisper, “And, Madison … if it makes you feel better, I’m willing to let you see me naked.”
I’ve timed my comment perfectly, as Madison is left coughing and spluttering with no opportunity to respond before Jas is bounding up to us enthusiastically, full of news of the fun she and Scott have had on the slopes today.
Another smile passes briefly across my mouth as I notice Madison is the one who is now scowling. How the tables have turned.
Thank God for Jasmine and her bubbly banter in the car on the way back to the chalet. If it had been left to Madison and me to carry the conversation, I’m guessing it would have been a chilly silence. The layer of frost between us since those last words in the bar would rival the outside temperature. And it continued not just in the car, but all through another delicious meal cooked by Klaus. Tonight, Madison grabbed the chair next to Cassie, leaving Luke on the other side next to me.
It didn’t go unnoticed by our friends either, and when Scott suggests we go refill the drinks for the group, I’m happy to have an excuse to escape.
I thought it would be a reprieve, but I was wrong because as soon as we are out of earshot in the kitchen, he is asking, “What the hell is up with you and Madison?”
Scott and I have become friendly ever since he and my sister started dating, so it’s not surprising that he’s noticed the tension.
“Dude, everything is fine. We just had a stupid disagreement earlier in the bar. It’s nothing really.” I shrug nonchalantly.
There is no way I’m going to tell him the real reason Madison doesn’t like me. If she’s angry with me now, spilling the beans on the fact that I saw her naked before I even knew her name would make her apoplectic.
