I need to keep a lid on my raging desire for Madison. Hopefully only until later, when we can finish what we started last night.
Chapter 13
Madison
ThankGodJarrodcameto my rescue, as things could have become a little tricky if I’d been stuck on the mountain for much longer.
There is still a part of me, though, that wishes he wasn’t always thrown into having to rescue me. Even though he makes a sexy hero.
Why am I always such a hot mess? For once I’d like to be a sophisticated, graceful woman who doesn’t trip over her feet, spill drinks down her new white turtleneck, or get caught buck naked by a sexy hunk of a man. But I guess it’s not going to happen.
Damn, I want to climb the man mountain I’m currently burrowing into. And if his actions just now in the bar are anything to go by, I might get the chance later tonight. His solid body warmth is slowly seeping into my chest. I don’t think I’ve ever been as cold as I was sitting alone on that mountain, and now I don’t think I’ve ever felt so warm and safe as I do in Jarrod’s arms.
Our interlude is rudely interrupted by the bartender returning with our drinks. I say rudely only because I don’t want to move from the cocoon of Jarrod, not because the bartender was anything other than polite. As Jarrod loosens his hold on me to pay for our drinks, I reluctantly step back to stand to the side of him.
“Come on, crazy lady. Let’s join our friends over by one of the fires,” he suggests.
I place my hand on his chest to stop him … or maybe just so I can touch him again. “Hey, stop with the crazy lady stuff. It’s not my fault the stupid strap got iced up.”
“Sorry … should I call you Mads then? Your nickname is kind of the same thing.” Once again, he quirks his dark brow at me. I wish he wouldn’t, as it’s so damn sexy it makes my heart skip a beat.
“I guess Mads will do.” I drop my head down, feeling quite pleased with the turn of events.
His long finger touches me lightly under my chin and lifts it up to look him in the eye. “Madison, I like your kind of crazy. You’re adorable.”
Well, I didn’t see that coming. Who’d have guessed it? A guy thinks I’m adorable. Then, because I can never help words spilling out of my mouth, I say, “Well, then you’re just weird.”
A chuckle rises up deep from his chest. “I’m okay with that.” He passes me the hot chocolate, and I wrap both of my hands around the takeout cup. I guess if I can’t stay tucked into Jarrod’s chest, then this will have to do to warm me up.
A little later, when we’ve all warmed up sitting around one of the fireplaces in the bar, the guys go with Luke to pick up Jarrod’s SUV, which is parked farther away. We need to be driving back to the ski chalet if we don’t want to get caught down in the village due to impassible roads. While they head off in one direction, the girls and I go the other way. We have about thirty minutes to do a quick shop while we wait. I still have to get the gift I picked out for Scott.
Earlier in the week, we chose a name out of a bowl, and that is the person we need to buy a gift for. I have Scott, and I got him an Aspen magnet as a joke because I remember him mentioning the other day that he collected magnets from ski resorts when he was a kid. This is his first time in Aspen, so I couldn’t resist. For his proper gift, I plan to get him a merino wool neck warmer that I saw in a shop window the other day, and I know he’ll love it.
When I mention to the other girls that I have to pick something up, it turns out I’m not the only one who left shopping until the last minute. We go our separate ways, and ten minutes later, I have the gift for Scott, wrapped and ready to go under the tree. I don’t really enjoy shopping, especially when the shops are so busy like on Christmas Eve. However, now that I’m done, I can enjoy strolling slowly back through the large store toward the entrance, looking at the pretty festive displays as I wander past. My eye catches on a small silver pocket-sized flask that would be a perfect gift for Jarrod. On an impulse, I buy it for him.It’s the least I could do after he rescued me today, I tell myself.
Now I’ve taken so long, I need to rush back past the holiday lights sparkling like icicles on the snow-encrusted pine trees that line the main street. The snow is still coming down hard, but now that I’m warm again, I can appreciate how pretty it all is.
I make it back to the girls, and shortly after, Jarrod and Scott are pulling up to take us back to the ski chalet. The drive back is a lot slower tonight as we carefully follow the lights of Luke’s SUV up the snowy mountain road. It’s a group sigh of relief when we pull into the drive. We unload our gear into the wet room, and when that is done, Jarrod and I climb the stairs side by side. At the end of the hallway outside our doors, we turn to face each other, and he reaches out to take my hand, pulling me gently into his room. His touch sends tingles of pleasure zapping around my body.
“I’m looking forward to a warm shower,” I blurt out, then instantly realize how my words could be misinterpreted. My fingers fly up to cover my mouth.
“If that’s an invitation, I’m tempted to take you up on it—” He looks down at his wristwatch “—but unfortunately, we don’t have enough time before dinner.” My head darts up in surprise, because I’m no longer regretting my innuendo-laden words. After all, they just had Jarrod admitting that I tempt him.
He winks at me before delivering a mind-bending, panty-melting kiss.
When he lifts his lips from mine, I need to confess something. “That was so good, and this time I could feel your lips. When you kissed me in the bar, I couldn’t. I didn’t want to say anything, but my frozen lips barely registered it.”
Jarrod chuckles, holding his hand to his heart. “You wound me. I thought my kisses would rock your world, and you’re telling me you felt nothing?”
I shrug, enjoying the sound of his laughter. “Maybe there was a little tremor, and I’m willing to give it another go.”
He throws his head back and laughs loud. “I swear I’ve laughed more these last few days with you than I have in the last year.”
“I’m not sure what that says about me.”
“It means I like how open, fun, and interesting you are compared to anyone I’ve ever met before … Now maybe you need to go take your shower in your bathroom, and I’ll take my shower in mine. Then after dinner …”
My heartbeat quickens as I stretch up for another quick brush of my lips to his. Kissing Jarrod is addictive. “Yes. After dinner.”
