My laugh hurts my throat from breathing in all that icy air earlier, but I can’t help it. That definitely sounds like Connor. Michael really talked to him.
“He’s not wrong about the woods thing.” I gesture to the slender frame that doesn’t scream rabid outdoorsman. “And don’t take those threats too seriously. I mean, he’s in really good shape and teaches people to tackle for a living, so if you do tryanything, he’d give it his best shot. But most of the time he’s a total sweetheart.”
Michael nodded slowly. “Good to know. He also mentioned the band being stuck due to the road closures. I thought you told me you only sang on special occasions. Did you decide to cover for the pregnant woman after all? Or does this have to do with your spying mission?”
What does it say about my personal life that how much he remembers about our short time together impresses me? My students are required to pay attention if they want to pass my tests, but the men I spend time with usually only hear, “Blah, blah, blah, pass the lube, blah.”
My anti-commitment philosophy does have some drawbacks.
“Someone gave the band my number, and the job paid too well to turn it down,” I say, though that’s not even remotely the whole story. “Also, it issomeone’sspecial occasion. There’s a weekend-long anniversary party two miles away from here. I have a feeling you know about that already?”
Please, say no. Don’t be dating a Finn.
“That’s why I’m here.”
And that’s it. That’s all he says. No explanation about why he’s in this isolated cabin instead of with the others in the lodge. No references to a date of any kind. No confession that he’s a missing cousin or the child of a mistress and here to make some dramatic accusations or anything. I’m not known for my brevity, so I usually appreciate it in others. But in this case it’s aggravating. “Small world I guess.”
“Seems to be.”
So. Aggravating.
One of the dogs takes our momentary silence as permission to jump on my stomach, reminding me of where I was thinkingabout going before Michael came down the stairs. He notices and unfortunately comes to the right conclusion.
“Let’s get you to the bathroom.” Like that’s a totally normal thing to say.
I inhale sharply when he leans his large frame over me, and he freezes. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“You didn’t,” I lie. “‘Let’s get you to the bathroom’ just isn’t a sentence you expect to be dropped in the middle of a conversation, that’s all.”
“I was reaching for Mims and Mad. They need to get down first.” He keeps his eyes steady on mine as he slowly picks up the furry bundles and lowers them to the floor.
They disappear like speedy dust bunnies into the kitchen, and I wish I could join them.
“Mims and Mad?”
“Mimsy and Madeline. They belonged to my mother before she got married about three years ago. Her new husband is allergic, so I took them on.”
I cling to the personal information like a lifeline. I know so little about him. But his mother actually talks to him and trusts him enough to give him those two angels. I suppose I could consider that a character reference. “How did they get up here in the first place?”
“They’re cuddlers, and I thought they’d help to warm you up.”
That’s…incredibly thoughtful. “Well, thank you. They did a good job.”
His expression softens. “They usually do. They’re good company. I’m going to pick you up now.”
I lean away from him. “Don’t start that again.”
“I hate to argue, since I can see you aren’t comfortable being carried, but?—”
“I’m sorry about earlier.” Did I slap at him in the snow to keep him away from me? I think I did. “Obviously, I did need help at that point, and I should probably thank you. For that and…those other things. Really above and beyond the usual rescue detail and you deserve a medal, and maybe brain bleach if it existed. But I’m fully conscious now, so if you just point me in the right direction, I’ve got it from here.”
His lips twitch as he stares at me before pointing up toward the loft. “The bathroom is upstairs.”
“A place that’s as big as three apartments in my complex only has one bathroom? What kind of fancy log cabin of the damned is this?” I joke with a shaky laugh.
“The master is easier to maneuver in. It’s what you used the last time.”
So thereisanother bathroom. “Let’s both try to forget about the last time.”
