Mierda,who wasthat fearless, flirty woman occupying my body last night? Maybe it was the magic of the snowstorm, suspending reality and my sanity. But now, in the cold light of day, heat burst to life in my cheeks and I looked everywhere but at Nolan. I had to escape. One more minute in this room with him and I’d combust.
After…afterlast night, I’d showered again and crawled into bed fully clothed, staying as far away from him as possible. It felt silly to banishhim to the couch after what we’d just done. I was surprised I slept at all with how much adrenaline buzzed through my system.
“We—you—how did you end up on my side of the bed?” I demanded.
Nolan relaxed against the pillows, interlacing his hands behind his head.He justhadto be shirtless, didn’t he?But technically he did since he only had a suit and I could hardly expect him to sleep in slacks and a button-down. Looking at me with half-lidded eyes, he said, “Sorry. I guess even in my sleep, I can’t stay away from you.”
I didn’t like the waythatparticular sentiment coiled in my belly, and I hustled into the bathroom. “Get dressed. I have to be in the rental room at nine to restock, and then it’s Arthur-mandated activities for us the rest of the day.”
He shot me a lazy smile, unconcerned at my franticness. “Have coffee with me first, then we can go.”
I grumbled a “yes” because of course I wasn’t leaving the house without coffee, then shut the door on him to freak out in private. I didn’t care if the snow plow hadn’t made it up the mountain yet. I was getting the heck out of there before the tension between us sent the whole house up in flames.
Ten minutes later, I sat at the kitchen table and he handed me a mug. I took a sip, blinking in surprise. “You know how I take my coffee?”
“You’ve been living in my house. I pay attention.” Nolan’s smile became feline and he didn’t hide the appreciative gaze he swept down my body. Even though I was fully dressed, it left me feeling utterly exposed. But my ten minutes of solitude in the bathroom had brought responsible Val to the forefront, and I let her take over.
Clearing my throat, I said, “We should talk about what exactly it is we’re doing.”
“We’re having coffee.”
I gave him a playful kick under the table. “I mean what we’re doing as far as you and me. We should set some ground rules. Expectations.”
“More rules?” Amused, Nolan sat back and gestured for me to continue. “By all means.”
“Right. Well. Um.”Jesus, why is it so hard to get the words out?I’d been agonizing over this all night, and I’d reached a conclusion I could live with. Shaking off the anxiety, I plowed onward. “It makes the most sense to keep things casual for the rest of the season and then part ways.”
Anyone else might not have noticed Nolan’s displeasure, but I knew his tell—he steepled his fingers under his chin with a blank expression. This wasn’t the answer he’d wanted to hear, and I wasn’t sure what to make of that.
“You’re getting married, Nolan. I want to enjoy our limited time together, and that’s it. This winter can’t be anything more than a romp in the snow. Right?” A small part of me begged for him to contradict me, to say that he wanted to see where things between us could go for real, but it was impossible. He felt compelled to protect Cressida from whatever lurked in her past, and I couldn’t fault him for that.
“If that’s what you want, then you’ll have it,” he replied. “For the next few months, I’m yours.”
At that, an unknown feeling swelled in my chest.I’m yours.Holy freaking crap. I’d never had a man like Nolan and didn’t know what to do with him. But after his coaching last night, I was more than confident he could help me figure it out.
“What about the ‘hoops’ you mentioned?” I asked. I wasn’t wild about signing an NDA, but I’d consider it, if it would make him comfortable.
Reaching across the table, Nolan took my hand, smoothing his thumb across my knuckles. “No paperwork. I trustyou.”
“You—?” I hadn’t expected that, and his words opened up a deep well within me, one I longed for him to fill.Where did that come from? This thing between us is just physical.Blindsided as I was, I turned back to safety—practical matters. “Okay then. Through the holiday weekend, we should keep these kinds of dates to a minimum—even though this is the most fantastic thing anyone has ever done for me. Wouldn’t want the paparazzi or anyone else to catch us.”
His earlier poker face evaporated into a lusty look as he said, “I’d much rather stay in at home with you anyway.”
Dear lord, the man is pure sex.How was I going to keep from jumping his bones? He’d be more than okay with it, but I wasn’t sure how far I wanted to take things. I’d dated around and wasn’t a virgin, and last night had been undeniably incredible, but if Nolan and I went all the way, it would make it that much harder to break things off. Frankie was great at casual sex and I wished I could be too, but I just wasn’t wired that way. Fooling around, though, I could handle.I think.But instead of saying any of that, I opted to change the subject. “Plans for Christmas?”
“I have something in mind for you, yes,” he said with a smirk.
“Wasn’t what I meant, but I’m notnotinto it. Another surprise?”
“You know how surprises work, so I’m not answering that,” he said, taking a drink of coffee.
I smiled into my own mug at the thought.I could get used to his surprises. At least for the next few months.
“You are absolutely, positively,without a doubtfucking with me right now, Val. There is nofucking way.” Frankie slapped a pair of ski boots on the counter, the disinfectant spray forgotten beside them. At my growingsilence, her gaze turned rabid. “Oh my god, you’re serious. I am so proud of you!”
“Shh! Keep your voice down.” I glanced around the rental shop’s storage room, but we were the only ones within earshot.
“Is that what he told you last night when you were screaming his name as you had the ‘best orgasm of your life’?”
