Shelooked stunning in a black-and-white striped dress.Herhair, which had been wet and mussed up earlier, now fell in alluring ringletsIwanted to touch.Mymouth went dry while my palms turned clammy.Whatan odd reaction.Iwiped my hands on the side of my black pants, one of the nicer pairsIowned.
Whenshe caught my gaze, she smiled.Itwas as bright as sunlight breaking over the mountain to signal the start of a new day.
Igulped and walked toward her while she did the same to me.Whydid it feel like we were moving in slow motion, like in some sort of cheesy romance movie?Eventhe soft sound of classical music playing in the background added to the ambiance.
Despitemy warning to my wolf to stay calm, he urged me to hurry.Mate.Don’tyou feel it?
Ipaused.DidI?Idefinitely feltsomethingforCassandra, but doubted it was something as monumental as a connection between mates.Thenagain,Icouldn’t exactly identify this intense reaction to her.Whateverit was seemed more than lust.
Somethingknocked into me.Itwas a school-aged kid with a rolling suitcase.Itried to move so as not to crush him, but another kid rolling a suitcase darted past.Tryingto avoid this young girl did me in.Itripped on the edge of her suitcase and lost my balance.AsItumbled to the ground,Iattempted to avoid crushing any small humans.
Dazed,Iblinked and glanced around.Whatthe hell just happened?Iwas flat on my ass on the rug in a fancy hotel.Worse,I’dfallen in front ofCassandra.Iwanted to catch her attention tonight, but to impress her—not thinkI’msome kind of gravity-challenged fool.
“I’mso sorry,” a middle-aged woman lugging a suitcase said. “Michael,Ella, watch where you’re going!” she scolded as she looked across the hotel lobby.
Iturned to see the two kids dashing ahead, dragging their little trip machines behind them.
“Sorry!” the girl exclaimed.
“Wedidn’t mean it,” the boy said. “Wewere just walking.”
Ah, it was probably on me whenI’dstopped short.Ipulled myself to my feet. “Thatwas my fault,”Iexplained to her.
Shepursed their lips as she stared at her kids. “Theyneed to be more careful.”
“It’sfine.”Icalled over to the kids. “Myfault,”Irepeated to them. “Areyou both okay?”
Theymuttered yeahs.Thewoman apologized once more, butIinsisted it was fine and to go ahead.Sherushed to catch up with her kids.Halfthe people in the lobby appeared to be staring at me; some with concerned expressions, others amused.Great,Ihad an audience witness my clumsy entrance.
Cassandrastepped before me, her expression tight with concern. “Areyou alright?”
“Splendid,”Imuttered.
“Whathappened?”
Mywolf has this crazy idea that you’re my mate and distracted me,Ithought.Yeah,Iwould not be mentioning that at any time tonight—or ever.NotifIwanted to see her again.Confessingsomething that ludicrous to someoneI’djust met would be enough to send her dashing away from here as fast as her skis could glide.
No, something lighter would be better.Igrinned at her. “Seeingyou in that dress knocked me off balance.Gravitytook care of the rest.”
Tooflirty, too soon?
Herlips spread into a small smile. “CanIdo anything to help?”
“I’mfine.Butnext time,”Ijoked, “Catchmy fall.”
Shegiggled. “Oh,Ithought you were trying to mimic my debacle on the mountain earlier.Youknow,match my fall.”
Yes, she was flirting back. “Exactly,”Ireplied, liking how we’d turned my embarrassing fall to this playful banter. “HowdidIdo?”
Cassandratipped her head and studied me. “Hmm.Itwas far less dramatic with the danger levels.”Sheplaced her hand on her chest. “Imean, mine involved a steep black diamond pitch, lost skis, potential collisions with skiers or snowboarders shooting down at high speed, and super-cold snow sliding over my skin.”Shestraightened and raised an index finger. “Butyou had a near catastrophe with the possibility of toppling onto kids.Andyou managed to avoid crushing them.”Shenodded and assessed me with a teasing gleam in her eyes. “Notbad, overall.I’dsay we’re about even.”
Ichuckled and offered her my arm. “Iaccept the judge’s ruling.”
Shetook my arm, and we headed out of the hotel.
Seewhat happens when you get overexcited?Iscolded my wolf.Youmake an ass out of us.ButI’mthe one who has to deal with the consequences.
Mywolf whined inside in response.
