“I’ll take a look at it in the morning. You want to try the downstairs bathroom?”
He releases me and takes a step back.
And I’m just standing here, his gaze traveling my body the only source of warmth I have. A girl should be grateful for that, I guess.
“S-sure.”
“To save wandering around in the cold, I’ll go and check if it’s functional. If not, my place.”
Before I have a chance to object, he’s out the door. Hurried, thundering steps fall down the stairs. Still freezing, I grabanother towel from the rack and slide it over my shoulders and sink onto the bathmat, crossing my legs and leaning over to conserve warmth.
I have to rinse my hair out, or it will be impossible in the morning.
A beat later, my flannel-clad neighbor is leaning on my bathroom doorframe. “No-go downstairs, I’m afraid. Get dressed and bring something warm, you can use my bathroom.”
When my eyebrows rise dangerously close to my hairline, he adds, “The guest bathroom downstairs, Celeste. Don’t get too excited.” The stupid grin on his face sees me screw my own face up at him.
If my mood was any less stable, I’d poke my tongue out at him.
He steps inside the bathroom and extends a hand to me.
I take it. It’s so warm. So big. It folds around mine as I pull myself to my feet. “Just give me a minute.”
“Your dad’s okay?”
“Yeah, asleep. He should be out for hours.”
“I’ll wait downstairs.”
“Sure, thanks.”
He hesitates before stepping out of the bathroom. And it’s only after he’s left the cold space that I realize he must have heard me scream and come running.
Oh wow, that was . . .
Sweet?
The last word I’d associate with Quinton MacKelvie—at least, as per my original assessment of the grump next door.
Five minutes later, I’m bundled up and have a toiletry bag of essentials, ready for a deliciously hot shower. I’m more than ready to thaw my bones after the last ten minutes. Closing the door and locking it just in case, I walk across the snowy ground from my porch to Quinton’s.
His is lit up like the North Pole, waiting for Santa to come home from a late-night flight. Just in case Rudolph loses his way...
Inside, he shows me to the guest bathroom and pulls the door shut tight.
Turning on the water, I’m elated to find it’s almost scorching. I spend an inordinate amount of time letting my bones melt in the sweltering heat. As if that will erase the frigid fright I got or the fact that Quinton saw me naked on the floor...
And despite the heat circulating around the small space, my face heats further.How embarrassing.Is this going to make things super awkward now?
I finish up and dress, taking my time to brush out my hair and fix it into a long plait. A small knock rattles the door.
“CC, is that you?” a small voice says.
“Maise? You still up?”
“Daddy said I could say goodnight.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll be out in a sec.”
