"The plucky elf, obviously."
He shakes his head, but there's laughter in his eyes. "Obviously."
The wind howls and I shiver, pulling my hat down over my ears. He steps closer, holding out his gloves.
"Take them," he says.
"I'm fine."
"Your hands are blue."
“So? Maybe it's festive."
"Holly."
My name sounds different when he says it. His voice dropped low, almost quiet, with a warning wrapped in it. He’s not suggesting I take the gloves. He’s not even offering them. He’s demanding I obey him. I swallow hard and slide my hands into the gloves. They're still warm from his skin. I don't look at him, but I feel the awareness between us shift, settle into something new.
"You're very bossy," I say, flexing my fingers in the oversized leather.
"It’s obvious to me that you need someone to be."
It should annoy me. Instead, heat pools low in my stomach. I remind myself that I am a grown woman and he’s my boss. I can’t catch feelings for my boss. That would never do. Totally inappropriate. Although, this is a temporary, seasonal job. Hopefully I will get some bites on my resume soon and I will have a real, adult job.
"That's a bold assumption."
"Is it?" His tone doesn't change, but something in his posture does, shoulders back, chin lifted slightly. The way he looks at me makes my mouth go dry. Professional, Holly. Your boss is not a sexy piece of meat to drool over. Absolutely not.
I turn back to the snow, scooping halfheartedly with the shovel. "Maybe I just like arguing."
"I've noticed."
By afternoon, we've exhausted small tasks. The lodge feels smaller, the air between us tighter. I flop onto the couch, scrolling through my phone for the hundredth time. Thankful for the charger I keep in my purse and the internet that is still holding on tight. I have to find out who the provider is up here. There shouldn’t be internet like this on top of a mountain. Although, if I had to guess, Justin probably had something run up here.
"We should do something," I announce.
"We are doing something. We're waiting out a storm."
"That's not doing something. That's existing."
He glances up from his laptop, one brow raised. "What did you have in mind?"
I sit up, eyes brightening. "The park. We could explore it. Just us. No crowds, no kids screaming. It'd be like… a private Christmas."
"It's fifteen degrees outside."
"You have a whole closet full of coats."
"Holly."
"Justin." I mimic his tone, all stern authority, and watch his jaw tick. "Come on. When's the last time you actually enjoyed this place?" I verbally poke the bear.
He stares at me for a long moment. Then he closes his laptop with a quiet snap. "Fine. But we're following the path. No wandering off."
"You're such a Daddy." The words slip out before I can stop them. I should be mortified. I should run into the bedroom and lock the door and not come out until the roads are plowed. I should… But then, his eyes sharpen, something dark and interested flickering across his face.Ohhhh. Did I hit a nerve? Could he be?
"Careful," he says softly.
My pulse kicks up. "Or what?"
