I walk back in and give her a snifter of Klaus’ excellent brandy.
She looks better.
She’s pretty, for a human. Bright eyes. Snub little nose and a smile under pink, swollen cheeks and teary eyes.
“I’m not weak! I just... I was actually being strong. I wasn’t going to let some man who fooled me for months ruin Christmas, too. I paid for this rental—well, not this one, but the one I missed in the dark—and I’m gonna use it.”
“That’s the spirit. The miserable bastard will get his just desserts.” I hurry back to the kitchen. “Just a bit of a fry, I’m afraid. But it’s quick, and it’s hot. You should have something warm inside of you.”
Oh my God. What is wrong with me? That sounded lewd as sin in my head, and I pictured something very warm and very muchmineinside of her.
I don’t know why. It’s something that’s never happened before, not even when I met Sibbohan.
I need a drink.
Not supposed to mix whiskey and brandy, but I’m not driving, not in this weather, not with that woman liable to come down with a raving fever or hypothermia if I turn my back. I take a nip from a measuring cup and poke the sausages.
“Can I use your bathroom?”
“Let me help you up!” I pull the eggs, fluffy and yellow, and race back to the girl.
She’s already standing up, pulling off her sweater to reveal a turquoise tank top underneath, fitted tight to her ribcage and showing half of her bra.
I look elsewhere. Wasn’t supposed to see that.
“I can walk, I—Ow!” Briana takes a step and lurches forward, into me. “Sorry!” She leans on me, and I grab her upper arms, holding her up as she winces. Her foot touches down gingerly, but she gasps again.
“I think you’ve turned your ankle. When you came to the door, it sounded more like someone crash-landing instead of walking. Do you remember landing on it?”
Briana shakes her head. “I don't really remember that part. Idoremember my luggage starting to slip out of my hands at that point. I was trying to shine the light to find the key box—and there wasn’t one.”
I nod. “Hmm. You might have dropped something and tripped over it. I hope you weren't planning on doing much skiing.” I pat her back awkwardly. My insides are screaming for her to get away, and at the same time... It’s rather nice, having this pretty little human with her chilly skin warming herself against me.
“Skiing!” Briana's face turns even more pained, and she hisses the word.
“Well. I'm no doctor.” I try to backpedal. “Might be just a bit sore and it'll be better in the morning.”
“It’s not that.” Still leaning heavily against me and trying to balance on one leg, Briana groans, “No, with my luck it’ll be a fracture or some rare ankle disease brought on by hiking in wet boots.”
“I don’t think wet—”
Whatever I was going to say is lost in a torrent of angry words. “I spent a fortune on this trip because my boyfriend told me he wanted us to have a life-changing romantic winter getaway in the mountains. I put off my car repairs to pay for this. I bought him a beautiful watch and had it engraved—and he’ll probably sell it to pay for a weekend meditating in the Amazon!”She lets out a hiccup of a sob. “I wanted to marry him. To spend my life with him. To see the world, and build a home with him!”
“That’s very—”
“It turns out that allhewanted to do was have sex in the snow and go skiing with his buddy! I don't even know Kyle’s girlfriend!”
“Who—”
“I’m not polyamorous!” She glares at me.
I never thought she was!“I’m not, either! Centaurs marry and mate for life!” I protest with a yelp.
“I know some people are, but isn’t that a decision you have to make together?”
“Yes, I would think—”
“But no! All of a sudden, marriage is selfish, and Kyle’s girlfriend is on the menu!”
