I gathered my toiletries and a change of clothes and walked over to the bathroom, thankful that at least it was in a separate room and we could have some place that allowed a little privacy. Jye had been friendly and thoughtful throughout our entire trip here. I hated it. I wanted him to be a selfish jerk so I could at least aim my anger at him.
two
Jye
When I woke up on the lounge on the first morning in the chalet, the temperature in the room had plummeted. I stretched as I rose, glad that we only had six more nights of this arrangement; my six-foot-plus frame wasn’t built for this. More than a decade of professional football probably added to the aches.
I insisted on letting Wynter sleep in the bed. It wasn’t because I couldn’t act like a grown adult around an attractive woman but honestly because I couldn’t trust my body not to spring involuntary wood around the blonde bombshell. She was drop-dead gorgeous. I wasn’t the kind of man who made long-term commitments to women, but from the moment I saw her, she took my breath away.
Standing in the middle of St. Pancras train station, she looked like a Christmas angel with her white snow-jacket and golden blonde waves falling over her shoulders. Well, a Christmas angelon a rampage with the way her blue eyes shone with anger. I wasn’t usually into blondes; that was more my dad’s weakness. Maybe I just had a Wynter weakness because I thought she could convince me to sell my left kidney if I let my guard down with her. But I didn’t let my guard down with anyone but family; they’re the only ones who stick around. Except for Dad, but he had a history of not sticking around with anything for too long.
I added more wood to the fire before I headed to the kitchen to brew some caffeine. Looking outside while I waited, I noticed that the weather had turned for the worse, and I tried to open the door, but each time I pushed, I got nowhere.
“You won’t be able to open it.” Wynter’s sleepy voice called out from the bed. “We’re probably snowed in.”
“How are you so sure about that?” I asked.
“I got a notification from the resort last night that said that they were expecting heavier than usual snowfall. I’m sure they’ll get a plow or something, and we’ll be able to get out and about eventually.” She sat up, the blankets falling to reveal long-sleeved pink satin pyjamas. Not textbook sexy sleepwear, but the way they hugged her curves and the shine of the fabric made me want to feel if she was as silky as she looked. All over.
“I’m no expert, but with the amount of wind out there, I don’t think there’ll be any plowing happening today.” I sighed.
“Except maybe my sister.” Wynter laughed before falling back into the pillows with a groan. “Can this trip get any worse?”
“Ahhhh, a tree could fall onto the building?” I offered.
“Don’t tempt fate like that.” She threw one of the pillows in my direction. “So far, I’ve had one thing after another go wrong.”
“Maybe it’s fate’s way of telling you to change direction?” I offered as I walked back to the kitchen. I rifled through the cupboards, finding them well stocked compared to the average accommodation I stayed in when I travelled for games.
“Maybe fate could learn a more subtle way of sending me messages?” she groaned.
“Maybe it had been, and you weren’t listening?” I didn’t want to appear rude, but my nan was always adamant that the universe was always leaving hints about what direction it would like your life to flow.
“Would you like a cuppa?” I lifted a tea bag in a paper covering.
“Oh, yes.” She threw the blanket off as she jumped out of bed. “I bought my own.”
I watched as Wynter rifled through her luggage and then triumphantly held up a cardboard box. With a smile on her lips that didn’t quite reach her eyes, she brought over the tea bags.
“Wow, you’re prepared.” I laughed, a little taken aback by just how organised this woman was.
“Well, the last time I went overseas, I couldn’t find a decent cuppa anywhere,” she replied, brightly.
“So rather than try something new, you brought along something you’re comfortable with?” I asked. Probably overstepping, especially knowing nothing more about her circumstances other than some idiot broke up with her just before they were meant to go on this trip together.
“Tea is my comfort item; doesn’t everyone have that one item that makes everything feel better?” I couldn’t argue with that.
We danced around each other in the kitchen making breakfast, and tea, then walked over to the lounge. Careful not to accidentally brush each other when all I wanted to do was lean over and take in her scent, run my fingers through her hair.
“So what’s on the cards for today since we can’t go out and ski or whatever you do at a snow resort?” I asked. I was used to having a lot of downtime as a professional athlete. There were a lot of hours in the day that didn’t involve training or meal prep.
“I never had any intention of skiing.” Wynter took a sip of her tea.
“So why fly halfway around the world to a ski resort?” I looked at her, a little shocked.
“Because I’ve always wanted a white Christmas,” she sighed. “As a kid, my gran would bring out the Bing Crosby vinyl and we’d listen to the album while we helped decorate her tree. Then we’d watch Christmas movies together, eating ice cream with the fans on high because, you know, Christmas in Tamworth is never chilly.”
“We spent most of our Christmases in Gunnedah growing up. Nan would drive up to spend time with her sisters, and we’d tag along. Mum would come too, if she could get time off work.”
