“Wait. I mean—I don’t know if it’s that serious—” I pause, wracking my brain. Is that what this is? Is that why I’ve been so obsessed?
She claps once, like a teacher about to spring a pop quiz. “Let’s do a little experiment, shall we?”
I nod warily.
“Would you protect her?”
“Obviously.” I scowl.
“Do you want to be… intimate with her?” Her grin tilts up, mischievous.
“Yes,” I grit out.
She leans closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “And… breed her?”
I take a deep breath, steadying myself against the sheer weight of the thought. Yes. I do. I want to fill her so full of me she bears my young. Keep her here. Safe. Loved. I want her happy. I want her to want me. I want everything.
But most of all, I wish we could’ve met when she was single. I can’t take advantage of her—not now, with a heart that raw, no matter how much of an asshole her ex is. I won’t be a predator.
I shove the key into Briarlee’s palm like it burns.
“Here,” I growl, before ducking into the back room and slamming the door shut on everything I want.
Chapter twelve
Daphne
Iamuseless.
I spent all morning reading every magazine the lodge has to offer. Most of them are so out of date that it was more like a look into recent history than pop culture. Which isn’t to say wasn’t interesting to me.
After a while, I hobbled down to the lobby and made myself a cup of complimentary tea. After scraping the last dredges of honey out of the bottle to the soundtrack of my growling stomach, I realize I might be hungry.
I didn’t eat dinner last night at Ted’s for obvious reasons, and the lack of food must finally be catching up with me. I really don’t want to impose on Andri anymore than I already have, so I make a plan to sneak down to Ted’s. It’s not really that far of a walk from the gondola stop, so I’m sure I’ll be fine.
Removing my glasses, I also shuck the date dress from last night to the ground and get into the steamy spray of water. And despite my aching ankle, it feels amazing. The dirt I didn’trealize was on my knees and palms swirls down the shower drain, murky and brown.
God, I must have looked like a mess last night, and this morning, while I was pleading with Andri for a job. No wonder he shooed me off. I dump the contents of one of the tiny hotel shampoo bottles into my palm and work it into a lather.
A shower, a good meal, and time to figure out what in the hell I want to do with my life will do me good. The last thing on that list might take a lot longer than the first two, but I’m working as quickly as I can to turn this mess around.
My hand blindly grabs a towel from the bar right beyond the shower curtain. I wrap myself up tightly and step out, feeling like a new woman.
That’s when the realization hits me, I don’t have any of my stuff.
No toiletries, no clothing, no unbroken shoes…zilch.
I turn my nose down to the dress around the ground, and in the cold fluorescent light of the bathroom realize that I’d be back at square one if I put that on.
It’s at this moment that I realize I will once again have to impose on the kind yeti who’s already rescued and housed me.
My damp feet pad over the dark green carpet to the phone beside the bed. I pick it up and hit the front desk button. It rings, and in the middle of the third ring, it connects.
“Hallow Hill Ski Resort, this is Andri speaking, how can I help you?” His voice is more professional than I’ve ever heard, but you can still pick up on its warmth through all the formality.
“When aren’t you helping me?” I laugh nervously.
“Everything alright, Daphne?” His tone switches to one of concern.
