“We’d have to lie to Lucas,” she said. “He’ll kill both of us if he finds out you left early and all his hard work pouring me into this dress was for naught.”
“Not for naught.” I shrugged. “You look amazing and everyone here will remember how beautiful you are. I think we’re good.”
She grinned. “Then let’s go.”
We made it to the coat check and stepped outside into what had become a full-scale winter storm. The snow was coming down hard, and the wind whipped it into a blinding wall of white. The streets were already covered in a thick blanket, and I could see cars moving at a crawl.
“How did you get here?” I asked.
“Car service. Lucas arranged it.”
“Of course he did.” I pulled out my phone to call for my own car, but the app was showing wait times of over an hour. Every driver in the city was either already occupied or staying home because of the weather.
I sighed. “I don’t see us getting you back to your side of the city.”
She grimaced. “Am I supposed to build an igloo out here?”
“My place might be a better option than that. And it’s close.”
She looked up at me, snowflakes clinging to her heavily mascaraed lashes. I waited for her to tell me she’d take the subway. That was her usual line.
“Okay,” she said.
CHAPTER 25
INA
Dane stared at his phone. It was freezing. Snow was collecting on the tops of my feet exposed in the heels.
“We still can’t get a car,” he said.
“We should have brought our ice skates.” I shivered and looked around at the snowstorm that reminded me of home.
“We can walk the two blocks or go back inside and wait,” he said.
I smiled. “Let’s just walk.”
“Yeah?” Dane arched an eyebrow but there was a smile on his lips.
“I’m from Wyoming. This ain’t nothing I haven’t been through before.”
He grinned. “Wow, I guess the snow brings out the Wyoming in you.”
“Like yelling at deli men brings out your accent, too,” I said, grinning. “Come on. You think a little dusting of snow is going to bother me? I’ve grilled burgers in worse weather than this.”
“You’re crazy.” He shook his head in disbelief.
“I’ve been told.”
He took my hand. “Hold on to me. As rugged as your formative years might have been, this is still probably dangerous.”
I was more than happy to hold his hand. We stepped onto the sidewalk and I immediately regretted my bravado. It was slick with fresh snow and ice underneath, and my strappy heels were absolutely not designed for arctic expeditions. I took one step and nearly went down.
Dane’s arm shot out, catching me around the waist. “Steady, Miss Wyoming.”
“I’m fine,” I lied, taking another tentative step. My ankle wobbled dangerously.
“You’re going to break your neck.”
