“Hey, Pen?”
I frown, glancing back at the door. “Mmhmm?”
“Baylor and I went and retrieved the other sled this morning.”
I swallow hard.
“He said you went out there all by yourself?”
“I know it was dangerous. I shouldn’t have.”
“Why would you do that? You know I would’ve taken you out if you’d asked me to. Did something happen?”
I release a nervous laugh. “I just wanted to get out of the house. You know, fresh powder ’n’ all.”
I hear him laugh.
“I didn’t think it’d be that big of a deal. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m glad Baylor followed you.”
Me too.
“You could’ve been hurt.”
“Well, I’m fine.”
“I know. I guess I should be more concerned with Baylor riding since he’s the one who took a spill.”
“Did you get it working again?”
“Oh, yeah, we got it working just fine. I’m not sure what happened to it out there.”
I ponder on that for a moment. Baylor could’ve easily fooled me into believing his snowmobile wasn’t working just to ride back with me. Did I think to check it? No.
“By the way, those guys who are here … they’ve been into the whiskey pretty heavily. Just, um, try to ignore anything stupid they might say, okay?” His words are laced with regret. “I’m sorry in advance.”
His footsteps fade down the hallway, away from my door, and I’m immediately filled with unease. Not that I wasn’t before, but something about his tone nearly tips me over the edge.
I consider Henry’s offer of bringing my dinner up to my room so I can barricade myself in here until this trip is over when I get another look at myself in the mirror.
I amglowing.
My makeup is minimal, which only makes me more impressed with the smoothness of my skin and the brightness of my eyes. A pretty rose shade lip oil makes my lips look full and plump. I went through the trouble of fastening my hair into a braided updo with a few dainty blonde tendrils framing my face, but I think I chose a more difficult hairstyle to occupy my mind.
I shouldn’t waste this, right?
I take a deep breath and shake my sweaty palms out at my sides.
Okay. I can do this. I’m ready to face the ridicule. The judgment. Baylor.
Fuck.The second I’m reminded of him, my insides flutter.
Chin up, Aspen. Do this for yourself. If anything, you’re the one who at least got an orgasm out of all of this. Not him. So, the joke is really on him, right?
I grab the bottom of my black satin dress, lifting it up so I don’t trip on the extra fabric around the hem, and march out of my room before I change my mind.
Various deep voices echo up into the hallway from the main floor—some I recognize, some I don’t.
