‘So, Kirstin was your girlfriend?’
Now the quiet was from Gunnar not immediately responding and Chloe wondered if her choice of distraction conversation had been a step too far.
‘Yes,’ he answered finally. ‘We were together for around six months. It was a while ago now.’
‘So a surprise to see her,’ Chloe stated.
‘A shock,’ Gunnar admitted. ‘In that situation of her being the person you needed to speak to. That I needed to speak to for you.’
‘I am sorry about that.’
‘Do not be sorry, Chloe. I tell you that I am sorry for not being the professional you needed me to be in that moment and I should not have made things difficult for you.’
‘Everything worked out OK though,’ Chloe told him. ‘I mean it will work out OK no matter what because I will make it happen one way or the other so…’
‘So?’ he asked.
‘So, can I ask? What happened with you and Kirstin?’
The words had barely left her mouth when the sleigh shifted sideways into a bit of a drift and suddenly they were going into a wooded section, tree branches spilling fluffy white snow onto them.
‘You are OK?’ Gunnar asked her as the sleigh drew to a halt in a clearing.
‘Yes,’ she answered. ‘I just wasn’t expecting that.’ She shook the blanket, snow going up in the air between them, some falling and landing in Gunnar’s hair.
‘Hey!’ he exclaimed, shaking his head. Next he was scooping up the snow from their laps and sprinkling it down on her relentlessly.
‘Gunnar! Gunnar stop!’ She wriggled in her seat.
‘You begin this!’ he answered, carrying on.
‘And I will finish it,’ she said, laughing. She grabbed a handful of snow, like a fat pancake, and planted it directly on his face. She giggled at the result, a big splat sticking to his stubble.
‘I do not believe you did that,’ he said. ‘It was a wrong move.’
‘Ooo, I’m so scared. I’m…’
And then, before she could say anything else, he had put the side of his face right to hers and pressed their cheeks together, all the snow transferring from him to her. She turned her face fast and that’s when their lips collided. A mistake. Not meant to happen. Except… it was happening!
Chloe didn’t know who had changed pace first but suddenly she was right up against him and their mouths were devouring each other, snow, skin, white hot heat amid the forest. And it felt incredible, intense, sexy, meant to be? She slipped her hands underneath his hat and pulled it off, fingers tangling in his hair. She was never like this. So forward, so giving in to all the feelings that were rushing through her. His mouth was open, his tongue teasing, tasting and she only wanted one thing. More.
And then… a tongue of a different kind licked Chloe’s hand, making her jump in surprise. Gunnar held her and then they were joined in the sleigh by a husky puppy, eager to leap about exploring the spilt snow, their blanket, their laps.
‘Hey there, little guy,’ Gunnar said, stroking the dog on its head. ‘You’re a cute one.’
So was the man stroking the dog in Chloe’s opinion. She swallowed as she looked at him, taking him in in yet another light. Strong, sensitive, kind to animals, always kind to her… And then those eyes found hers again and she couldn’t stop the blush hitting her cheeks as all the intensity from their kisses rushed back full force.
Chloe stood, reeling a little, and then Gunnar took her hand, helping. But then, on her feet, and both of them quickly getting down from the sled, he didn’t let go, but instead knitted their fingers close together.
‘We should get the hot chocolates before they become cold chocolates,’ Gunnar suggested, indicating a teepee-looking structure in the midst of the clearing ahead of them.
The puppy barked and seemed to concur. Right now she didn’t need any chocolate at all. In fact, the only thing she needed was a cold shower.
41
The husky puppies had been adorable and one day all of them would be trained to pull the sledges like their older counterparts. Chloe had taken so many photos, of the dogs and of the idyllic setting. She could imagine a fire pit near the teepee, the staff of Sinclairz Chairs sharing mulled wine to warm up and having photo shoots with the puppies. She thought it was a complete bucket list experience, a memory to last forever. And, as promised, Gunnar had negotiated hard but respectfully on the price with the business owners. In Chloe’s mind the dog sledding was already a ‘must do’ on her Sinclairz Chairs suggestion package.
‘More thinking,krúttio mitt?’ Gunnar asked.
