“You know, I think I’m all shopped out for the day,” she said. “Is there anything else you’d like to do?”
Lost in her hazel eyes, Max took a moment to register what she had said.
“What?” he said, before he caught himself. “Ah, crap. Sorry.”
Poppy’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “I’ll forgive you for that, but only because you’re so damn hot. I asked if there was anything else you wanted to do? Anywhere you wanted to… go?”
There was a mild suggestiveness in her tone, but it was hard to read. As if she herself wasn’t sure if she was suggesting they go back somewhere more private or not.
Probably that would be taking things alittletoo quick for his liking, even though he was sorely tempted. He really didn’t knowwhat he was going to do after they both left Girdwood Springs. He wanted nothing more than to spend more time with her, but he couldn’t exactly offer to follow her back to her hometown.
If this couldn’t become long-term, then he didn’t think he wanted to do something short-term. Because there was some weirdly possessive part of him, previously unknown, thatknewthat once he’d had her for even a short time, it would devastate him to let her go again.
He had to work out his feelings before he made any kind of move. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t still have a fun day with Poppy, as a friend.
“I’d like to have a snowball fight,” he said suddenly, and watched with amusement as Poppy’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’ve never actually had one – there wasn’t much snow where I grew up.”
At Poppy’s slightly dubious look, he steeled himself and added, “Though it would be a shame for such a beautiful face to get covered in snow.”
Her eyes widened even farther, if possible, happiness suffusing her features – but then they narrowed to slits. She pushed her sleeves up – though, given she was wearing a winter jacket, they fell right back down again – and pounded one fist into the palm of her other hand.
“Oh, you areon, mister,” she said, and before he could open his mouth to reply, she was off, running into a lightly wooded area off the side of the road. Before he could even blink, she had disappeared amongst the trees.
Well, I guess a snowball fight wasn’t too bad a suggestion after all,he thought, bemused, as he cautiously approached the trees.Apparently she has a competitive edge that –
The thought was cut off with a resoundingthwack!and an explosion of snow that took his glasses clean off his face.
Yikes,he thought, his face stinging.Poppy isnotplaying around.
He picked up his glasses and slid them into his pocket – he needed to be able to see more clearly into the distance if he was going to get his revenge, anyway – and scooped up some snow, forming it into a ball. He didn’t have experience at this, but the concept seemed simple enough.
Straightening, he wound his arm back –
WHAM!
Another snowball, hurled even harder than the last one, hit him square on the nose.
Poppy’s slightly menacing laughter echoed from amongst the trees, and now it was Max’s turn to narrow his eyes. Clearly, this meant war.
He took a moment to think through his strategy a little. Poppy obviously knew more about this than he did, and had taken advantage of the tree cover. He was never going to get anywhere, out in the open like this.
Dashing toward the trees, he saw the next snowball arcing through the air just in time and brought up a defensive arm, the ball breaking up and showering harmlessly to the ground.
His heart was racing as he ducked behind a tree, before peering out cautiously. Sport had never been his thing – beyond sports he could play on his own, anyway – but he was starting to realize that Poppy wasn’t the only one here with a competitive streak.
He caught the tiniest glimpse of red, and, after a moment, realized that it was the edge of her beret peeking out from behind a bush.
A-ha! Got you.
He stepped out, bringing his arm back –
And promptly got creamed in the face by another snowball, coming from his right.
His head whipped around, just in time to see Poppy disappearing into the trees once more, her cackles fading into the gloom. Clearly the beret had been a decoy.
Max slid back behind the tree, cursing himself for falling for such an obvious trick and wondering what move he should make next. She had him at a definite disadvantage here, but he wasn’t willing to wave the white flag just yet.
He was just contemplating whether he should make a break for it or wait it out behind the tree when he heard the faintest crunching of snow coming from his left, the footsteps of someone moving lightly and quickly.
