It isn’t until he’s opening a divider door for us to slip into another carriage that I realise Ketill’s antics kept me so distracted that I couldn’t check on the body.
“Shouldn’t we alert someone about the…?” I ask, worried. Trying to look behind us, but Ketill slides the door closed.
“Are you in love with me yet?”
A disbelieving laugh bursts from my chest. “You never quit, do you?” I say, shoving his arm off as we head towards the dining area.
Beside me, Ketill chuckles.
“There is no chance I’m falling in love with an unhinged stranger who crashed through my window on a moving train.”
“Who doesn’t enjoy a good thrill?” he declares, knocking his shoulder against mine. “I’m also extremely charming.”
“Absolutely not. No way.” I level him with a deadpan look. “That’ll never happen.”
His cocky smirk doesn’t budge when he drawls, “Just you wait…”
I force my gaze from his absurdly symmetrical face and find that we’ve made it to the dining carriage. Unlike the corridor lit by a low, warm glow, this area is dark. Probably to signal they’re not serving at this time.
Ketill ignores all this and pulls out a chair at a small table with an exaggerated flourish of his hand. After a beat, I plop onto the seat, Ketill pushing me in.
He then strolls towards where customers order food and drinks, and hops over the countertop with the grace and confidence of someone who regularly disregards the rules.
“Should you be doing that?”
Ketill sets his elbows on the sandy marble top, propping his chin on his fists and looks at me like I’m a puppy. “You’re such a goody two-shoes.”
The back of my neck heats. I’ve been called that before, but hearing it from Ketill stings, maybe because he’s handsome and laughs in the face of danger. Maybe because I’m taking his flirting a little too seriously…
“It’s cute.”
“I’m not c-cute!” I retort, my neck now sweating.
“You areverycute.” Ketill turns away, looking through the bottles of alcohol behind him.
“I haven’t been cute since I was a child.”
Ketill vanishes behind the bar. Moments later, he shoots back up with a triumphant ‘aha!’, waving a bottle of iced tea. “You’re right.”
“Thank you,” I sniff. Slightly disappointed until he opens his mouth again.
“You’re gorgeous.” And he jumps back over the countertop.
Flustered, I blurt out the only thing that comes to mind, “You really should pay for that.”
Ketill’s grin widens as he saunters closer, looking like he’s having the time of his life.
“Treasure, you really are a goody two-shoes,” he proclaims, voice laced with sweetness and heat.
I snatch the bottle of iced tea from him and glare out the dark window.
“Maybe I do need someone to teach me how to be good…” Ketill’s low voice edges closer until the warmth of his breath trickles down my neck. I’m so surprised I can’t hold back my shiver. “And I’ll teach that someone how to be bad.”
My head snaps around to find his face barely an inch from mine. Blood rushes to my ears, and I push him away. “That…That’s completely inappropriate!”
Ketill chuckles, slipping into the chair opposite. Needing something to do, I unscrew my drink and down a mouthful. It’s lukewarm andnot very flavourful, but when I’ve gulped down half, I don’t feel so overwhelmed.
“You didn’t tell me your name,” he points out.
