“It looks like the sun is trying to come out.” Snowflakes swirl lazily outside the large windows.
“When the sun is shining up here in the mountains in winter, it means it’s extra cold.”
“Luckily, I have a brand-new snowsuit to keep me warm.” Not to mention the heat bubbling up in my body every time I look at Hiro. I need to keep that in check. I’d like to think his words and actions mean something, but what if they don’t? What if this is just a crazy interlude and he goes back to being a cool, distant – and worse, disdainful fringe presence in my life after this?
“This one is perfect!”I stop in front of the gigantic tree, its full boughs heavy with snow. It glistens a deep blue-green in the sun and I strain my neck as I gaze up at it.
“You said that about the last ten trees we stopped at.” Hiro comes up behind me, looking like a model for some ski resort in his outdoor gear. He has a large bag slung across his back that contains all the gear I had no idea we needed to cut down aChristmas tree, including a neat little saw that Hiro assures me will do the job for any tree I pick.
I might have been a little disappointed that my mountain man fantasy wasn’t going to happen. On the hike, I pictured Hiro, whipping off his plaid shirt and swinging an axe, but there isn’t a single axe to be seen in his arsenal.
Plus, I can’t imagine anyone whipping their shirt off in this icy breeze. My nipples cringe at the thought.
“Well, I can’t help it if they all look perfect.” I throw up my hands, doing a slow circle. Freezing temps or not, the entire area around Hiro’s cabin looks like a set from a Christmas movie.
It’s crisp and winter fresh outside, our steps making a satisfying crunch sound as we traipse through the area. The snow is not yet deep enough for the cool-looking snowshoes I spotted back at the cabin, but Hiro assures me it will later be later this week based on the snow in the forecast. I can’t wait to try them out, even though the cold air is biting my nose and cheeks, and we haven’t even been outside that long.
Hiro drops his bag, unzipping it. “Is this the one then?” he asks.
I tilt my head, eyeing it critically. “It’s so beautiful.” A sudden thought sobers me as he lifts out the saw.
“No, wait.” I step in front of the tree. “Maybe it’s too beautiful and we shouldn’t cut it down.” I look around at all the trees, not wanting to destroy the perfect landscape.
Hiro lowers the saw back to the bag and leans in, kissing me on the nose. “You are adorable.”
I blink. “Of course I am.” Did the mountain air all of a sudden clear the fog away from Hiro’s eyes? “I’ve always been adorable, you just never noticed,” I say.
He laughs. A full, rich laugh that warms my chest. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Hiro laugh. Smirk, yes. I’m certain he must be fun with my brother, but around me, he’s never beenanything other than the straightest, most-serious, stick-up-his-butt guy.
Except right now, his eyes are dancing as he grins down at me. “Oh, I noticed. I just never wanted to notice.”
I grab the front of his jacket. “What do you mean?”
Hiro reaches out and gently tugs the wool hat I’m wearing down over my ears. “How could anyone not notice you? You light up a room. Sometimes so brightly it hurt my eyes. Henry is my best friend and so protective of his family – for good reason.”
Neither of us says anything but his words are like a cloud passing in front of the sun. Is it happening again? I’m not naïve enough to believe there will never be another threat to my family, but how serious is it? Serious enough that Henry sent Hiro to get me, at least. I shiver and I’m not sure if it’s from my thoughts or from the cold mountain air.
I push aside the dark, ominous feeling. “You were talking about how you can’t keep your eyes off me?” I force a brightness into my words despite the ache in my throat.
Hiro shakes his head. “You’ve gotten to experience school, and life, in a way that wasn’t available to Henry. Everyone wants something from him. It can be hard to know who is genuine and who isn’t. I am grateful to be his friend, just because, not because of what he can give me, or do for me. The last thing I would ever want is for him to think I’ve taken advantage of being close to him.” He looks deep into my eyes. “Like messing around with his baby sister.”
I swallow hard. “Is that what we’re doing here? Messing around while something bad comes for my family again?”
Hiro cradles my face, the cool leather of his gloves smooth against my cheeks. He dips his head, brushing a gentle kiss across my lips, the heat of his mouth a stark contrast to the icy flakes drifting around us.
I tilt my head up, wrapping my arms around his waist and nip his full bottom lip until he deepens the kiss, heating me from the inside out.
He pulls away, his breath making little puffs of white clouds. “Do you think I’m messing around?”
“I’ve never known you to mess around in your life. Look at your cereal boxes.”
Hiro frowns. “What do cereal boxes have to do with anything?”
Laughter bubbles up in my chest. “The way everything in your life is so neat and orderly.” I make a motion with my hands, mimicking the straight line I saw in his cabinets. “You like everything perfect, arranged exactly to your liking. You’re the most straightlaced guy I know.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “And so what does that tell you?”
I roll my eyes upward and tap my chin, although the action is lost considering the heavy mittens I’m wearing. “Hmm, maybe that you don’t like mess?”
