‘Er-what? Why would he come over?” I sputtered, my face turning red.
Bev raised her eyebrows and looked at me through her thin glasses. “Because I asked him to check on you when the power went out. He didn’t come?”
“Oh, right.” I laughed nervously. “He did. He brought over some batteries and food.”
She patted me on the back. “I’m glad you were taken care of.”
I nearly choked on the sip of water I had just taken.
At that moment, Giles and Johnny walked into the lobby together, and my heart started pounding out of my chest. He either looked even better than usual, or my attraction to him was now feral after experiencing his hands all over my bare skin.
“Morning,” I called out in a voice that sounded robotically cheery even to my own ears.
Giles lifted his hand in a small wave. He looked like he wanted to head straight to the lounge, but Johnny sauntered over to the front desk, a huge grin on his face.
“Morning. How did you like your first big snowstorm, Mattie?”
Giles raised his eyebrows next to his cousin and started to shift from foot to foot. He looked like a guilty kid that had just been caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to.
“It was exciting,” I exclaimed, and I swear I saw Giles smirk at the floor. “And the town looks so beautiful this morning. I think the snow is really starting to grow on me.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. You’ve got to come snowboarding with us later. Erin is going to meet me down here in a couple of hours.”
Biting my lip, I glanced out the window again. “I don’t know about that. I’m still not very good.”
Since the day of my first lesson, I had gone once more with Erin. We had made it onto one of the bigger lifts, and I managed to get down without falling. But a three-year-old could still ski in circles around me.
“You’ve got to experience a powder day. It’s the absolute best thing. Tell her, Giles.”
Giles shrugged. “It is pretty great.”
“Plus, you’re less scared to fall because if you do, you’ll land in a pillow of powder, and you won’t get hurt,” Johnny said.
“Well, maybe. Bev might need me here.”
“Don’t use me as an excuse.” Bev looked up from the computer. “I’ll be fine here for a few hours.”
“Then, sure. I guess.” I finally caved. In truth, I did enjoy snowboarding, and taking the afternoon off sounded like fun. I just wished I was more confident on a board.
“Great, when Erin gets here, we’ll come get you.” Johnny tapped the desk and then headed over to the lounge.
Giles was about to follow him when I asked, “Are you coming too?” I tried to keep the hopefulness out of my voice.
He stopped and finally looked at me. “I’ll be out there, but I’ve got to work.”
“Ah. Duh.” My lips were starting to hurt from smiling so big. Why was I such a dork?
He lingered for a moment and opened his mouth like he might say something but then glanced at Bev and back at me.
“I’ll see you later, Florida.”
“Bye,” I called after him, too loudly, before slumping down on the stool behind me.
I suppressed the urge to drop my head onto the desk in front of me. Apparently, I sucked at playing it cool.
* * *
“Have a nice stay,”I said to the last guest checking in today.
