She turned to the group. “And be stuck alone with you clowns? Only if my girls can come,” she said to Jules and Delaney.
“I’m out,” Jules said. “I have a class tomorrow and deadline on an article I’m behind on. Rain check me.”
It was too bad she couldn’t make it, but the one person I was most interested in coming on this overnighter still hadn’t said anything.
“Don’t leave me hanging,” Pia said to Delaney. “I know you’re off Monday.”
“Right,” she said. “But not sure what I can do about tomorrow. I’m opening.”
“What time do you work until?” I asked.
“Supposed to be until three, but maybe if I can’t get the whole day I can at least get out early. I’ll see what I can do.”
“I was planning to hit the slopes for the day,” Mason said. “Beck is off tomorrow too.”
Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.
Alright, Babe Ruth, let’s see which one it’ll be. A strike or home run.
“I’ll wait for you,” I said. “I can work in the morning, and whenever you’re ready, we’ll leave and meet the gang there.”
Ignoring Mason’s small smile, and Pia’s too, I waited to see how badly Delaney didn’t want to date again. She was attracted to me, for sure. And I sure as hell was attracted to her too. But that didn’t necessarily mean much, especially given her situation.
She looked between me and Pia, as if trying to decide.
“But that’ll kill your skiing day,” she said. “By the time we get there?—”
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t ski.”
She laughed. “That is a bold-face lie.”
Nabbed. “True,” I admitted. “But honestly, it’s not a big deal.”
“Come on,” Pia urged. “It’ll be so much fun.”
“There’s a hot tub,” Mason said, obviously picking up the vibes.
I’d thank him later.
“How can I resist a hot tub?” she asked. “You sure you don’t mind?”
Our eyes locked.
There was a shift between us, as if we’d just crossed over into new territory.
“Not at all,” I said.
“OK. I’m in.”
“This will be so much fun.” Pia took out her phone. “I’ll start a list. We’ll need wine, obviously. Hot cocoa and Baileys, for the hot tub. Maybe I’ll grab some bagels and cream cheese for Monday morning. We’ll probably be eating out tomorrow night, right?”
“Woah, slow down, ghost rider,” Mason said. “It’s only one night.”
“Right.” Pia kept putting things into her phone. “But we’re gonna make it an epic night.”
After tonight, getting to know Delaney more, I’d begun to hope that maybe there was some wiggle room in her thinking on the “not dating” thing. Because being stuck in a ski chalet with her for two days, and not touching her at all, was going to be all but impossible.
I’d take a first kiss with Delaney Thorton over skiing any day.
