"Of course. I want you here. Do you need to get your luggage?"
"I'd rather wait until check-out day if that's okay. It’s clear Carla’s still there since she…” Sofia set her jaw and shook her head. “Well, since she got you fired.” She hesitated. “Would it be terrible if I borrowed some of your clothes until then?"
Nat laughed and stood up. “If you're going to be raiding my wardrobe, I should warn you,” she teased, “my ‘winter collection’ is very exclusive. High-end Aspen chic.”
“Oh, I’m sure it is,” Sofia said with a smirk, standing up and following Nat toward the bedroom. “Do I get a sneak peek at this legendary wardrobe? I can’t wait to see what I'm working with.”
Nat swung open the door to reveal her closet—a humble, somewhat cluttered mix of well-worn jeans, flannels, and thick sweaters. She scratched her head sheepishly as Sofia’s eyes widened. “Yeah... it’s not exactly couture. I’m more of a ‘stay warm and don’t overthink it’ kind of girl.”
Sofia studied her clothes with an exaggerated air of fascination. “Oh, this?” She reached for a bright, oversized Christmas sweater with a blinking Rudolph nose. “This is art. No question.”
Nat burst out laughing. “My grandma knitted that for me years ago. It lights up. You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, I would.” Sofia slipped off her shirt, revealing a toned midriff, and pulled the gaudy sweater over her head. It engulfed her, the sleeves hanging comically past her hands. The blinking nose lit up, casting flashes of red on her cheeks. “How do I look?”
“What can I say? You pull it off. Would you like the matching knitted leggings to go with that?” Nat shot her a humorous look.
“Hmm… I don’t want to be rude, but do you have anything less likely to blind me?”
“Let me see what I can do.” Nat rummaged through her dresser, eventually pulling out a pair of jeans and a decent-looking navy sweatshirt. “Here, these are comfy. If the jeans don’t fit, I have other pairs you can try. Oh, wait. And you’ll need underwear and socks.” She was relieved to find a set of matching sports bra and panties.
Sofia took the offered clothes. “Perfect. This will work.” She looked Nat up and down and settled her gaze on her lips. “Now... I believe we spoke about a shower earlier? Something about environmental responsibility?"
Nat grinned. "Did we?"
"Mmhmm." Sofia stepped closer, her fingers playing with the hem of Nat's sweater. "Very important cause. Saving the planet, one, long, hot, steamy shower at a time.”
"Well, when you put it that way..." Nat wrapped her arms around Sofia’s waist, visions of them naked under the running water filling her mind. "Why are we still standing here?"
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Nat led Sofia down a narrow side street that branched off from Aspen's bustling main thoroughfare. The morning sun glinted off fresh snow, and their boots crunched satisfyingly with each step. Sofia wore Martha's knitted beanie, the soft greys and blues complementing her dark hair, which fell loosely around her shoulders. She looked different in Nat's borrowed clothes - a thick flannel shirt under a down vest, paired with jeans - more relaxed, less polished, but somehow even more beautiful.
"This is my secret route," Nat explained, gesturing to the historic buildings lining the street. Their Victorian facades were dusted with snow, strings of white lights twinkling in the windows despite the daylight. "All the tourists stick to the main streets, but the locals know these back alleys have the best hidden gems."
Sofia squeezed her hand, and Nat's heart fluttered at how natural it felt to walk hand-in-hand through town. No sneaking around, no worrying about being seen together. Just them, enjoying each other's company on a crisp winter morning.
"It feels like stepping back in time," Sofia said, taking in the century-old architecture. "Like a little piece of history preservedin all this modern luxury." She stopped, her attention caught by a historic building across the street. A 'For Sale' sign hung in one of the large front windows. The three-story structure was beautiful, with intricate Victorian details and large bay windows, though it had clearly seen better days.
"What is it?" Nat asked, following Sofia's gaze.
"Nothing, just looking." Sofia tilted her head, studying the building. "I've been thinking about getting a pied-à-terre here for ski season, but I never got around to browsing what's available."
Nat chuckled. "I’m sure you can find something more straightforward. That building needs a lot of work."
“Yeah.” Sofia nodded. “I suppose you’re right. It’s beautiful though.”
“So you’re seriously thinking about looking for something here?”
“I am.” Sofia paused. “Well, maybe not just for ski season. I’m hoping we’ll see each other more than that. That we can find a way to make this work.”
Nat stared at her for a beat, processing what Sofia was saying.Hope.There it was again, that flutter in her belly. “You can always stay with me. I know it’s small and maybe not up to your standards, but –”
“Hey, don’t say that,” Sofia cut her off. “You have a beautiful home, and of course, I want to stay with you.” She smiled. “And maybe you could visit me in New York?”
“I’d like that,” Nat said, meeting her eyes. She inched closer and kissed Sofia softly. “Shall we continue this conversation over a hot drink? The place across the road makes the best hot chocolate in town."
The bell chimed as they entered The Copper Kettle, a café tucked away in what used to be a mining equipment shop. The space was warm and inviting, with exposed brick walls andmismatched vintage furniture. Behind the counter, blue-haired Amy looked up from the espresso machine and broke into a wide smile.
