Did I just squeak out loud? Well, that explains the guy’s physique. That pearl of knowledge has an immediate effect on my body, and I can only hope like hell the color rising on my cheeks isn’t obvious.
“He was a professional rugby player? Are you serious?”
Reid nods. “Captain of his province, Canadian World Cup team, Olympics. You name it, he achieved it. He played fly-half, and liked nothing better than to call the shots.”
My thighs squeeze together involuntarily at the mental image I just had flashing through my mind’s eye. Mud and sweat and those teeny tiny rugby shorts.
“—he ended up here, and that’s how we met.”
I blink at Reid. Oh, wow. The way I literally just had a horny devil behind the wheel burning donuts in my brain, and started thinking all kinds of inappropriate thoughts about this man’s boyfriend. Am I a total slut while spending Christmas at altitude? Evidently. Yes.
“Your family is here?” I ask. Hopefully covering up my momentary blip offline.
He shakes his head. “It’s just one brother and me who live here, while my youngest brother spends his life god knows where, waking up in a different bed each morning. Has been that way for us Landon boys for a long time. And Henri doesn’t really have a relationship with his family other than a phone call to check in here and there. So we’re an odd little collection who have all found our little piece of happiness in these mountains.”
Something squeezes in my chest. I take the opportunity to squeeze his hand in return. “Here I was thinking I was the onlymember of theno familyclub.” Giving him a little smile, I feel all sorts of fluttery and giddy when he offers me one right back.
This man smiles with his eyes.
I valiantly swallow down the urge to climb into his lap.
“Would you like another drink?” He tilts his head, eyes flicking from me to the room at my back. I’ve been so intently focused onhimand him alone, it’s been easy to forget there are other people here. “You can breathe a little easier now, sugar. That asshole ex of yours has gone, just so you know,” Reid murmurs as he allows his focus to drift back to me.
His gaze bounces slowly all over my face before descending to my lips.
My body hums to life.
I feel lightheaded… like I’m going to do, or say something I can’t undo.
This man has been good to me, and I need to remember the fact that this is all just a little bit of fun and a whole lot offake.
It takes every ounce of willpower for me to say the words I really, really don’t want to say. “I think I’ll call it a night and go find my cabin.” Standing up is one hell of an effort when my knees feel incredibly weak under the high beam of his stare. “I should probably talk to Ford about getting my key.” While chewing the inside of my cheek, I hitch my thumb over one shoulder.
Yes. This is the sensible decision to make. Too much bubbly and mountain air have gone straight to my head, and I’m starting to believe this man might actually want me to spend more time with him this evening, canoodling like a loved-up couple in the corner beside a roaring fireplace.
As much as my body howls in protest at the mere suggestion of calling time on tonight’s game of pretend, I need to take myself to bed. Pronto.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Henri:
Make sure you don’t cock it up.
Me:
Fuck.
I think I’m really into her.
What if she doesn’t feel the same way?
Henri:
Aren’t you cute when you’re nervous.
Haven’t seen you this strung out in… ever?
Mia gives me a look I can’t decipher as I reach into my jacket pocket and pull out a key. “Tanner dropped this off while you were in the washroom earlier.” When I stand, it’s a stark reminder of how diminutive she isin comparison. All I want to do is pull her against my chest after hearing about her shitty ex, and it might be the lingering influence of alcohol, but I swear I can feel heat radiating between our bodies from this close.
