I took a deep breath in and out, calming myself. “Benny Jr. will pay. Work expense. Now pick something, and let’s get going.”
With every second that ticked by, my anxiety grew. If even Azi, the most mellow dude, was getting anxious about the snow, then we didn’t have time for this.
She hemmed and hawed between two different suits. Pulling one out, she held it to her waist with a thoughtfulhmmbefore doing the same with the other.
“You pick, or I will,” I said.
She blew out a breath, making her lips raspberry. “Fine.” She grabbed one off the rack. “At least the style matches my hair. If we happen to travel thirty years into the past, I’ll fit right in.”
I glanced back at the waiting tram. “Come on, put them on.”
“Right here?” she asked.
“We don’t have time. Let’s go.” Anger made my tone sharp, and she flinched.
Shame lanced me. Up until that point, she’d not seem to fear me even a little. My anxiety made my temper short.
Her gaze shifted from side to side. “Turn around.”
“Nice try. Not letting you out of my sight,” I said.
“Well, I’m not getting dressed in front of you.”
I sighed. “I’m not asking you to get naked; just take off that pointless coat and throw those on over your clothes …”
As I spoke, her hand crept to the high collar and gripped it tighter.
“Tell me you’re not naked under there.” The headache pulsed along with a flash of heat down my neck.
“I am not naked under here,” she said robotically.
What sort of weird, kinky shit had she been up to up here? Why was my heart hammering suddenly? Why was I desperate to see what was hidden under that coat?
“I don’t want to know.” I scrubbed at my head. “Look, we really don’t—Just. Fine. I’ll turn around, but you better keep a hand on me at all times”—she opened her mouth to argue—“or foot or whatever. Something better be touching me, or I’ll turn around, finished or not.”
She made another petulant sound but nodded.
I turned around before I could blush. Ridiculous. She was just a woman. I’d seen plenty of women. But whatever it took to get her out of there and not make her flinch away from me again.
There was a soft sound of fabric brushing before the coat fell down the back of my legs to pool on the floor at my feet. I was keenly aware of her at my back,notnaked but wearing something indecent. My mind was having a field day, imagining what she was up to.
I cleared my throat. “Hurry it along.”
“It’s not easy with one hand,” she said as the loud material shuffled.
“I can reach out a hand and hold you if that’s easier.” I hadn’t meant for my voice to come out so deep.
“No. This is … I’ll just.” The flat, dainty expanse of her back pressed against mine as she leaned into me. Her heat and round edges rubbed against me with every movement as she shifted and wiggled. She smelled so sweet and clean, and her half-cut hair brushed my shoulder. My head moved ever so slightly to the side, and her shampoo’s sweet smell had my eyes falling closed.
I jolted, head up and eyes open. I counted the spots in the ancient popcorn ceiling, teeth clenched.
“Okay. Done,” she announced.
I turned around to find her swimming in the too-big snowsuit. The bright pinks, purples, and oranges of a neon sunset striped across a faded, yellowing white. “Good enough,” I said.
“I am much warmer.” She shrugged.
“Funny how that works.” Some of my tension released to finally be moving forward.
