So he’d held her close and walked with her up to the lodge, and if anyone questioned why he was holding her close, he would have simply said it was to protect her from the storm.
But no one said a word, and he got the thrill of a few minutes of holding her curvy little body against his.
So now he was bored and entirely too focused on the fact that she was in the office right next to his. The door was closed, so he couldn’t hear her or walk by just to catch a glimpse of her, but in his mind, he imagined her all focused and organized. Unlike him. And probably not thinking about how she’d kissed him breathless against her cabin wall last night before playfully shoving him down on her bed and having her way with him.
He dragged a hand down his face.
This was fine. Totally fine.
Everything was just freaking peachy.
“Wow.”
Slater didn’t turn.
“Didn’t realize we’d switched to the brooding mountain-man aesthetic today. I’m not sure it’s a good look on you.”
He glanced sideways and saw Axel standing in the doorway, mug in hand, watching him with entirely too much interest.
“I’m not brooding.”
“Mm-hmm. Sure.”
“I’m assessing.”
“Assessing,” Axel repeated. “The rain?”
“The schedule.”
“Yours or Evie’s?”
Slater’s head snapped fully toward him. “Why would I be thinking about or assessing Evie’s schedule?”
Axel took a slow sip of coffee. “Don’t deny it. You absolutely were.”
Slater dropped his feet to the floor. “It’s a bad weather day. I’m bored. Connor refused to let Lexi drive in today, and Nora’s off doing something somewhere and I’m just…”
“Bored?” Axel finished for him.
“Exactly.”
“Right.”
With a huff of frustration, he glared hard at his friend. “I lead outdoor activities, Axel. When it rains, I don’t have a job.”
“You have a job.”
“Not today.”
Axel studied him over the rim of his mug before stepping further into the office. “Look, call me crazy, but…last night around the firepit? There was a vibe,” he said casually.
Slater froze. “A what?”
“A vibe.”
“What does that even mean? There was no vibe. You’re crazy.”
“Just as I suspected.” Axel tilted his head slightly. “I knew you’d instantly go for denial. It’s a classic response, but I just figured you’d own up to it.”
