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“I’m wearing a warm tunic underneath,” I say, pulling up the edge of the poncho.
“Yes, but you’re supposed to have warm fabric to make cold weather clothing,” he tells me with a frown. “And your legs will be cold with only the poncho. Don’t tell me, you don’t sew.”
I shrug. “I’m using the fabric as a blanket. I thought the growing season here was long and the winter short?”
“It is, but you’re still going to be cold. I don’t like it.” He studies me and then looks around. “Where are the rest of your blankets? We’ll wrap you in one and I’ll carry you out to the air-sled.”
I blink up at him in surprise. He’s going to wrap me in a blanket and…carry me? Outside? Just so I won’t get cold? “I’m pretty sure that’s not necessary.”
“Don’t argue. It’ll stress Liesje out if you end up getting sick and running up a credit account at the doctor in Port.”
Yeah right. “Is this just an excuse to carry me and make me feel silly?”
“Not an excuse. A convenient happenstance.” And he grins like a naughty child.
That does it. I burst out laughing. “At least you’re honest. Fine, let’s cater to your carrying fetish, then.” I take a second blanket from the bedroom—my last blanket, actually—and wrap it around my shoulders. A moment later, Jerry is deposited into my grasp and then Sinath scoops me up before I have a chance to think about it.
I’m surprised at how effortlessly he picks me up. I’m a nice, solid girl and I’m on the taller side. Any boyfriend that picked me up in the past always cracked jokes about how I wasn’t a dainty thing or how movies made it look far too easy, and I tried not to take that personally. Some women are just easier to pick up than others. For Sinath, though, it’s clear I weigh nothing. He gives me a little bounce in his arms, settling my weight, and grins down at me as if he’s just won a prize.
“Do I look silly?” I ask, Jerry squirming in my arms. Sinath’s thoughtful, focused gaze is making me nervous.
“You actually look like a noodle and veg wrap I had on a station once.”
Well. Romantic, he’s not. I can’t decide if that makes me feel better or worse.
“Come, my merry female,” he says in that teasing voice of his. “Let us get you settled in the air-sled, and then I will return for your foodstuffs. Ready?”
I nod, and then a moment later, he opens the door and charges outside to the idling sled. Biting back a shriek at just how cold it is, I huddle in the blanket and clutch Jerry tight. We’re bounced in Sinath’s arms and he carries me around to the far side, then opens the door and settles me in with care. With another grin, he turns around and races back inside. Shivering, I glance around at the inside of the sled.
And stare.
The back seat is filled with wrapped packages.Some are boxes, some are soft bags, but all of them are tied with bright plas-ribbons and covered in pretty fabric. I count at least six presents of varying shapes and sizes before he rushes back to the air-sled and adds my box to the pile in the back. Sinath thuds into the driver’s seat and then shakes himself like a dog, flinging wet snow everywhere.
“Hey!” I raise a hand to shield myself, laughing. “What the hell?”
“Sorry. Habit.” Except he doesn’t look sorry at all, he looks mischievous and like he’s having too much fun. “Glad you brought the blanket now, eh?”
“Yes,” I retort. “It’ll be perfect for when I have to hide your body later.”
Sinath throws his head back and laughs, delighted at my humor.
My annoyance fades, along with how flustered I felt about him carrying me. I tilt my head at the full back seat. “You’re outdoing me with the gifts. What did you get Liesje?”
That smile of his becomes even more wicked. “Not all of them are for her. A few are for you, too. And there’s even one for Jerry.”
I’m surprised—and touched. “You seriously got Jerry a present?”
He nods. “Presents for everyone, yes? Isn’t that how this holiday works? You give presents to share in the merriness?”
“That’s true.” I feel like a grinch for doubting him. “You didn’t have to get us anything.”
“Ah, but I like seeing you smile.” He winks at me and takes the sled up. “I asked the others with human wives what would be appropriate for a gift and raided the general store. They’re not exciting gifts, but I am told it is the thought that counts, yes? And I did a great deal of thinking.”
“You’re a good man.”
Sinath pauses and looks over at me. “Good enough to kiss again?”
I blush. “Maybe.”
