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“Looks good, Mr. Garome. Here’s your key.” She slides the small golden keyfob into my hand. “And if you don’t have any bags you need help with, I’ll show you to your room.”
“Yes, please.” Her eyes roll again as we make our way up the stairs. I follow her both for direction and the view. Her tight curves make a snack out of each step. I’m hungry just watching her.
She pauses at the top of the stairs and sends me a distrustful look. As she should. I can’t remember the last time a human woman had this kind of effect on me. Come to think of it, I don’t thinkanywoman has made me feel quite like this.
We disappear into a long hallway, our footsteps dulled by mauve carpet leading past the rooms. I’ve stayed at this inn before, but Mira? No, I’d remember if I met her before.
“Have you worked here long?” I ask, grateful for something to talk to her about.
“Uh, no, not really. I'm not from here.” She pauses in front of my door.
The devil inside me takes over as I slide one arm up casually on the frame. “I didn’t think so. I’d remember you.”
Pink spreads into her cheeks, sending fire into my belly. But she ignores me.
“So, this is the room,” she says as the keyfob slides the door open.
Her hands play over the air coolly as if I didn't just come on to her. “You’ve got your bathroom to the right and a view of the icefalls. There’s a gym downstairs and ice down the next corridor. I take it you’re a competitor?”
Her sense of humor makes me crazy. Grinning, I reply. “If I’m not, then I overpacked.” Dropping my backpack, it hits the carpet with a massive clink of bottles and tins from my hiking gear. This time, we both grin.
“Will you be needing a wake-up call in the morning?” she asks as she steps back towards my door. My heart sinks to think of her leaving, though I can’t place why.
“No, I can manage,” I tell her as my eyes follow her hand to the door. There’s a tug inside me. It’s strange but present nonetheless, and it begs that she should stay.
“Um, what time does the bar close?” I ask, hoping to squeeze in a few more moments with her. If I’m lucky, maybe it's not too much to ask for more.
“It’s open all night during the competition.” She smiles, her hand just about to turn the knob.
“Great.” I see the opportunity. I just need to be bold enough to snag it. “I’ll see you there later then?”
“Is that so?” She looks amused, but she’s not biting. It's strange. It’s not like girls to shy away from my advances. I’m a pro athlete, it’s not like I don't bring a lot to the table.
“What’s the problem? You don’t like drinks?” There has to be some misunderstanding. “Maybe you don't like fun?”
Her face sours. Okay, not the right words to say.
“I like drinks just fine, and fun too, for that matter.” Her hands find a way to cross in front of her like a shield.
What have you done, Renxel?But it’s too late to change tactics now.
“What I don’t like are egos. There’s too many of them running around this week. So. If that will be all, sir?”
“Yes, that’s everything,” I offer, hoping to salvage what I can. She means to be taken seriously, and I owe her that. She can't possibly know how adorable she looks this mad.
The door shudders closed behind her, hitting me like a slap on the wrist. Yet, call me a sadist, I only want more.
I know it’s crazy, but I can’t wait to piss her off again.
2
MIRA
“The nerve of this guy,” I mutter.
I swear, these Kiphians are getting more ambitious by the day. Closing the door to his room, I find my head shaking from side to side. I’d be mad if he weren’t the fiftieth competitor to ask me out today alone.
I say no so many times now I’ve learned to get creative. ‘I’m washing my hair’ doesn’t track well with the Kiphians. You have to learn to let them down in their language. These days I lean into ‘The Goddess summons me to prayers that day’, ‘My Chordata has mange’, and my personal favorite ‘Kiphians can’tyou-know-whatwith humans.’
