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“No…in here?”
I nodded. “Pool, pool table…”
“Not one and the same.”
I pulled the listing up and showed her the photos. Her eyes widened as she swiped. “Man…” She shook her head. “Can you imagine living like this on a regular basis?” She let out a low whistle.
I turned my back. I knew a few who did, and some even more lavish. “Too isolated for my liking,” I admitted.
“And yet, here you are…”
“I had to stay somewhere.”
“Right. Because there’s no hotels in Denver?”
Hotels could be bribed.“Needed to get away.”
“Oh…” A knowingness rang in her voice. “Family or girlfriend issues?”
The coffee started to drip into the pot.
“What makes you think that?” I asked over my shoulder.
I could feel her look me over entirely. I still had the beanie on my head.
“Traveling alone this close to Christmas. One bag. Obviously, you’re not playing Santa Claus. You didn’t make any phone calls in the backseat apologizing or updating anyone on your plans so…” She shrugged. “Which is it?”
“I thought you were a rideshare driver, not a shrink?”
“For that tip, I can take on an extra role or two.”
“I’m good.”
“If you say so.”
“Ready to be caffeinated?”
“Absolutely.”
We sat at the large wooden kitchen table that looked like it could seat a dozen people comfortably, a second round of coffee in front of us. We’d discovered the pocket door that led from the living room to the kitchen so I’d started a fire and put on the twinkling lights surrounding the mantle. The thick curtains were pulled back, revealing one of the most scenic views I’d seen in a long time through the windows. Every tree was practically buried in snow, with more coming down. The hint of the mountains glimmered in the background. Supposedly, you could ski in from them, but I wouldn’t be attempting that. I’d probably crash in the theater room, which I still hadn’t spotted, for the next week.
She glanced around, her gaze finally meeting mine as she wrapped her hands around her mug. “Kinda cozy.”
“Kinda,” I echoed, taking a drink of the coffee.
She looked at me carefully, and I kept my gaze down…waiting.
But so far, it seemed like she hadn’t noticed anything. My beanie still sat on my head. I had a long-sleeved shirt on, and my tattoo on my index finger wasn’t exactly a screaming signal of my identity. A lot of people had a cross tattooed on their finger.
“You hungry?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“What do you think?” She brushed the hair out of her eyes with an easy smile. “But is there food around here?”
“Supposedly.” I got up and checked the fridge. Enough water bottles to last me a week, sports drink, pop. A bottle of red wine, a bottle of white. I’d check those later. I opened the freezer. “Score, frozen pizzas.”
She laughed in amusement. “Pepperoni?”
“Yep.” I went through the stack—two pepperoni, a cheese, a vegetarian. I stuck that one back on the bottom. “I’ll put one in…so, you going to stay for dinner?” I asked hopefully.
