3. Chloe
CHAPTER 3
CHLOE
G usts of cold air blast my skin, the tiny hairs in my nose morphing into icicles. But my insides are warm, gooey, and tingly with Bruno’s arms wrapped tight around me.
I keep my eyes on the snowy bank in front of us because I know if I look at him, it’ll shatter me. And since I’ve already been broken by him and haphazardly glued myself back together over time, I’m definitely prone to cracks. And even the intense pain in my ankle can’t battle the ache in my chest.
I let out a shuddery sigh. Damn Lily and Zeno for running off without me. They’re probably back at the lodge by now, maybe just realizing that I’m not with them because they never bothered to look back to make sure I was following them.
Then again, they could have decided to give me and Bruno a chance to talk. We are the best man and maid of honor. I’m sure they’d like us to be somewhat amicable on their big day.
I squint in the bright sunlight at the bridesmaids’ chalet in the distance. Ours is tucked against the side of the mountain which made me nervous at first, considering the peaks of snow at the top. But Lily convinced me that it wasn’t enough to bury us in an avalanche.
A few tense minutes later, we stop in front of the door.
“You have your key?” Bruno asks.
I dig it out of the pocket on the side of my leg and hand it to him. He balances me in one arm, slides the key into the lock, and twists the knob. He stomps his boots on the mat in front of the door before walking inside and I smile to myself.
I bet most guys would barrel inside with their snow-covered boots and not remember to clean them off first, especially if they were carrying a person in their arms.
He steps into the foyer and stomps on another mat before carrying me over to the couch and setting me on the plush cushions. Then he takes off his boots and coat and puts them by the door. He comes back and does the same with mine.
“Ice?” he asks.
“Freezer,” I say, pointing toward the kitchen.
He comes right back with ice wrapped in a dish towel and stops in front of me, his eyebrows furrowed.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I can’t ice your ankle through those snow pants. I have to get them off you.” His deep-set eyes tangle with mine. “Okay?”
I nod. “I, ah, have on thermals anyway so…”
He hands me the dish towel, leans over, and loops his fingers into the waistband of my snow pants before sliding them down my legs. Slowly. Tormentingly.
He’s gentle when he pulls them off. I only wince the slightest bit.
“Sorry, I’m trying to be careful.”
“You are.” I force a smile. “I’m just being a baby.”
He slides the leg of my thermal to my knee and all I have to say is thank God I shaved this morning. My belly clenches, pulse hammering as his fingertips slide over my prickled skin. Oh God, I remember those fingers so well…
I take a deep breath, forcing my mind to focus on anything other than what he is currently doing to my body and mind. It shouldn’t be so hard considering I have a bum ankle right now. “What does it look like? Is it bad?”
“Pretty bruised already. And swollen.” He takes the ice and presses it to my skin.
I clench my teeth and fists. “Shoot, that hurts. And it’s cold.”
“The cold will help with the swelling.”
My back tenses from the pain. “This is definitely not how I saw my day going at all. All I wanted to do was drink some hot chocolate and read one of my smutty romance novels in front of the fireplace.”
“Smutty, huh?” He grins, still sitting on his knees.
A flood of heat rushes into my cheeks when I realize what I just confessed. “Well, there’s suspense, too.”
He chuckles. “Sure there is. Like, how long it’s going to take the guy to get the girl naked. That’s suspense.”
I roll my eyes, ignoring the tingling between my legs. “It’s not all like that.”
“I didn’t know you liked to read that stuff.”
“Yeah, well, I guess we never got to the normal date Q&A stuff since we were too busy dodging killers,” I mutter.
His jaw tightens but he doesn’t respond.
The truth is, after that crazy day of the kidnapping, things got really hot and heavy with the two of us for a while. I thought things were serious between us, or at least moving in that direction. But instead, it was more like intense emotional response to near-death or whatever. And I’ve learned that when the flame rages fast and furious, it never lasts.
I thought it could. I was wrong.
It always snuffs itself out in some way.
In this case, it was because Bruno is an asshole who never had any intention of taking things to the next level with me. He picked his work and his life over any promise of a future. Damn, that reality was a harsh slap in the face.
Bruno lets out a sigh and leans back against the couch.
“You could actually sit on the couch. You don’t need to stay down there.” I slide my legs back so he can sit.
But he stands up instead, averting his eyes. “I’ll make you some hot chocolate.”
“You afraid to get close?” I try for a teasing tone but I can’t hide the disappointment that laces my words.
His lips press together. “Yeah.”
My throat tightens. “Oh.”
Oh? That’s all I can think of? Really?!
I pull one of the couch pillows into my lap and tug at the edging while Bruno makes my hot chocolate. The minutes tick past so damn slowly, it feels like hours have blown by before he hands me a steaming mug. I take a deep breath. The sweet, chocolatey scent fills my lungs and makes my mouth water.
“Thank you.”
He nods. “So, I guess I should get going. I don’t wanna take you away from your smutty book.”
My jaw drops and I snap it closed just as quickly. “I get it. The snow bunnies are waiting.”
Bruno’s brow furrows. “Snow bunnies?”
The heat creeps into my neck and explodes down my chest. “I saw you talking to a bunch of girls on the slopes before. I’m sure there are plenty of more girls like Amy who’d love to take you hot tubbing .”
“Why the hell would you say that? I’m here with you right now. I could have left but I didn’t.”
“You could have gone. I didn’t ask you to stay.” I clench my fingers around the hot cup, my skin sizzling from the heat.
“I didn’t want to go. Don’t you get that? I wanted to help you. I wanted to be with you .” He rakes a hand through his thick dark hair, his eyes flashing with anger.
“You had that choice before and took a different path,” I say, my voice tight. “Why should I believe this time will be any different?”