Chapter 5 #3
“Let me cool it first.” Rather than put a bowl in the fridge, she grabbed the dishwashing tub, went to the front door, and scooped some snow.
She set two of the steaming bowls in it.
Smart. She knew better than to break the seal on the fridge with the power now out.
A fridge I’d probably have to empty or pack with snow so things didn’t perish.
It should be fine overnight, but I’d most likely have to do something by morning if the electricity hadn’t returned.
I sliced the whole loaf of bread and stacked three slices per plate only to have Nicky snort. “One piece is enough for me and Zaza.”
“Mind if I give the extras to Percy?”
“Can Zaza do it?” she asked.
“’Course.” I grabbed a slice, not too hot anymore, the bread cooling rapidly, and held it out to the baby. “Wanna give it to Percy?”
Zaza eyed me suspiciously until Nicky spoke to her in Italian. I heard the word dinosaur in there and it led to the baby snatching the slice and essentially tossing it at Percy.
Who caught it!
Damn. That lizard had fast reflexes, at least where food was concerned.
The bowls in the snow cooled enough one could be given to Percy and the other placed in front of Nicky, who shared it with the child.
I wasn’t sharing that savory goodness with no one.
I practically inhaled that first bowl and only slowed down on my second.
The bread tasted just as good and I used a fourth slice to sop up the juices.
I might have gone for a fifth with jam, but a certain lizard kept begging, and Zaza kept feeding.
By the time a round-bellied Percy waddled to lie down in front of the woodstove, there was nothing left.
Nicky shook her head. “And to think I didn’t believe you when you said it liked to eat copious amounts.”
“Not sure where Percy’s putting it,” I admitted with a wry smile.
Smile? Me?
Nicky put the baby on the floor and then reached for the dirty dishes on the table.
“Don’t you touch those,” I chided. “You cooked, therefore, I do cleanup.”
“Oh. But I don’t mind. I’m used to it.”
“Sit and relax,” was my curt reply.
A half smile curved her lips but she listened, leaning back in her seat, her gaze darting between me and the child who’d plopped herself beside Percy with a book. Judging by the babbling, she was pretending to read to the lizard. Even my hardened ass found it cute.
I made quick work of the dishes, scrubbing, rinsing, and then placing them on a drying rack. When I finished, I hung the tea towel and turned to find Nicky watching me.
What to say? What to do? It had been a while since I’d entertained someone of the opposite sex. Actually, anyone for that matter.
“I should bring in some wood and make sure the stove doesn’t go out overnight.
” A task to keep me busy for a few minutes as I brought snow-covered logs in and placed them in the rack for drying after removing those already waiting.
A glance at the kid showed her plopped on the floor, a tablet in hand, playing some kind of children’s programming.
Percy lay draped in her lap watching the screen.
Looked like those two were becoming fast friends.
With them out of reach, I cracked open the woodstove door and fed some fresh fuel into the fire. The heat that blasted out had me pursing my lips. This was the only source of warmth in the chalet and while it did a good job, its reach would only extend so far.
I headed back to the kitchen where Nicky had a moka pot going on the stove.
“Coffee?” she asked.
“Sure. So, with the power out, the baseboard heaters obviously aren’t working. If you keep the bedroom door open, it might not get too cold, but I’d recommend maybe dragging the mattress out here for you and Zaza to sleep on.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be upstairs.”
“Which will get cold,” she protested.
“There’s not enough room for two mattresses and I’m a touch too long for the couch.”
“If we move some furniture around, we can fit your bed too,” she argued. “We just need to slide the couch and coffee table into the kitchen.”
Yeah, that would clear up space, but then I’d be sleeping in the same room as her and subjecting her to my nightmares.
I shook my head. “Better I stay upstairs. I’m a restless sleeper.” Understatement.
“If we weren’t here—”
I cut her off. “You’d be freezing in that car. And honestly, I’d probably have still slept upstairs. I sleep better in the cold.” And alone.
“Mamma!” The baby waved her book.
“Storytime,” Nicky stated as if in apology. “Even though we’re in a new place, she knows her routine.”
Nicky moved to the couch with Zaza in her lap and the storybook held open while she read. A curious Percy perched by Nicky’s shoulder as if listening and looking at the pictures.
It was ridiculously domestic. Nice. Soothing.
Something I’d never have.
“I’m going to do a bit more work before bed,” I abruptly stated.
“Oh. Good night,” Nicky said before murmuring softly to the child who chirped, “Bueno notte.”
I gave them a little wave and headed upstairs. Percy stayed behind, most likely enjoying the radiating warmth.
My computer had an almost full battery, but two more hours of writing—where Brett and his lizard saved a damsel in distress—left it at only sixty percent. Fuck. I’d better get the power back soon or my streak would come to an abrupt halt.
When I stood, my leg ached and I grimaced. A glance at the window showed the storm still going strong, but that didn’t stop me from dressing in my bulky robe and grabbing a towel. The hot tub had a gazebo around it which meant the snow shouldn’t be too bad under it.
I crept downstairs quietly, and a good thing since Nicky lay on the mattress asleep, the baby tucked against her back.
Percy, though, appeared to be watching the tablet still. A boob tube watching lizard. Fucking wild.
I slid on my boots but didn’t lace them.
When I opened the door, a gust of wind and snow blew in and I winced.
A glance over my shoulder showed them all still sleeping.
I eased outside and grimaced as the snow reached high enough to spill inside my boots.
Cold fucking shit. I moved quickly to the gazebo, finding snow had drifted against the outside of the hot tub, but the cover remained clear.
Soon as I folded half of it open, steam greeted me. Thank fuck for a wood-fired hot tub. It made me glad I’d spent a few minutes ensuring the fire wouldn’t go out when fetching the logs earlier. I couldn’t run the jets, obviously, but a hot soak would still do the trick when it came to my sore leg.
I eased slowly into the hot water. The clash between my face getting bitten by the cold gusts and the heat leeching into my muscles proved jarring and nice all at once. I submerged my body to my neck and leaned my head back.
Ahhh.
Instant relaxation. I closed my eyes and let my mind float.
Drifted off into a semi-sleep, one where I remained somewhat alert—you learned early on in the field to grab Zs where you could, but never too deep—so when someone put their hand on me, I reacted, grabbing and yanking, dragging the person into the tub before I’d even fully woke and sat up.
I gaped, then blurted, “Fuck me, I’m sorry,” to the sopping-wet Nicky.