Page 24 of Out of the Cold

It was the protest of someone who actually wanted more. “I’ll be right back.”

He took the two mugs the barista handed him and made his way back. Setting her cocoa down on the table, he watched as she leaned over it, her eyes fluttering closed as she inhaled.

Her smile was soft when she looked at him again. “Thank you. That was very sweet.”

“You looked bereft.”

“Now there’s an excellent word.” She dipped her spoon into the mug and carefully scooped out whipped cream. Once again, her eyes fluttered. “Mmm. That’s so good.”

He’d never seen her so at ease, probably because he was always telling her she was doing something wrong. But he was having a hard time caring about any of that right now. In a different time and place, he’d have asked her to dinner and done his damnedest to impress her.

He took a sip from his own mug.

She glanced over. “You got hot chocolate, too?”

“You made it look so good.”

“And?”

“And it is.”

She smiled. “So what brought you here? Are you a big skier?”

He took his time drinking, then set his mug carefully on the table.

He’d taken a trip to Jeffrey in March when things with Angie were falling apart. He couldn’t concentrate on anything, couldn’t stand his own thoughts. He’d always loved it here, so he’d booked a hotel room and spent all day snowshoeing and skiing, wearing himself out physically in the hopes it would keep him from thinking about Ricky. It hadn’t really worked, but it was better than being at home and watching his life turn to ash.

“I’ve been skiing here for years. Last winter, I came up late in the season and overheard Len telling someone he needed a caretaker. I had decided I wanted to spend more time up here, so the arrangement worked for both of us.”

“Where do you normally live?”

“Sacramento.”

Maybe she could tell he didn’t want to say any more, because she let it go at that.

“How do you know Len?” he asked, trying to steer the conversation clear of his personal landmines.

“I met him through my ex, Mark. They both taught in the linguistics department at Berkeley, and I met Len and Suzy at the department’s holiday party. We hit it off like you do sometimes.”

“He’s a good guy. I guess he likes helping people out.”

“I don’t know how I’ll repay him.”

“He wouldn’t want you to. He was happy to do it.”

“I suppose.” She set her mug on the table with a thunk. “Oh God.”

“What’s wrong?”

“That bear could come back when Len’s family is here. I’ll have to tell him.”

“We do have to tell him, but it may eventually stop coming around when it doesn’t find any more food.”

“Really? How long is eventually?”

“I couldn’t tell you that.”

She slumped in her seat, looking defeated. But then, he had that effect on her, didn’t he? Joining her like this was a bad idea.

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